Birthing Justice: Black Women, Pregnancy, and Childbirth
The second edition of this pathbreaking, widely taught book offers six new chapters, on breastfeeding and Black infant health; Black birthing during COVID; Black doulas rethinking birthing practices; the recent buildup of a US national movement; childbirth in Zanzibar; and expanding the global movement for sexual and reproductive well-being. Other chapters are updated throughout. Birthing Justice puts Black women’s voices at the center of the debate on what should be done to fix the broken maternal care system. It foregrounds Black women’s agency in the birth justice movement. First published in 2016, Birthing Justice is a seminal text for those interested in maternal healthcare, reproductive justice, health equity, and intersectional racial justice, especially in courses on gender studies, Black studies, public health, and training programs for midwives and OB/GYNs. *Dr. Sayida is a co-author of Chapter 25, "Lifting Up Black Doulas: Black Women Organizing to Reimagine Birthwork."
Centering Black Mothers in California: Insights into Racism, Health, and Well-being for Black Women and Infants
The Centering Black Mothers in California report shows how social policies, structural racism, and community and neighborhood conditions impact the health of Black birthing people and babies. In California and across the United States, Black mothers experience some of the highest rates of life-threatening childbirth complications, deaths from pregnancy-related causes, and babies born too early or too small.
The report was informed by Black women leaders and community members in California. Their unique insights helped develop the findings and recommendations to improve the health outcomes of Black mothers and babies.
Perspectives on cultural competency and race concordance from perinatal patients and community-based doulas
As awareness of perinatal health disparities grows, many birthing people of color are seeking racially and/or culturally concordant providers. We described preferences for, and perceptions of, racial and/or cultural concordance and cultural competence in the context of the doula–client relationship.
Ebunoluwa Falade MS, Ronald M. Cornely MPH, Caroline Ezekwesili MPH, Juliet Musabeyezu MD, Ndidiamaka Amutah-Onukagha PhD, MPH, Tajh Ferguson MD, Christina Gebel MPH, Sayida Peprah-Wilson PsyD, Elysia Larson ScD, MPH
Reimagining Perinatal Mental Health: An Expansive Vision For Structural Change
As awareness of perinatal health disparities grows, many birthing people of color are seeking racially and/or culturally concordant providers. We described preferences for, and perceptions of, racial and/or cultural concordance and cultural competence in the context of the doula–client relationship.
Vu-An Foster, Jessica M. Harrison, Caitlin R. Williams, Ifeyinwa V. Asiodu, Sequoia Ayala, Jasmine Getrouw-Moore, Nastassia K. Davis, Wendy Davis, Inas K. Mahdi, Aza Nedhari, P. Mimi Niles, Sayida Peprah, Jamila B. Perritt, Monica R. McLemore, and Fleda Mask Jackson
Creativity, Resilience and Resistance: Black Birthworkers’ Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic
This article documents the experiences of Black birthworkers supporting pregnant and birthing people and new mamas during the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Building on the methodology and outcomes of Battling Over Birth–a Research Justice project by and for Black women about their experiences of pregnancy and childbirth–the authors utilized a “community-based sheltered-in-place research methodology” to collect the narratives of Black birthworkers, including doulas, certified nurse-midwives (CNMs), homebirth midwives, lactation consultants, community health workers and ob/gyns.
Oparah JC, James JE, Barnett D, Jones LM, Melbourne D, Peprah S and Walker JA
Black Maternal Health Research Reimagined: Principles for Conducting Research in Maternity Care for Black Mamas
This paper, written by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA) multidisciplinary Research Working Group, presents principles for conducting research on maternal health outcomes for Black Mamas grounded in the Holistic Care principles outlined in BMMA's Black Paper and calls for a reimagining of research that can be conducted with, for and by Black Mamas.
Angela D Aina, Ifeyinwa V Asiodu, Philicia Castillo, Jill Denson, Courtney Drayton, Rose Aka-James, Inas K Mahdi, Nia Mitchell, Isabel Morgan, Ayanna Robinson, Karen Scott, Caitlin R Williams, Abigail Aiyepola, Helen Arega, Brittany D Chambers, Joia Crear-Perry, Ana Delgado, Kemi Doll, Nikia Grayson, Andrea V Jackson, Zoe Julian, Cassondra Marshall, Monica R McLemore, Biftu Mengesha, Sayida Peprah, Jessica Roach, Lynn Roberts, Hedwige Saint Louis, Sanithia Williams, Taida Wolfe.
The Experiences of Black Community-Based Doulas as They Mitigate Systems of Racism: A Qualitative Study
Black pregnant individuals endure a disproportionate burden of preventable morbidity and mortality due to persistent, racially mediated social and systemic inequities. As patient advocates, Black community-based doulas help address these disparities via unique services not provided by conventional doulas. However, Black doulas themselves may encounter obstacles when providing care to Black perinatal clients. This study characterizes the barriers encountered by Black community-based doulas in Los Angeles, California.
Kimeshia Thomas MD, Sasha Quist CNM, Sayida Peprah PsyD, Khefri Riley CLEC, CPYT, HCHD, Pooja C. Mittal DO, Brian T. Nguyen MD, MSc