Stephanie Spencer from Urban Baby Beginnings. (Photo: Crixell Matthews/VPM)
About 700 women die from pregnancy-related complications each year according to the Centers for Disease Control. In Virginia, Black women are three times more likely to die during pregnancy than white women. Health experts and lawmakers are working to address the persistent racial disparities regarding maternal health.
As part of those efforts, the Richmond and Henrico Health Districts established a maternal health task force, seeking the help of health specialists from Urban Baby Beginnings and Birth in Color RVA to find solutions.
Recently, the task force launched a program that offers free prenatal and postnatal care to the commonwealth’s most vulnerable by connecting people with community doulas.
Henrico County launches doula fund
Henrico County launches doula fund By Jasmine Turner | April 14, 2021 at 4:44 PM EDT - Updated April 14 at 6:26 PM
HENRICO, Va. (WWBT) -The Richmond and Henrico Health Districts have launched a doula fund to help the Black community in Henrico access doula care.
“We are excited about this project, we know that there is nothing out there that says having a doula is bad for you. All the evidence says it will improve your experience, improve your outcome,” explained Whitney Tidwell, Maternal Child Health Nurse Coordinator with the Richmond City Health Department. “[There are] decreased rates of preterm birth, less intervention, like the use of forceps, decreased c-section rate.”
Doula program aims to boost maternal care for Black families 13newsnow.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from 13newsnow.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.