discovery

THE BIRTHWORK FOUNDATION IS A COMMITTED RESOURCE FOR BIRTHWORK EDUCATION AND A SAFE DOULA AND CARE PARTNER WITHIN REACH.

WHAT IS A DOULA?

A doula is a non-medical professional who offers physical and emotional support to individuals throughout the perinatal period, encompassing the time before, during, and after childbirth. They do not participate in the delivery of the infant but collaborate with the healthcare team, which typically comprises obstetricians, nurses, and midwives.

Also referred to as a birth coach or birth companion, a doula's fundamental role is to act as an advocate for the birthing individual, ensuring a sense of empowerment, comfort, and comprehensive care, thereby contributing to a positive birth experience. Doulas can uniquely provide trauma-informed care to mothers, as trauma-related health conditions, including PTSD, sexual assault, substance use and postpartum depression, are increasingly common occurrences amongst childbearing people and may be associated with nearly 1 out of 5 maternal deaths.

WHAT IS A MIDWIFE?

Midwives are healthcare professionals specifically trained to deliver babies, offering a more nurturing and emotionally supportive approach to childbirth. They can accommodate non-traditional birth plans such as low-tech, natural, and water births, and provide continuous support throughout the entire labor and delivery process, not just at birth.

While many midwives oversee home births, most work in hospital settings, often as part of a midwifery program. They are qualified to administer medications and manage uncomplicated deliveries. However, they are unable to perform surgical procedures like C-sections or use instruments such as forceps or vacuums. Therefore, their role is best suited for low-risk pregnancies and deliveries.

“Let choice murmur in your ear and love murmur in your heart. Be ready... here comes life.”

— Maya Angelou

  • The Birthwork Foundation Purpose

    The Birthwork Foundation is an accessible resource that connects expectant parents from underserved communities to our seasoned collective of doulas who share similar identities. Through prenatal, labor, and post-partum experiences, our doulas holistically support and encourage expectant parents with compassionate, comforting, data-forward, and identity-affirming practices.

    As skilled reinforcements for expectant parents, we comprehensively train both experienced and aspiring doulas in prenatal and post-partum education, lactation education, and parent self-advocacy — so that clients experience a smoother, more peaceful, and affirming birthing experience.

    We endeavor to foster a low barrier of entry to birthwork education, kinship, and community-conscious care to those who need our services the most — clients who experience institutional unfairness and cultural incompetence in more traditional birthing settings. The Birthwork Foundation is your biggest advocate.

  • The Birthwork Foundation Mission

    Our mission is to partner expectant parents and doulas from overlooked communities with one another and foster relationships that encourage warm, easeful, culturally thoughtful deliveries and post-partum care.

  • The Birthwork Foundation Vision

    We strive to ensure that we grow a collective of skilled doulas across the United States who can be advocates for parents seeking high-quality, identity-conscious birthwork services with minimal obstacles to access.

Collaborators

Mid-Iowa Health Foundation

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Maven Clinic

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MercyOne Davenport

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Mid-Iowa Health Foundation 〰️ Maven Clinic 〰️ MercyOne Davenport 〰️

Telligen Community Initiative

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Nicole Crusinberry Photography

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Broadlawns Medical Center

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Delta Dental

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Telligen Community Initiative 〰️ Nicole Crusinberry Photography 〰️ Broadlawns Medical Center 〰️ Delta Dental 〰️

Our Impact

The Birthwork Foundation has continued to increase one-to-one doula services, promote social support and mental health awareness, and improve feelings of safety during the birth and postpartum experience for Black families. Through integrative one-to-one services, group services, and community outreach and education, we worked to reduce birth and postpartum trauma, isolation, and negative mental health outcomes.

Since 2020, The Birthwork Foundation:

  • Maintained a doula membership of over 25 doulas.

  • Provided direct doula services to over 300 families.

  • Awarded over 50 families with full or partial scholarships for doula services.

  • Gifted over $10,000 in essential items for mothers, families, and babies.

  • Provided over 1,700 community members with birth resources, postpartum resources, and/or community referrals.

  • Regularly received high or the highest possible satisfaction ratings across all our program areas.

  • Increased breastfeeding support through our LISHE support group for 81 Black birth parents and babies through 22 IBCLC-led breastfeeding support groups.

  • Facilitated 22 MOM support group meetings, serving approximately 116 families. All of our support group meetings are facilitated by a contracted mental health therapist, allowing increased access to high-quality, culturally competent mental health support for Black families.

  • 100% of Black birthing parents and families experienced increased feelings of social and mental health support.

  • Participants loved that everyone was “sharing their experiences and how everyone was so supportive.” Clients reported that they were “so grateful for the group” and that “the group is always helpful.” They loved that there were “new topics with each session. This is my favorite part!” Among our M.O.M. group participants, 97% of responses rated the quality, content, and support with the two highest satisfaction ratings.