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My sister-in-law Donnie Holt Stripling is due with her second child on January 7th. Donnie lives in Killeen, TX where she is currently raising her beautiful 8 year old daughter Raychel. She is hoping for a different birth experience than she had with her first, in which she had pre-eclampsia and was induced at 36 weeks. This time she really wants to have a natural birth, and was considering home birth but can't because she is high risk. Donnie also has underlying medical issues and has had major surgery in the past. She could really use the support of a doula to help her navigate the hospital birth and give the necessary postpartum support so often lacking in the hospital, especially for young women of color.
Donnie says the OB she currently has is rude and dismissive of her concerns. He doesn't talk to her about anything at appointments, just takes the baby's heartbeat and sends her home. When she once called him to tell him she was bleeding, he told her to take a bath. He hasn't even tested her for pre-eclampsia or talked to her about the risk. She is riddled with anxiety about having to have a birth with him. She wants to birth at a different hospital that has better outcomes but they are not currently accepting new patients. She was told to just show up there with her medical records when she goes into labor.
Texas has one of the most concerning maternal mortality rates in the country, estimated at 14.6 per 100,000 live births. For black women, it's even worse: 27.8 per 100,000. And when we are talking about this most devastating of possible outcomes, we are not even mentioning all of the other adverse experiences black women currently face to bring their beautiful babies into this world.
A doula is a trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to a mother before, during and shortly after childbirth to help her achieve the healthiest, most satisfying experience possible. Countless scientific trials examining doula care demonstrate remarkably improved physical and psychological outcomes for both mother and baby. Doulas at a hospital birth are able to navigate that experience and advocate for a mother's needs when she is unable to on her own.
Every cent raised will go directly to pay a doula to work with Donnie as soon as possible, during her birth, and for as much postpartum support as we can get her.
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/the-fight-to-end-texas-high-maternal-mortality-rate
https://rewirenewsgroup.com/article/2018/08/21/report-most-maternal-deaths-for-black-women-in-texas-are-preventable/
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/doulas-black-maternal-mortality-rate-crisis/
Donnie says the OB she currently has is rude and dismissive of her concerns. He doesn't talk to her about anything at appointments, just takes the baby's heartbeat and sends her home. When she once called him to tell him she was bleeding, he told her to take a bath. He hasn't even tested her for pre-eclampsia or talked to her about the risk. She is riddled with anxiety about having to have a birth with him. She wants to birth at a different hospital that has better outcomes but they are not currently accepting new patients. She was told to just show up there with her medical records when she goes into labor.
Texas has one of the most concerning maternal mortality rates in the country, estimated at 14.6 per 100,000 live births. For black women, it's even worse: 27.8 per 100,000. And when we are talking about this most devastating of possible outcomes, we are not even mentioning all of the other adverse experiences black women currently face to bring their beautiful babies into this world.
A doula is a trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to a mother before, during and shortly after childbirth to help her achieve the healthiest, most satisfying experience possible. Countless scientific trials examining doula care demonstrate remarkably improved physical and psychological outcomes for both mother and baby. Doulas at a hospital birth are able to navigate that experience and advocate for a mother's needs when she is unable to on her own.
Every cent raised will go directly to pay a doula to work with Donnie as soon as possible, during her birth, and for as much postpartum support as we can get her.
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/the-fight-to-end-texas-high-maternal-mortality-rate
https://rewirenewsgroup.com/article/2018/08/21/report-most-maternal-deaths-for-black-women-in-texas-are-preventable/
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/doulas-black-maternal-mortality-rate-crisis/