In a ‘history-making moment,” Milwaukee nonprofit certifies new class of doulas | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
PrincessSafiya Byers
January 10, 2024
Jazmine Duncan, 35, always wanted to be a doula.
But after using a doula for her pregnancy, she became motivated to complete the process to become one.
“My experience having a doula was just so great. I want to be able to provide that same experience to others,” she said.
Both Jazemine Duncan and her mother, Barbara Duncan, completed training and have become a certified doulas together through the African American Breastfeeding Network.
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Barbara Duncan, 53, said she didn’t know anything about doulas until her daughter had one, but she loved being present for experience.
“Her doula was amazing,” she said. “To be able to advocate for someone is awesome to me.”
The mother and daughter were certified in October as community-based doulas along with 15 other Milwaukee women through the African American Breastfeeding Network, or AABN.
Doulas are trained professionals whose job it is to provide support and resources before, during and after childbirth.
“This is a history-making moment for our community,” said Dalvery Blackwell, the executive director of AABN. “Never has an organization implemented a 20-week community-based doula training in Milwaukee. We are very proud of all of the graduates. Their commitment proves that they are ready to help improve maternal-infant health outcomes.”
The Medical College of Wisconsin Institute for Health & Equity is partnering with community groups like AABN to look at what contributes to maternal morbidity in Southeast Wisconsin.
According to the most recent Wisconsin Maternal Mortality Report, Black, Non-Hispanic Asian and Hispanic mothers made up 24% of Wisconsin births in 2016-2017, yet they represented 42% of all pregnancy-related deaths.
AABN’s doula program is part of a national resurgence of doulas’ work in response to the U.S. maternal-infant health crisis, Blackwell said.
Nationally, Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than non-Hispanic White women, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
However, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, in Wisconsin, they are five times more likely to die.
AABN hopes to change that.
The organization has received funding from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services to replicate the nationally recognized HealthConnect One doula model and provide direct services to 130 pregnant women in Milwaukee.
In order to be certified, graduates had to have a 95% attendance rate over the 20-week training program, Blackwell said.
The graduates completed weekly homework assignments, observed three live births and learned about prenatal and postpartum support services.
“These women are making tremendous sacrifices to be doulas,” she said. “Most of them have full-time jobs and children, and they sacrifice that time to support birthing people.”
Jessica Olsen, an assistant professor in the Division of Community Health within the Medical College’s Institute for Health & Equity, said the institute has worked with the African American Breastfeeding Network for 10 years.
“When you look at the doulas’ value and impact, plus the love they give the community, and their willingness to tackle the root causes of the maternal-infant health crisis head on, it feels like this is the answer,” she said. “This is how we eradicate the health crisis.”
A second session of doula training is planned for 2024. Click here for details. You can also call 414-207-6728.