Birth Equity Fund, local doulas work to combat racial disparity

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — April is National Minority Health Month, a countrywide initiative to highlight the need for improving the health of racial and ethnic minorities to reduce health disparities.

Black Maternal Health Week begins Thursday April 11 and runs through April 17, but it’s never too early to learn about the state of birthing in America and the options available.

“I’ve come across quite a few people who just didn’t realize what their options were and how to go about deciding those options,” said Lyanna Moore, founder of Moore to Love Doula services in Grand Rapids.

She has been working to support and educate Black and brown people about the complexities of giving birth in America. According to the governor’s office, Black women in Michigan are two times more likely to die from pregnancy-related issues than their white counterparts.

“If one group of people is not experiencing the same equitable treatment then it’s not fair to anyone. And by addressing those issues and doing implicit bias training, knowing what the numbers are and being honest with yourself, it really is the first step in making a huge impact,” said Moore.

Doulas have been growing in popularity.

“I’m there with them to go through their birth plan, to talk to them about what they want their birth to look like,” Moore explained.

People like Moore and Brianna Trammel are focusing on decreasing the disparity through organizations like Moore to Love doula services and Sprout and Blossom Birth: Doula, Photography and Film. Black, Indigenous and people of color in Grand Rapids may be able to benefit from their Birth Equity Fund.

“So, our Birth Equity Fund was created so that our BIPOC families in the Grand Rapids area could have services more accessible to them in their price. So, what it allows is for a supplemental sliding scale,” said Trammel.

Trammel provides birthing support, postpartum care and more.

“It gives them the advocacy in their space so that they feel empowered not only for their voice to be heard, but also for them to achieve their birth outcome that they so desire and want,” said Trammel.

Change starts with education.

“Until our system and the way our society works, the way they see birth and the way they see BIPOC families changes, support is needed in those spaces. People need to know that when BIPOC families speak up about something that they need, their voice to be heard, that they need to be respected and they need to be treated like human beings,” Trammel said.

Giving life is a great task and it shouldn’t be dark or draining. There are options and local resources for Black and brown women who are birthing the next generation.

“First get connected to those who are in the birth work and space and people who are firm on advocacy. Our expertise is in advocacy, is in informational support, it’s in all of the things that sometimes get overlooked with our standard of care here in the United States,” Trammel said.

The Birth Equity Fund has served 11 families so far.

Visit the State of Michigan website for more information on the doula initiative and doulas throughout Michigan.

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