Black Moms Bring Questions, Accountability (And A Party Bus) To LA Hospitals
On a recent Friday morning, a group of Black women with pregnant bellies step onto a party bus in Leimert Park.
They’re headed on a tour of birthing centers and hospitals around Los Angeles, in style: leather seats, good music, mood lighting that shifts colors.
“This program is essentially an opportunity for you all to get resources, connect, build a village… because it takes a village,” says guide Gabrielle Brown as the group takes off. Brown is the maternal and infant health program manager with Black Women For Wellness, which created the expedition.
The tour started this year during Black Maternal Health Week, and shows Black birthing parents resources in their communities and the different birthing options available around Los Angeles. The goal is to help equip them on how to self-advocate. In California, Black pregnant people are three to four times more likely to die due to pregnancy-related issues.
While the tour is just getting started, that topic is top of mind for the women on the bus.
“Equity in healthcare is a very big thing for our community, like, we're so underserved and it's just ridiculous,” says Candace Cosey in a discussion with the other expecting parents. “Like, people are dying.”
Last year, for instance, April Valentine, a 31-year-old mother, died at Centinela Hospital in Inglewood while giving birth to her daughter. Soon after a state investigation, the hospital closed its maternity ward. In 2016, another mom, Kira Johnson, died after giving birth at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
“It's important for us at Black Women for Wellness to host these programs and provide the education around how to self-advocate,” says Gabrielle Brown. “Unfortunately, racism is built into the system, into the healthcare system.”
Showcasing doulas and midwives
The bus arrives at the tour’s first stop: a cozy house in South L.A. associated with the Charles Drew University’s Black Maternal Health Center of Excellence.
At the house, the expecting moms are greeted with staff that treat them to smoothies, snacks and gift bags filled with a onesie.
The center provides prenatal, postpartum and wraparound care services to Black birthing persons throughout L.A. County.
Clinical manager Keomi Barksdale explains how the center helps with providing lactation support, physical therapy, and getting access to a doula — which is what expecting mom Victoria Levi came on the tour to learn more about.
“I'm still in my first trimester, so I don't know a lot of information,” she says. “No one's ever — in my family — had doulas or had a midwife. So these are things that I want to explore.”
Searching for equity in healthcare
Candace Cosey is expecting her third child in July, but came on the tour because she wanted to make this birth better than her previous ones.
“It wasn’t horrible with my daughter, but nine years ago, with my son, it was just very traumatizing and so I don’t want to go through that, but that’s kind of led me to start being active now,” she says.
When she started going into labor with her son, an ambulance took her to the nearest hospital, Centinela. “I didn’t have anybody in the room with me,” she recalls.
She says a doctor tried to deliver the baby while she wasn’t fully dilated, and she had problems with her epidural being placed correctly. A second try was also unsuccessful, and Cosey decided to labor without the pain medication.
“At that point, I’m like, ‘It’s OK. I don’t want anything.’ So it was like I was forced into a non-medicated birth,” Cosey says.
In a statement to LAist, a Centinela spokesperson says federal and state privacy laws don’t allow them to discuss specific cases without a patient’s permission. They note that patients who have concerns about their care can talk to their physician, nurse, patient experience staff members, or contact a relevant regulatory agency, like the California Department of Public Health: “Information for these agencies is included in our Patient Handbook and posted in various locations throughout the hospital.”
This time around, Cosey says she wants a doula, which Medi-Cal now covers. She hasn’t decided yet on where she wants to give birth, but is exploring the options of birthing at home or a birthing center. “That’s why I’m here and that’s why I want to get more information.”
She’s enamored with the next stop, Kindred Space LA, a birthing center.
Nicole LaCour-Wordlaw, director of operations, guides the guests around the space, and shows them tranquil birthing rooms, equipped with bathtubs and birthing balls for labor.
One mom quips she’s about to go into labor.
Considering pregnancy plans and hospital births
The next and final stops of the tour are two hospitals: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and L.A. County General Medical Center, formerly known as LAC-USC.
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You might notice this story uses the term pregnant or birthing people. That's because our newsroom uses language in reproductive health that includes people of different genders who can give birth.
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To see a full explanation of our language choices, check out Dialogue, LAist’s style guide, and give us feedback.
On the way there, several of the women discuss Cedars’ history with Black maternal health, most notably the death of Kira Johnson in 2016.
Gabrielle Brown, with Black Women For Wellness, explains choosing the hospital was intentional, and that it’s been working to address Black maternal and infant health.
“We wanted to be sure to introduce our mamas to the care that Cedars-Sinai provides. But also, when we show up, our goal is to hold Cedars accountable,” she says. “Let them know that, you know, ‘These Black mamas are interested in seeking care here. What do you all have to offer?’”
At the hospital, nurse Paola Wong guides the group to a labor and delivery room, showing the different options a birthing parent has when it’s time to give birth, like using a squat bar on the hospital bed, playing music or dimming the lights.
She explains that after birth, nurses and doctors will leave the baby on mom’s chest for an hour to help them transition to their new world.
“It’s a form of stress being squeezed out, and so being able to be right on mom’s chest, we call it froggy position — ear on mom’s heart.”
At L.A. County General Hospital across town, nurses guide them through the towering hospital into the labor and delivery ward.
Midwife Tatjana Muwwakkil explains for people who don’t have a doula, the hospital provides an option to have medical students serve as doulas.
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If you're interested in a future Black Mamas Birthing Tour, reach out to Black Women For Wellness.
“Last week for a patient, we called one of our medical students, and then they came and supported her through her labor and her postpartum, and it was a great service for her,” she says.
“Just because you're having a surgery or giving birth in the hospital doesn't mean it's all out of your control,” says med student and Black Women for Wellness intern Kayla Blair, mentioning doulas and incorporating birth plans.
She said one of the big benefits of the tour is giving people options.
“In my experience, a lot of times people in the community might just go to maybe the first provider, the first clinic or something that's available to them,” Blair says. “A benefit of this experience is you can go and ask all the questions and you’re not stuck there.”
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These resources were recommended by California birth workers and families. Have a suggestion? Email sritoper@scpr.org.
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For more on specific topics, see LAist’s pregnancy guides.
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Mental Health
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- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline - Free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones.
- National Maternal Mental Health Hotline - 24-Hour hotline for pregnant and new moms at 1-833-943-5746 (1-833-9-HELP4MOMS).
- Postpartum Support International (PSI) - Free, confidential support before, during, and after pregnancy. Responses within a few minutes 24/7 at 800-944-4PPD (4773).
- Maternal Mental Health NOW - Hosts a directory of providers and services in L.A. County and a self-help tool to help navigate the emotions of the transition to parenthood.
- Therapeutic Play Foundation - a Pasadena-based non-profit created by Black mental health professionals that provides mental health services, support for birthing people and community gatherings.
- All-Options talkline. Process how you feel or what to do next by talking to a volunteer peer-counselor about abortion, adoption, parenting, infertility or pregnancy loss.
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Breastfeeding
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- BreastfeedLA – Provides education and outreach to promote and support breastfeeding in Southern California. Find resources on their map of local breastfeeding resources.
- CinnaMoms – Support circles for Black birthing people hosted at WIC centers in the L.A. area, with the goal of breaking down barriers to breastfeeding.
- La Leche League – Peer support groups for breastfeeding. Find a local meeting.
- Kellymom – Breastfeeding information site run by international board certified lactation consultant Kelly Bonyata.
- National Women’s Health and Breastfeeding Helpline – Run by the US Department of Health’s Office of Women’s Health, breastfeeding peer counselors are available to talk between 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET at 800-994-9662.
- Soul Food For Your Baby – Black-led breastfeeding support groups.
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Doulas / Postpartum Support
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Doulas provide expecting and new mothers or birthing people with educational, emotional, and physical support before, during, and after a baby is born. Postpartum doulas’ services can include cooking, help around the house, and various healing modalities. Pro tip: many postpartum doulas are available pro-bono while they are seeking certification.
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- What Do Doulas Do? – LAist’s guide to doulas, including a list of resources to find a doula in Southern California.
- Birthworkers of Color Collective – A collective of birth workers of color providing trainings, workshops, and healing offerings for birthworkers, pregnant people, and their families.
- DONA International – Doula certifying organization that includes a search tool to find prenatal and postpartum doulas.
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Support Groups
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Many support groups and parent and me classes exist throughout Southern California, and the best way to find one is to search online for groups in your area. You might also find these groups through your hospital or places where you find breastfeeding gear. It sometimes helps to look for activities you enjoy (eg. yoga, swimming, dancing) and see if they have “baby and me” classes.
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A few places to start:
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- Kindred Space – A hub for midwifery care, doula support, lactation consulting and support groups.
- LOOM – Provides pregnancy, breastfeeding classes, and a doula directory.
- Lucie’s List – Map of local parent groups.
- Pump Station – Baby supply store that also offers parent and me classes.
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For Black Parents-to-Be
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- What Pregnant Black Women Need To Know To Have A 'Safe And Sacred Birth' – LAist’s guide for Black birthing people.
- AAIMM Doula Program – LA County Department of Public Health runs a program offering free birth doulas to Black birthing people.
- Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective (BEAM) – A national organization focused on Black emotional health care and healing that offers peer support groups, trainings, and grants.
- Black Infants & Families Los Angeles – A multifaceted Department of Public Health initiative that runs a program offering free doulas to Black birthing people. There are also Antelope Valley, South L.A./South Bay, San Gabriel Valley and San Fernando Valley/Santa Clarita- based groups that meet to discuss how to end Black infant and maternal deaths and share resources.
- Parenting For Liberation – a virtual community founded by an Orange County mom that “connects, inspires, and uplifts Black folks as they navigate and negotiate raising Black children within the social and political context of the U.S.”
- Sugar Heal Gang – A collection of Black healers who provides grants through their Black Maternal Health Fund to cover maternity care services.
- The Victoria Project – A fund for birth care outside of a hospital setting (home birth & birth center) to families within Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara counties.
- Black Mental Health Task Force— a coalition of California mental health professionals, community organizations and residents focused on supporting “mental health wellness within the African American community.”
- Black Women For Wellness— An LA- and Stockton-based nonprofit focused on health education and advocacy
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For Partners / Fathers
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- Black Daddy Dialogues – Support group for dads raising Black children, every second Saturday of the month.
- Love Dad – Home visits to fathers and their children throughout L.A. County
- The Expecting Fathers Group for Black Dads – Support group for Black soon-to-be fathers and provides education, support and navigation tools for the prenatal, labor and delivery, postpartum, and early parenting.
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Loss / Grief
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- 'Just Try Again' And Other Things Not To Say - LAist reporting on miscarriage and loss, including a list of local and national support resources.
- Compassionate Friends – Support for parents dealing with loss.
- L.A. County Grief Support Resources – A list of resources for parents and families dealing with infant and fetal loss, service planning area (SPA).
- MISS Foundation – 24/7 online crisis support and long term aid to families after the death of a child from any cause.
- Open Path Collective – Sliding scale therapy.
- Our House Grief Support Center – Open to the community. Fee based on a sliding scale.
- Sisters in Loss – Doula Erica M. Freeman is dedicated to “replacing silence with storytelling around pregnancy and infant loss and infertility of Black women” and hosts a podcast and a virtual support community.
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Social Services
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- 211 – Information and referrals for all health and human services in LA County, including a query for “parent programs.”
- Home Visiting Programs – L.A. County has several free programs with home-based visits to support families with new babies, available depending on hospital, zip codes, and other criteria. First 5 LA gives an overview of the “Welcome Baby” program and participating hospitals. Look up which home visiting programs you might qualify for in the L.A. County home visiting program directory.
- PHFE WIC – Breastfeeding support, healthy foods, and connections to additional financial and social support services for low-income parents.
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