Black Mothers Are Dying. Here’s What Doulas in New York City Are Doing About It

According to the City of New York, Black people across its five boroughs are nine times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than their white counterparts. The issue, which affects Black pregnant people nationwide, went viral in 2017 after Beyoncé and Serena Williams spoke out about their potentially fatal childbirths.

Doulas help fill the gaps left by the U.S. health care system. These professionals offer non-medical aid, such as prenatal nutrition guidelines and emotional support during and after labor, when mothers are at risk for postpartum depression. They can identify signs of preeclampsia and gestational diabetes—two of the most common causes of maternal mortality. Doula visits take place at homes, eliminating barriers to care for working parents. A pregnant person with a doula is twice as likely to give birth without complications, according to The Journal of Perinatal Education. 

In 2022, New York Mayor Eric Adams signed legislation founding the Citywide Doula Initiative, which provides no-cost doula care in neighborhoods especially affected by COVID-19, but the efficacy of this program and its potential as a model for other cities remains to be seen.

In this project, Reporting Fellow Melina Traiforos hears doulas' stories and examines the strengths and shortcomings of the current subsidized doula care model.