Honoring the Power of Black Doulas in Cincinnati: A Path Toward Birth Justice
When Black Doulas Lead, Communities Heal
What if the key to reducing Black maternal mortality in Cincinnati isn’t a new medical technology but the wisdom, advocacy, and cultural power of Black doulas?
Across the country, Black mothers face unacceptable risks. In fact:
Black women experience pregnancy-related deaths at 3 to 4 times the rate of white women.
Doula-supported births reduce the likelihood of complications such as preterm birth and cesarean deliveries.
According to the Morehouse School of Medicine, having a doula can reduce the risk of C-sections by 47% and preterm births by 29%. These numbers aren’t abstract — they represent lives saved, families supported, and communities strengthened.
And right here in Cincinnati, Black doulas are leading that transformation.
The Cincinnati Reality: Why Their Work Is Essential
Hamilton County continues to face racial disparities in maternal and infant health. Local initiatives such as bi3, Cradle Cincinnati, and Queens Village Cincinnati have brought attention to these inequities — yet doulas have long been the ones quietly doing the work of advocacy, education, and emotional support.
Black doulas are uniquely positioned to:
Bridge the gap between medical providers and Black birthing people
Reduce the emotional impact of racial bias in hospital settings
Offer culturally grounded support that increases trust and safety
Identify early warning signs in pregnancy and postpartum
A study from the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine found that having a doula physically present can reduce the experiences of racism during labor and significantly improve birth satisfaction.
This support matters here more than ever.
What The Empowerment Foundation Is Doing in Cincinnati
At The Empowerment Foundation, we believe that centering Black doulas is non-negotiable in the work to improve maternal health. To strengthen their voices and experiences, we have actively taken steps to uplift the birthwork community across Cincinnati.
1. Hosting Our Black Doulas Focus Group
This month, we gathered Black doulas from across Cincinnati for a powerful focus group designed to:
Create a safe, affirming, culturally grounded space
Discuss barriers in the doula profession, including burnout, racism, and financial sustainability
Share lived experiences with hospital systems
Envision system-level changes needed to support doulas and Black birthing people
Inform our advocacy, programming, and community research moving forward
The room was filled with honesty, laughter, tears, and deep connection. Doulas expressed gratitude for a space that truly centers them—something many said they rarely experience in traditional settings.
Their feedback is directly shaping how The Empowerment Foundation will expand support, training, and advocacy efforts in 2025.
2. Advancing Community-Led Maternal Health Equity
Our foundation has been awarded support through United Way’s Black Empowerment Works, bi3, Data for Equity, and Philanthropy Ohio, allowing us to:
Amplify the voices of Black mothers and doulas
Conduct community-based research
Build programming that responds to the gaps identified by Black birthworkers
3. Creating a Platform for Storytelling & Testimony
Through our Amplifying Voices Portal and maternal health initiatives, we continue to:
Highlight stories of Black mothers in Cincinnati
Share doula perspectives
Advocate for trauma-informed, culturally responsive care
4. Standing With Local Partners
We align our work with Cincinnati leaders such as:
Queens Village
Cradle Cincinnati
Me & She Doula Services
Healthy Moms and Babes
Every Child Succeeds
Black Women Cultivating Change (BWCC)
The Mothership Institute
Breastfeeding Outreach for Our Beautiful Sisters
Cincinnati Children's Hospital
Blaq Birth Circle
Local midwives, wellness practitioners, and birth advocates
Together, we are pushing toward a future where every Black birthing person receives the care they deserve.
Why Black Doulas Are Changing the Story
Black doulas are not simply birth companions — they are:
Protectors of Black women’s joy and safety
Advocates who challenge systemic bias
Educators who empower families
Culture keepers who bring ancestral knowledge into the birth space
Essential leaders in the fight for maternal health equity
Supporting Black doulas means supporting Black mothers. Supporting Black mothers means supporting the entire community.
Our Commitment: Continuing the Work
The Empowerment Foundation will continue to:
Host healing-centered spaces for doulas
Increase community research around their needs
Advocate for sustainable funding
Promote their visibility and leadership
Strengthen networks of Black-led maternal health providers in Cincinnati
The voices we heard at our recent Black Doulas Focus Group will guide our next steps — because doulas deserve to be supported just as much as they support others.
Join Us in This Movement
Whether you’re a doula, a mother, a supporter, or a community ally, you have a role to play.
Visit our website to learn more, get involved, or support our maternal health equity work or send an email to drcorinn@lifeempowermentfoundation.org
Together, we can build a Cincinnati where every Black birthing person is seen, heard, and protected — and where Black doulas have everything they need to continue their life-changing work.
