MVPMS Launches New Doula Program For Women of Color

In honor of #BlackMaternalHealthWeek I am so pleased to officially announce my new program called "Sister Circle: Black Birth & Breastfeeding Initiative." It was created in hopes of eliminating social barriers to to black maternal-child health equity and decrease the maternal-child health disparity among Black/Latin women.

...a bit of history...

In 2016, I founded Mohawk Valley Prenatal/Maternity Support (MVPMS), which at first was simply a Facebook group bringing together local moms and professionals (doulas, lactation support, midwives, nurses, infant care specialists, body work specialists and more) into one space to socialize, network and support one another.

Since then, I've been offering free childbirth edu, doula support and breastfeeding counseling to low-income moms. I've also been a resource for baby care items, breastfeeding aids and other maternity essentials. Over the years I've been able to bless familes with food, diapers/wipes, training pants, baby bathtubs, manual & electric breastpumps, maternity clothes, kids clothes/shoes, strollers, car seats, a standard sized crib and much more.

We've partnered with sooo many local agencies/organizations on various events, workshops, giveaways, etc.

In 2021, I hosted my 1st very own event in celebration of #BlackBreastfeedingWeek where I came up with the idea of black moms gathering together in a "sister circle" to talk about black mama stuff ... fast forward ----> I was given the funding to finally launch my own doula agency and it starts with our "Sister Circle" initiative.

We are providing free training to local black women to become birth doulas and they will be providing free doula support to local black pregnant moms. These newly trained doulas will also receive 6 months of business mentorship where we walk with them through their first client and help them launch their own doula businesses. This is called our 'Sister Circle: Nurturing the Doula' sessions.

Our pregnant "clients" will also be participating in monthly social gatherings called 'Sister Circle: Nurturing the Mother' where they can bond with eachother and share their fears and concerns about birth and hopefully overcome them to birth fearlessly!

I hope you will support our efforts by sharing information about our program and helping us raise awareness about the need for doula support for black childbearing women.

BIG Thanks to Excellus BlueCross BlueShield and Sharon Baugh of Hope Chapel AME Zion Church for this incredible opportunity to change the trajectory of our black race in helping more black women to not only survive childbirth but to give birth fearlessly, vigourously with power and control of their body/experience!! Like the Hebrew women we are!!!!!!!

If you live in the Greater Utica area of upstate NY and are pregnant in need of doula support, sign up here.