It’s February! And while Black History is worth celebrating 365 days out of the year, we’re definitely happy to take a month to celebrate. So here’s how this team of Black doulas is observing our illustrious history (past, present and of course Black futures):
First giving honor to God, my mama, our clients and our team- our first bit of observance is a moment of gratitude. (Thank you for indulging me in a moment of churchiness.)
Here are 5 things we’re grateful for this Black history month, for Black families and Black doulas.
1. Our upcoming business anniversary!
March of 2022 makes four years in business as a team. I’m going to have faith that February won’t take us out, and get happy in advance about this VERY big deal! When I began as a doula in 2013, I couldn’t have imagined leading a group like this for years.
2. A national public health landscape paying more attention Black maternal health.
While there is much to be done (decades of health inequities and centuries of neglect aren’t undone quickly), things are shifting. We now have:
- Legislation in Congress, in the Black Maternal Health Momnibus, an effort led by a Black woman, Congresswoman Lauren Underwood
- Attention from Hollywood, which we know moves public action, with the most recent example being Aftershock, a film that recently premiered at Sundance
- Many campaigns from various public health organizations, which would not be possible without the efforts of Black women who in some cases are leading the efforts, and in every case have organized and made change on all of our behalf
3. More Black women taking power into their own hands during their birth and postpartum periods.
Of course, there’s no way to collect a statistic on this but my own anecdata gives lots of cause to rejoice.
When I first began working as a doula, people weren’t even sure what I meant. Or, they imagined that our support was only for White women- specifically hippie white women. But last year, 269 people reached out to us!
Most were Black women, looking for a Black doula.
When I asked (as I always do) what led them to look for a doula, many said that they wanted to be sure that they were heard and respected in labor, or that they did not want to be isolated during the postpartum period.
We also see it in women seeking out their birth places intentionally, whether by choosing out of hospital birth at a birth center or a homebirth, or interviewing their hospital-based OB or midwife.
I see evidence all over that Black families are thinking ahead and expecting not only to live through their birth, but to thrive.
4. A DCMM team retreat*!
Zooming in a bit, I’m grateful for this moment of joy we have planned mid-February.
It’s our firm belief that we’re not supposed to do this birth and babies thing in isolation, and that includes birth work. But lately, we don’t get to gather much in one place. As our clients know, we come to you for your support, in an effort to keep things personal and increase convenience. And while a monthly team zoom is great, we’ll get to actually hug one another in real life!
There are few hugs better than doula hugs, and I’m excited for all the Black girl magic and oxytocin coming my way.
*Cross your fingers for us that we have great rapid test results!
5. Our every day work.
Unlike some national brands and large corporations, supporting Black women is foundational to our work. We don’t have to cover any candles in new designs, or roll out a hiring plan when something racial happens. We just have a team that prioritizes serving Black women, and then sharing the overflow with everyone else.
As doulas, we’ll just keep supporting Black futures through our clients, and by enabling Black doulas to do work we love while paying our bills.
Every time a Black family grows stronger, a Black mother learns to trust her instincts, and a Black person gives birth in an environment where they feel safe, I believe that we have the honor of supporting Black history.
And by being a business run by a Black woman, that pays a living wage to other Black women, we’re working towards a legacy that we can be proud of, throughout the year, and not only during Black History Month.
So happy Black History Month. May your February be everything it needs to be, and better than you’re hoping for.
