Radical Doula

28/06/2022

“Being a pro-choice doula was controversial within many birth activist circles. There were many conservative Christian midwives and doulas who didn’t think doulas should support people during abortions. In this moment, as those same conservative Christians have succeeded in removing the right to abortion access nationally, the political nature of that work is even more clear.” - Miriam Zoila Pérez

We will work to create communities of mutual aid and care that can be our buffers against these far right attacks.

18/06/2021

Congrats Chanel Porchia!

The founder of Ancient Song Doula Services has made it her mission to support women of color in their birthing experiences while training others to do the same.

09/03/2021

Fertility treatments should not just be a luxury for a privileged class.

22/10/2020

Some good news!

There are only a few Black midwives in San Diego County and Nikki Helms, along with her business partner Darynee Blount are hoping to make their services more available to minority communities

23/09/2020

Research request below!

"Hello my name is Nadia Mbonde. I am a doctoral student in Anthropology at NYU working on a project on the impact pandemic on Black maternal mental health. I am interested in interviewing Black pregnant or postpartum people about their experiences as well as mental health professionals, midwives, doulas, partners and/or caretakers of a Black birthing person during quarantine. All interviews are voluntary, confidential and you have the right to withdraw at any time. If you are interested in being interviewed or would like to ask a question you may contact me at [email protected]."

More about Nadia and her work below:

AREAS OF RESEARCH/INTEREST medical anthropology, reproduction, maternal care, racial inequalities, embodiment, subjectivity, ethnographic film, USA.

24/08/2020

"A groundbreaking study called Q***r & Trans PREG is interested in understanding the experiences and support of LGBTQ+ people who are pregnant and postpartum." Paid, check out the link below for more information.

A groundbreaking study called Q***r & Trans PREG is interested in understanding the experiences and support of LGBTQ+ people who are pregnant and postpartum.

20/08/2020

Black doula collectives across the United States are working to close the Black infant mortality gap.

16/01/2020

These birth workers are on the front lines.

06/01/2020

"I identify with the term 'radical doula' because my practice is centered on uncovering our own power, wisdom and knowledge about our health and our bodies that have been covered up by oppressive systems. I am a radical doula because I center marginalized bodies (Black, q***r, trans, fat, disabled, etc.) and THEIR needs and wants, whether that fits within or outside our existing medical systems." - Qiddist Ashe, Ashe Doula Services

Qiddist is a liberatory educator, a facilitator, a birth, postpartum and full spectrum doula, and a practitioner of herbal ancestral wisdom.

25/11/2019

You should be following Dani McClain's incredible writing! It's real and practical and based on lived experience.

Systemic change is most needed, but this is what black women can control.

03/10/2019

Elephant Circle's Birth Worker of Color Scholarship application cycle is now open through October 20, 2019- 12pm MST.

Elephant Circle seeks to assist self identified Birth Workers of Color with scholarship funds to support skills training, education, travel, books/supplies etc. We also seek to support organizations which are lead by and support people of color in prenatal, birth and postpartum practices. At this time scholarship funds are to be awarded in the amount(s) of $250-$500.

Click here to access the application: http://bit.ly/bwocapp

Questions? Please contact China Tolliver, Elephant Circle Scholarship Coordinator at [email protected]

For more information or to make a donation to the Birth Worker of Color Scholarship, please visit www.elephantcircle.org

20/09/2019

That’s life for black women in America; the nation is making decisions concerning black women's care with no intention to include their voices in the dialogue.

19/09/2019

"If I could change one thing about the experience of pregnancy and birth, it would be one big thing – I wish that the systems in place (care systems, but also social systems) left space for people to define that experience for themselves… that they didn’t project onto them, or make assumptions about them, but rather asked, 'how is this for you?'" Jenna Brown, Love Over Fear Wellness and Birth

Jenna Brown (they/them/theirs) is a q***r doula and radical educator, and the founder of Love Over Fear Wellness & Birth in Philadelphia, PA.

10/09/2019

More attention to the models and providers that know how to address this crisis! Congrats Jennie Joseph-Midwife.

08/09/2019

"Coverage of the community has revolved around high maternal mortality rates, but I needed to read an article about joy. This is it." -Helena Andrews-Dyer

Coverage of the community has revolved around high maternal mortality rates, but I needed to read about our joy.

02/05/2019

So much gratitude to Jessica Roach for sharing her story and her important work for this article. While the headline focuses on the problem, the article tries to bring attention to the solutions, and the incredible Black women at the forefront of this movement, including Jennie Joseph and Ebony Marcelle. They know the way, we just need to follow them.

In the US, women of color face more risks in pregnancy and childbirth than white women, and the reason for the disparity has become clear: racism

19/04/2019

“I am very hopeful that this work is ultimately going to lead to some meaningful change for Black mamas in the U.S."

16/04/2019

"First, everyone—from doctors to the media to the public—needs to stop blaming women for their own deaths. Instead we should focus on better understanding the underlying contributing factors. These include a lack of data; not educating patients about signs and symptoms—and not believing them when they speak up; errors made by health care providers; and poor communication among different health care teams. Finally, studies have shown that interventions such as wider access to midwifery, group prenatal care, and social and doula support are effective in improving maternal health outcomes." -Monica McLemore 👏

Two-thirds of all U.S. maternal deaths are considered preventable. Racism—not race—is a critical factor