RECOMMENDATIONS FOR BLACK WOMEN AND PREGNANT PERSONS

Empower yourself with knowledge and support.

Educate yourself and others about the contents of this report.

Be bold in asking for support. You don’t have to do this alone and it is not weak to need help. Ask friends and loved ones to continue or create a Circle of Support during the first six to eight weeks and to continue through pregnancy and postpartum. Connect with other pregnant black women via meetup.com, Our Family Coalition and other organizations.

Explore your options, find prenatal care that is supportive and respectful, and persist with it throughout your pregnancy:

Learn about the benefits of midwifery care and Centering Pregnancy groups.

Ask your health care provider if they offer prenatal care with a midwife trained in a cultural humility approach or midwife of color.

Create a birth plan and ask your provider if they can support it. Empower yourself to switch maternal care providers at any point if your needs are not being met.

Explore a range of strategies to pay for a birth experience that honors your values and desires:

Explore your health insurance options early on. If you decide to pay for out-of-hospital birth out of pocket, do not let inability to pay the full fee discourage you. Many midwives and birth centers offer sliding scale.

Consider asking people to contribute to your “doula and/or midwifery fund” in lieu of expensive baby shower gifts.

Ask your employer if they offer a tax-advantaged flexible spending account (FSA). Midwifery care is an FSA eligible expense.

Join the campaign for private health insurance and Medi-Cal coverage for doula and midwifery care, home and birth center birth.