BOSTON – An underserved program in Boston is attempting to promote hard work and provide joy for expectant mothers and mothers of color, who are often not always heard by medical institution staff, in finding their voice.
Hard to recommend for lazy moms
At 35, LaToya Baskin was happy to be pregnant with her first child, Jason, but she had concerns about giving birth.
“I’ve definitely heard and seen stories that as an African-American you have to advocate for yourself more,” Baskin said.
“We know that there are disparities in the way Black individuals or individuals from many different backgrounds experience their labor and delivery care or their end outcomes,” said Dr. Allison Bryant, assistant condition fairness officer for Cluster Commons Brigham. Or there are differences.”
skilled backup person
Having a doula or a qualified backup person can help reduce C-section fees, boost the affected person’s enjoyment and promote breastfeeding, although they can be expensive, Bryant said. So Cluster Common Brigham launched a program called Start Companions, which pairs a doula with an expectant father or mother of color of duty. The Start Companions program now provides gifts to approximately 130 expectant mothers.
Baskin was compared to Isiah Lee, who has been a doula at the Boston branch for 30 years.
“When I advocate, I advocate for the patient, not the nurses,” Lee said. “So I’m guiding him, telling him if he doesn’t like what’s happening, how do you feel about it? I don’t like it, I don’t like it. Once he tells me Point out what she doesn’t like, then I guide her on how to communicate what she doesn’t like about it so that her voice can be heard.
Lee met Bryant before, during and after Supply and was a member of his birth group for a time.
“Someone else in my village helped me along the way,” Baskin said.
