{"id":33879,"date":"2024-05-22T07:00:36","date_gmt":"2024-05-22T07:00:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/updates-www.mccdn.io\/vitals\/?p=33879"},"modified":"2025-03-24T17:58:00","modified_gmt":"2025-03-24T17:58:00","slug":"culturally-based-doulas-are-key-to-improving-care","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/updates-www.mccdn.io\/vitals\/culturally-based-doulas-are-key-to-improving-care\/","title":{"rendered":"Culturally based doulas are key to improving care","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"

The Black maternal health crisis is real.<\/p>\n

Black women are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications \u2014 most of which are preventable \u2014 than white women. Factors at play include underlying but unknown health conditions, inequitable access to care, and structural racism and implicit bias within the health care system.<\/p>\n

While health care systems and community partners are looking for ways to take action<\/a>, one Spokane organization leads the way in showing how culturally based doulas play a key role in ending this crisis.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur organization takes a focus on how we bring the culture back into maternal health,\u201d says Stephaine Courtney, executive director of The Shades of Motherhood<\/a> and The Learning Project Network.<\/p>\n

What is a culturally based doula?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Doulas are trained professionals dedicated to supporting the birthing person mentally, physically and spiritually, Courtney explains. They can help during childbirth, with prenatal and postpartum care, and as a source of support in child loss, adoption, fostering and for single fathers.<\/p>\n

The Shades of Motherhood brought together 17 independent doulas of color into one agency to provide comprehensive care, peer support groups and community workshops. The agency also provides doulas a space for training and support from their colleagues. These doulas provided services to 44 Black mothers and mothers of infants of color in 2023.<\/p>\n

Through culturally based care, the patient is seen as an individual, and not through the stereotypes of their culture, Courtney says. They consider their family makeup, cultural roots and possible psychological triggers.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s so many things that make each person different,\u201d she continues. \u201cIt\u2019s important for us to learn that being vulnerable during pregnancy unlocks something in the brain \u2026 and sometimes you need a guide to walk through that.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Black community continues to hold strong stigmas around mental health, Courtney explains. Doulas can help break down that mindset and build connections with their clients in ways others may not be able to.<\/p>\n

Despite hosting her podcast \u201cGirl Get a Doula\u201d and her work at The Shades of Motherhood, Courtney found herself ignoring her own doula\u2019s postpartum calls.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was tapping into the strong Black woman syndrome,\u201d she says. \u201cWhen I finally answered and she asked about my head, I said I had a headache.\u201d<\/p>\n

Courtney\u2019s doula instructed her to go to the hospital immediately, where doctors discovered she had an infection that could have killed her.<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Black maternal health crisis is real. Black women are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications \u2014 most of which are preventable \u2014 than white women. Factors at play include underlying but unknown health conditions, inequitable access to care, and structural racism and implicit bias within the health care system. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"author":115,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[15,155,115],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-33879","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-community","category-health-equity","category-womens-health"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nCulturally based doulas are key to improving care - MultiCare Vitals<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"One Spokane organizations leads the way in showing how culturally based doulas will play a key role in ending the Black maternal health crisis.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/updates-www.mccdn.io\/vitals\/culturally-based-doulas-are-key-to-improving-care\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Culturally based doulas are key to improving care - 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