Written by: Melissa Marie Lopez, Senior Level Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Childbirth is a transformative and vulnerable experience that can shape a person's life trajectory. Access to quality healthcare during this time is essential for ensuring reproductive justice and human rights. Unfortunately, many people experience a lack of support, bias, and discrimination during childbirth, especially those from historically underserved communities. This is where doulas come in. Doulas are trained professionals who provide physical, emotional, and informational support during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. In this article, we will discuss how doula support can help ensure reproductive justice and human rights during childbirth.
The Importance of Reproductive Justice and Human Rights During Childbirth
Childbirth is a deeply personal and transformative experience for individuals and their families. However, it is also a time when many individuals are vulnerable to having their human rights violated. In particular, individuals from oppressed communities, such as BIPOC and LGBTQ+ individuals, are at higher risk of experiencing discrimination, mistreatment, and violence during childbirth.
Reproductive justice is the idea that every person has the right to make informed decisions about their reproductive health and well-being, and to have access to the resources and support necessary to make those decisions. It recognizes that reproductive health and rights are deeply interconnected with other social justice issues, such as racial and economic inequality, environmental justice, and human rights. Human rights in childbirth are the basic rights that every person is entitled to during childbirth, including the right to dignity, respect, and non-discrimination. These rights are enshrined in various international human rights instruments, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. However, despite the recognition of these rights, many individuals continue to face violations during childbirth. This includes being denied access to pain relief, being subjected to unnecessary medical interventions, being coerced into medical procedures, and experiencing verbal or physical abuse from healthcare providers. In this context, the role of doulas in promoting reproductive justice and human rights during childbirth cannot be overstated. Doulas provides emotional, physical, and informational support to individuals and their families during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. By working alongside healthcare providers, doulas can help individuals navigate the healthcare system, make informed decisions about their care, and advocate for their rights.
In the next sections, we will explore how doulas can help ensure productive justice and human rights during childbirth and provide tips on how to find and hire a doula.
What is a Doula and How Do They Support Human Rights During Childbirth?
Doulas are trained professionals who provide emotional, physical, and informational support to people during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. The word "doula" comes from ancient Greek, meaning "a woman who serves." Today, doulas come from all genders and backgrounds and serve individuals and families from diverse communities. Doulas have a long history of supporting people during childbirth, but the modern doula movement began in the United States in the 1970s as a response to the high rates of medical interventions and poor birth outcomes in hospitals. Doulas aim to empower individuals and promote their autonomy in decision-making during childbirth. During childbirth, doulas provide continuous support to their clients, regardless of the type of birth they choose. This can include physical support, such as massage and positioning suggestions. Emotional support, such as validation and encouragement, and informational support, such as explaining medical procedures and providing evidence-based information. Doulas also play a critical role in promoting human rights during childbirth. They advocate for their client's preferences and ensure that their clients are informed and have a voice in their care. This includes promoting informed consent and shared-decision-making and supporting clients who may face discrimination or mistreatment during childbirth, such as those from oppressed communities. Research has shown that doula support can improve health outcomes and reduce health disparities. Studies have found that doula support during childbirth can reduce the likelihood of cesarean births, decrease the use of pain medication, and improve maternal and fetal outcomes, especially for people from oppressed communities who may face additional health risks and disparities. Overall, doulas can play a critical role in promoting reproductive justice and human rights during childbirth by providing compassionate and evidence-based support to their clients, promoting autonomy and informed decision-making, and advocating for clients' rights and preferences.
Finding and Hiring a Doula
Finding and hiring a doula can feel like a daunting task, but it is important to take the time to find someone who aligns with your values and needs. Here are some tips for finding and hiring a doula:
1. Start your search early: It is recommended to start looking for a doula early in the second trimester of your pregnancy. This will give you plenty of time to find the right doula and build a relationship with them.
2. Ask for referrals: Ask your healthcare provider, friends, or family members for referrals. You can also search for doulas in your area through online directories or organizations such as your local Doula Association or the National Black Doulas Association.
3. Consider your needs and preferences: Think about what type of support you are looking for during childbirth. Do you want someone who specializes in natural childbirth or someone who is experienced in supporting women with high-risk pregnancies? Do you have any cultural or language preferences? Make sure to communicate these needs and preferences to potential doulas.
4. Schedule interviews: Once you have identified potential doulas, schedule interviews with them. This is a great opportunity to get to know them better and ask any questions you may have. Some questions to consider asking include:
a. What is your doula philosophy? b. What is your experience working with women who have similar needs or preferences as me? c. What is your availability leading up to and during the birth? d. What is your fee, and what does it include?
5. Get to know your doula: Once you have hired a doula, it is important to build a relationship with them. Attend prenatal meetings with them, and make sure to communicate your birth preferences and any concerns you may have. Your doula will be there to support you during labor and delivery, and having a strong relationship with them can make a big difference.
6. Expectations during childbirth: Your doula will provide emotional and physical support during labor and delivery. This may include techniques such as massage, positioning, and breathing exercises. They can also help you communicate with your healthcare providers and advocate for your needs and preferences. Overall, finding and hiring a doula is a personal decision that requires careful consideration. But with the right doula, you can have a supportive and empowering childbirth experience that aligns with your values and needs.
Doula Support for Oppressed Communities
Doulas can play a crucial role in addressing disparities in maternal health outcomes for oppressed communities, such as people of color, low-income individuals, and those who face discrimination based on their gender identity or sexual orientation. Studies have shown that doulas can help reduce the risk of poor birth outcomes, including preterm birth, low birth weight, and cesarean birth, particularly among these populations. Many doula programs prioritize serving historically underrepresented and underserved communities by providing culturally sensitive and linguistically appropriate support. For example, some programs offer sliding-scale fees, bilingual doulas, and community-based doula programs that focus on serving specific neighborhoods or populations.
Doula support can also help promote health equity and reproductive justice by advocating for the rights of pregnant people and ensuring that they receive respectful and compassionate care. Doulas can support informed decision-making, help clients navigate the healthcare system, and provide emotional and physical support during childbirth.
By working with doulas who prioritize serving these communities, clients can receive personalized, culturally competent support that can help them have a positive birth experience and reduce the risk of adverse outcomes.
In Summary
Doulas can play a critical role in ensuring that all people have access to quality healthcare and human rights during childbirth. By providing emotional, physical, and informational support, doulas can help promote positive health outcomes and reduce health disparities. If you are considering hiring a doula, it is important to find one who aligns with your values and needs. By investing in doula support, we can work towards a future where all people have access to dignified and respectful healthcare during childbirth.
Melissa Marie Lopez, Senior Level Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Since 2020, Melissa has been the driving force behind the growth of the New Mexico Doula Association (NMDA) as its first Executive Director. As a vital community-based organization for doulas across New Mexico, NMDA has become a champion in the birth and reproductive justice movements. Melissa has worked tirelessly to create policies and systemic changes that protect reproductive health and minimize maternal morbidity, specifically for black and indigenous, LGBTQ, Transgender, and other communities. Her dedication to these causes has resulted in significant grant funding, and she has fostered productive partnerships with healthcare providers, community organizations, and government officials.
Her passion for birth and reproductive justice is what drives her to create positive change in her community. Melissa's reputation as an innovative and solutions-focused Executive Director is well-deserved, given her stellar background in healthcare and holistic wellness, and her proven record of building organizations from the ground up. But Melissa's passion for community work doesn't end with her role at NMDA. As the Founder/GM of Las Cruces Doula, LLC, Melissa and her collective of providers offer the full spectrum of doula services and lactation support, incorporating traditional and evidence-based approaches to care.
