Black women, regardless of health, education, or income, are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than their white counterparts, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and not enough Black women are working as childbirth professionals.
The Johnson C. Smith University Birthing Professionals Program (BPP) seeks to improve maternal and child outcomes of families of color by widening the access to birthing professional training for people of color. Specifically, BPP provides three programs to prepare individuals for accreditations as a Birth Doula, Perinatal Educator (Lamaze), or Lactation Consultant. Upon certification, these professionals are equipped to aid families of color where infant mortality rates are more than double their white counterparts.
This mission is accomplished by providing affordable training that is culturally relevant and competent while held at times convenient to the community. All adult students come from different backgrounds including college graduates, partial college, community training, Emergency Medical Technicians, mothers, and others.
Despite starting up during the COVID pandemic, JCSU has persevered and offered smaller classes. The course overview of the training consists of childbirth education online prior to the start of training. In addition to hands-on skills, participants will learn anatomy and physiology of pregnancy fetal development, labor, postpartum, and breastfeeding. They also are prepared to deal with the emotional aspects of pregnancy and its significance in a woman’s life such as labor variations, including cesarean birth, non-pharmacological pain management, and comfort techniques; support for difficult labors, birth after cesarean, newborn care, and breastfeeding support; communication and listening skills, including values, clarification, and cultural sensitivity; the doula’s role, professional ethics, standards of practice, certification, and the doula’s business as part of workforce development. Students are prepared to be the patient as well as their own advocate.
Many graduates from the past classes are already at work in the community. One graduate is very excited to have her first client. She is a 19-year-old Latina who is also an EMT. She met this client on a group network page. Another graduate is now working for the Mecklenburg County Health Department in building their Perinatal Educator program.
Reports from the results of their efforts are still being compiled, but current feedback is very positive and shows an impact. Lactation consultants are now working in Mecklenburg and Cabarrus counties. The community is also excited about their teachers being Black women.
Funds are being used for salaries, operational expenses, materials, and the occasional student scholarship.
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