SR 108: Doula Day; recognize January 23, 2025

Senate Resolution 108

By: Senators James of the 28th, Mangham of the 55th, Rahman of the 5th and Anderson of the 43rd

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing January 23, 2025, as Doula Day at the state capitol; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, the Bellies to Babies Foundation has a long-standing reputation for its doula training program and effective maternal health support, improving outcomes for mothers and babies in the State of Georgia; and

WHEREAS, obstacles to support in hospitals are a widespread issue, preventing mothers from having full autonomy and partnership in decision-making during childbirth, and the Bellies to Babies Foundation has trained doulas in the community since 2011, contributing to infrastructure changes within hospital systems that have seen decreases in cesarean section rates within a year of patients utilizing services from the foundation's trained doulas; and

WHEREAS, the United States has the highest maternal mortality rate among developed countries, with at least half of these deaths being preventable; and

WHEREAS, peer-reviewed research shows that doulas significantly improve the outcomes of laboring and birthing individuals when they have a supportive role on the birth team; and

WHEREAS, doulas in Georgia, including Berthina Marquez, Nar Sanders, Janisa, Imani Gunn, Rara Hill, Wendi Wright, Naima Bond, Rosalee Henry, Destiny Muhammad, Simone, Ziah McKinney, Danielle Lyles Barton, Chi T Mathias, Zakirah Abdul-Hameed, DEricka Smith, Tiffany Bryant, Chanel Stryker, and Corrinna Edwards, are making a meaningful difference through their services, agencies, or advocacy; and

WHEREAS, organizations and programs such as Birthin' with Berthina, Guiding Lite LLC Holistic Midwifery & Family Health Services, Doula of the Divine, Morehouse School of Medicine, Wellstar, Mothers Helping Hands Atlanta LLC, Chosen Womb, Divine Hands Agency, ATLdoula and Disability Advocacy, Blooming All Over, Your Divine Doula, Lamis Womb Care, Mamas With Her Wings LLC, the Georgia Community Doula Coalition, and the Bellies to Babies Foundation are well-known for servicing Georgia families and improving birth outcomes for all; and

WHEREAS, women of color are more likely to experience discriminatory and inappropriate treatment as well as poorer quality of care; and

WHEREAS, Black mothers are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than their white counterparts; and

WHEREAS, there is a shortage of Black healthcare providers, with data from the Association of American Medical Colleges showing that in 2019, only 2.6 percent of doctors and 7.3 percent of medical students identified as Black or African American; and

WHEREAS, the Black infant mortality rate is more than twice as high as the rate for white infants; and

WHEREAS, studies suggest that the mortality disparity between Black and white infants decreases when Black infants are treated by Black healthcare providers, and that racism, implicit bias, and lack of cultural competency play major roles in infant and maternal morbidity and mortality; and

WHEREAS, Black doulas and doulas of color play an important role in improving birth outcomes for Black families; and

WHEREAS, Ziah McKinney, owner of ATLdoula and Disability Advocacy, is a disabled doula who serves the disabled community; more doulas specializing in disability services are needed for Georgia's birthing families; and

WHEREAS, there is a particular shortage of maternity care in rural areas, where fewer than half of all rural counties have a practicing obstetrician-gynecologist (OB/GYN) or baby delivery services; and

WHEREAS, the Bellies to Babies Foundation is one of the oldest training programs for Black-led doula businesses and agency owners, continuing to increase the number of entrepreneurs in birth work, including doulas, birth assistants, community health workers, and midwives, with published peer-reviewed research showing that mothers have better experiences when utilizing this level of care and services for their births.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body recognize January 23, 2025, as Doula Day at the state capitol. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the public and the press.