%20(3).png)
Mid-Missouri Black Doula Collective
Our Mission
To do our part in improving outcomes for birthing persons, who the current data shows are more likely to have traumatic birthing experiences and higher maternal mortality rates.
What is a Doula?
Imagine if you were a boxer, the trainer and coach would teach you about boxing and help you achieve your goals. Likewise, Doulas are trainers and coaches for the birthing process.
Maternal Mortality
The current U.S. maternal mortality ratio, or rate, of 17.4 per 100,000 pregnancies represented approximately 660 maternal deaths in 2018. Among industrialized countries, America ranks last overall. While the maternal death ratio for Black women (37.1 per 100,000 pregnancies) is 2.5 times that of white women and three times that of Hispanic women. More than half of recorded maternal death occurs after the day of birth.
A Black mother with a college education is at 60% greater risk for maternal death than a white or Hispanic woman with less than a high school education.
How Can Doulas Help?
A doula is a highly-qualified professional that teaches and supports women throughout the process of pregnancy, labor, delivery, and postpartum. Mid-Missouri Black Doula Collective (MMBDC) doulas seek to provide physical, emotional, and informational support to help women experience giving birth in a healing space that is healthy and safe.
