Soul 2 Soul Sisters

Black Birthing Guide

A Resource for Birthing while Black in the U.S.A.

Prepared by Briana Simmons,
Black Healing, Health, and Joy Manager

This version of the Guide is brought to you by our work to celebrate and honor Black Parents during this year's commemoration of Black Breastfeeding Week!

Black Breastfeeding Week is a time dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the unique triumphs and challenges of Black Mamas in the breastfeeding community. From August 25 to August 31, we’ll come together under the powerful national theme:

"Listen Up; Reclaiming Our Narrative and Centering Our Stories for Breastfeeding Justice.”

This year's theme is a call to action, urging us to listen to the voices and stories of Black Mamas and families, to acknowledge the historical and systemic barriers they face, and to support their right to access equitable breastfeeding resources and care. By centering these narratives, we honor the resilience and strength of Black Mamas, while also working towards a more just and inclusive future.

Throughout this week, we will share inspiring stories, provide valuable resources, and foster meaningful relationships through storytelling about how we can all contribute to breastfeeding justice. Join us in celebrating the power of community, the beauty of our lived experiences, and the importance of reclaiming and elevating the stories that shape our shared journey.

Tap Into Our Offerings

Wednesday, August 28th | Care & Advocacy in Postpartum | 11:00 am - 1:00 pm mst | Virtual |

This engaging and informative 2-hour interactive workshop will focus on two critical aspects of postpartum care (1) common discomforts and identifying emergencies in postpartum & (2) socioeconomic wraparound care from a community health worker lens. Learn more and register here.

Juggling Parenthood and Employment | Thursday, August 29th | 6:00 - 7:30 pm mst | Virtual |

BHHJ & BCEP are collaborating to host a community forum during Black Breastfeeding Week on how going back to work impacts Black lactation. Together we will highlight the necessity of extended paid family leave and other forms of postpartum support. We plan to ground the conversation in a few understandings, but will leave a majority of the forum open to storytelling & discussion. REGISTER HERE.

Check out Guided by Nature: Healthy Chocolate Milk

This interactive, digital exhibit curated by Sacred Seeds Black Birthworker Collective of Colorado pays homage to the sacredness of the full spectrum of the Black breastfeeding experience. ACCESS THE EXHIBIT HERE.

About the Guide

Black birthing people deserve to have safe and healthy pregnancies, childbirth, and postpartum. Yet so many Black birthing people are dying in pregnancy and childbirth. The statistics are alarming, reflecting disparities different interconnected systems have that essentially limit access to critical reproductive health care that Black families so desperately need, and deserve. Soul 2 Soul Sisters developed the Black Birthing Guide to join the growing list of national resources that center Black birth as one way to ensure healthier outcomes for Black mamas, birthing people, and their babies. Our hope is that it will serve as a quick and informative guide for Black birthing people and those who love them to be well informed, become empowered and autonomous decision makers, and ultimately achieve desired birth outcomes.

This comprehensive guide includes:

Ways to communicate with different healthcare providers
Tools for assessing the level of care needed to support a healthy pregnancy and birth experience
Pros and cons of different birth settings
Steps to pursue accountability measures from medical facilities and providers
Glossary of terms, facts, calls to action, and more

Soul 2 Soul Sisters believes everyone can play a role in working to improve maternal health outcomes and is committed to advocating for and equipping our community with the tools and resources needed to ensure Black birthing people, babies, and families thrive. We encourage you to check out the Black Birthing Guide and consider adding it to your toolbox. Available for instant download, this guide can be used as a starting point and reference guide in navigating important pregnancy decisions.

PART 1:

Let's Take A Deeper Look Inside...

So You're Expecting? Congratulations! Now What?

1. Start early to give yourself ample time to make an informed decision about your healthcare provider/s
2. Get clear on your unique needs and desires
3. Seek referrals by searching for local resources and asking within your personal networks
4. Interview potential providers to assess alignment with your unique pregnancy needs and personal preferences
5. Trust the feeling in your gut and allow your actions to be led by your intuition

Perinatal Health Providers & Important Questions to Ask

From preconception to postpartum, it’s likely you’ll interact with a handful of providers, specialists, and support staff. It’s crucial to know who you’re talking so you can know what questions to ask.

OB/GYN is a specialty of two distinct fields of medicine. An obstetrician is a physician who specializes in care during pre-conception, pregnancy, childbirth, and immediately after delivery. A gynecologist provides general female reproductive health care. OB/GYNs are physicians who are surgically trained to manage high risk pregnancies. They employ medical interventions to monitor prenatal care and manage labor and delivery.

Questions to ask an OB/GYN:

What is your philosophy on birth and how would you handle a pregnancy concern or complication?
What healthcare standards can I expect from your care?

There are several types of midwives with varying credentials in the United States. Each varies in education, training, approach, scope of practice, work setting and credentialing through different organizations. The types of midwifery care available in your area will depend on the laws and regulations of midwifery practice in your state.

Certified Midwives (CM) - direct-entry midwife with credentials that do not require a nursing degree.
Certified Nurse Midwives (CNM) - registered nurses with midwifery education who typically practice in hospitals, but can also practice in birth centers and attend home births.
Certified Professional Midwives (CPM) - direct-entry midwife with a CPM credential whose midwifery education takes an emphasis on the apprenticeship model training in holistic care and physiological birth in and out of hospital settings. They are trained in providing home birth care.

Questions to ask a midwife:

What options for pain management and emergency procedures are possible under your care?
What circumstances would cause me risk out of your care?

Birthworkers are non-medical professionals who provide emotional, physical, informational, and logistical support to clients and families throughout a range of reproductive experiences. Most interactions with a birthworker will begin with a consultation where you have an opportunity to better understand who they are and learn more about their services. There’s all types of birthworkers:

Do you need support navigating an abortion? Contact an abortion doula.
Have you experienced pregnancy loss by way of miscarriage, stillbirth, or a life-limiting diagnosis? A bereavement doula can support you.
If you want to conceive, are actively trying to conceive, or struggling to conceive, book services with a fertility doula.
Need support in prenatal preparation, labor/birth, and immediate postpartum? Consult a birth doula.
Are you seeking extra support following childbirth? Hire a postpartum doula.

Questions to ask a birthworker:

Why did you become a birthworker?
Can you please describe your training and continuing education experience?

Many factors can determine where you give birth. Here are different birth settings and things to consider when making the best decision for you and your family:

	Hospital	Birth Center	Home
Setting	A healthcare institution	A stand alone center or attached to a hospital	At the place of residence
Provider/s	OB/Gyns, Certified Nurse Midwife, Labor & Delivery Nurses, Perinatalogist, Neonatologist	Certified Nurse Midwives, Certified Midwives, Certified Professional Midwives, Birth Assistants	Certified Midwives, Certified Professional Midwives, or other direct-entry midwife, Birth Assistants
Pros	Access to specialists Availability of pain medication is available if desired	Staff is familiar with alternative pain management techniques Home-like setting Typically more affordable than hospital	Care team comes to you Familiar and comfortable environment that you’re in control of Most affordable Safe option for low risk pregnancies
Cons	Best for high risk patients Although hospital care is typically covered by insurance, it is most expensive Fewer support people are allowed in the birthing room Inability to guarantee delivery doctor Rotating nursing staff More likely to experience interventions like induced labor More likely to receive a C-section that may not be medically necessary	Insurance coverage will vary Birth centers are difficult to find Your care needs may require a transfer and protocols for transfers may vary by center Must be a low risk patient Quick discharge at an average of 6 hours post-labor	Must be a low risk patient Insurance coverage is limited Out of pocket costs If an emergency arises, that cannot be managed by midwife, you’ll have to transfer care to a hospital

“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.”

Here are some self care tips as you navigate the bountiful landscape that is birthing.

Take a moment to ground yourself. Take a deep breath! Inhale the feeling of gratitude - for your body, your mind, your spirit, the beautiful being growing inside.
Exhale everything getting in the way…
Birth is a full body experience. It’s natural to feel overwhelmed. Here are some tips to help keep you grounded as you navigate your journey:
Water is life! Hydration is crucial for supporting pregnancy. Enhance your hydration by drinking water and consuming hydrating foods like watermelon, peaches, broths and soups.
Whole food nutrition is necessary for sustaining the vitality of a pregnancy. Balanced meals and snacks should include sources of proteins, vitamins, minerals, natural sugar, and healthy fats.
Movement is key for lubricating the muscles needed to carry your pregnancy and birth your baby. Whether it's through stretching, walking or taking a yoga or dance class, get active at least 30 mins a day!
Information is powerful. Do your due diligence in researching, asking questions, and equipping yourself with evidence-based information.
Rest is your birthright. Unapologetically expand your rest practice to include idle time, naps, and better sleep practices.
Explore alternative care options for a well-rounded approach for addressing your needs and concerns.
Affirm self-talk to raise the vibration of self-esteem and empowerment. Filtering out negative self-talk and anything that is draining your energy such as unwarranted opinions will allow for more spaciousness.
Foster true community that requires intentionality. Are you in loving community with folks who will journey with you as you transition into parenthood? Build community within your family, with chosen beloveds, in virtual support groups, and in-person meet ups.
Limit stress, easier said than done, but small changes can go a long way for reducing stress. Some ideas include boundary setting to protect your time and energy, lessening social media use, and saying “no”, “not right now”, “maybe next time”.
Focus on developing a strong mind → body → baby connection. Journaling, meditation, and talking to your baby can help strengthen this connection.