Dear Daddy To Be: It’s time to declare a public health crisis! I know you’re excited about your baby’s arrival. And you believe all you have to do is hold your birthing mama’s hand, but the hard truth is that it’s gonna require a little more in this day and age.
Black Parents Are at the most Risk When Giving Birth. Considering statistics about the dangers that Black moms face when giving birth, moms have every reason to be anxious about it. But dads can make a difference.
Until federal funds get marked directly for programs intended to save women from dying in childbirth, access to insurance for all women, and reimagining health care to include culturally competent maternal health care providers as a viable first choice; too many birthing mommas and babies will die from pregnancy-related causes. There are too many shattered lives left motherless and widowed. So you need to know that your baby mama needs you to be educated and on point.
Dad’s clipping the birth cord
Dad, as a mom of nine and full spectrum doula trainer, I want to guide you in the direction you want to arrive. Your role is vital and you are needed. The first thing I need you to do is hire a good doula. There’s been considerable conversation about fathers and doulas regarding our roles in improving outcomes and reducing the overwhelm of the birthing (and postpartum) process.
Hemorrhage and preeclampsia are the most common causes of pregnancy-related death, and about 60 percent of these deaths are preventable, according to the CDC. A 2018 r
Doulas help birthing people and their families with a plan that meets them where they are regardless of any pandemic, or family dynamic. A good doula, will create a safe – stress free place to empower you, the birthing dad, on how to advocate for your birthing mom during prenatal care, labor and onto postpatum. Now why a black doula for a black mom you asked? Two Words–> “Culture and Customs’
Black doulas don’t feel the need to code switch with black moms. Doula’s are community based. Being physically and culturally accessible in ways, time and places that other providers are not.
the nation’s pregnancy-related deaths from 2000 to 2014 rose by nearly 27 percent
As a mom of nine and birth doula trainer, I’ve seen firsthand the way implicit bias affects the quality of health care Black women receive. Ultimately, they don’t hold us as valuable as our white birthing counter-parts.- Kelle Pressley
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) reports that babies of mothers who do not receive prenatal care are three times more likely to have a low birth rate and five times more likely to die than babies born to mothers who receive appropriate care.
Your doula will give you all the tools you need to help keep your birthing mom and baby live.
Gain confidence in understanding what your doctor is saying to your satisfaction.
Learn your options and what questions to ask your healthcare team.
You will gain skills to help you acknowledge and address her (yours as well) fears.
Discover exercises are most helpful and those not to try.
Understand which foods that enhance her health, labor, birth, and postpardum and which to be mindful of.
Practice how to best manage the stress of returning home with a newborn
Teach you how to monitor her recovery, identify possible complications, and reduce the risk of infections.
So, there are more than four. Sorry. As you can see, there’s so much you can do. Start with the National Association to Advance Black Birth’s Black Birthing Bill of Rights then impliment the suggestions above. You got this,pops’! .
QC Supermom 