Why every mom deserves a doula (and how Texas is stepping up to help)

Bringing new life into the world is a beautiful thing, but in the U.S., it can be dangerous—especially if you’re a Black or Brown mom. Black women are over three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women. And for many Hispanic moms, language barriers and cultural gaps can make the experience feel isolating and overwhelming.

This isn’t just a healthcare problem; it’s a problem with how we treat, center, and respect women during a vulnerable time in their lives. And it’s an acute, life-threatening crisis for Black and Brown mothers and their babies. Too many moms are dismissed, ignored, or left to navigate a broken system without the support they deserve.

Birth is uncertain and often scary for women. In the decade since I first became a mom, a vast body of research has proven what many of us intuitively knew: that having direct support for moms in the form of doulas (birth support people) during labor makes birth safer. “Doula care in perinatal care was significantly correlated with positive delivery outcomes including reduced cesarean and premature deliveries,” a comprehensive 2023 study found.  

Related: 3 tips on childbirth recovery from a postpartum doula

During my first labor, I was in so much pain and shock that I couldn’t even speak up for myself. My husband presumed everything was fine since I wasn’t talking. But I wasn’t. I felt more pain and uncertainty than at any time in my life, and was physically unable to articulate my needs or explore changes to my birth that would have made things more comfortable and supported. Our baby was born needing some interventions, and it was overall a pretty traumatic start to new motherhood. 

By the time I had my second baby, I knew I needed help—and I hired a doula. She was my advocate, my coach, and honestly, my lifeline to a better birth. At one point during my labor, she stepped in to ask the nurse to stop yelling at me—words I wanted to say but couldn’t speak. She made sure I was heard when I couldn’t find the words.

Moms shouldn’t have to figure this out on our own in the midst of the uncertainty of childbirth. That’s why what’s happening in Texas right now is such a big deal.

How Texas is pioneering safer births with doulas

The Community Doula Program in Tarrant County is here to make birth safer and more empowering for moms—especially Black and Brown moms. Thanks to $1.96 million in federal funding, the program just trained 120 new doulas, and it’s also rolling out TeamBirth, a communication system to make sure moms, their doulas, and their medical teams are all on the same page during labor and delivery.

According to a new Fort Worth Star-Telegram report, TeamBirth launched in seven hospitals across Tarrant County, including Texas Health Resources and JPS Health Network facilities. The system uses structured huddles and planning boards in hospital rooms so that everyone involved in the birth knows exactly what’s going on.

Translation: moms stay informed, and their voices finally get the space they deserve in the decision-making process.

Why every mom needs a birth advocate like a doula

Here’s what makes doulas so powerful: they’re all about you. They’re not medical providers, but they are trained to support you emotionally, physically, and—most importantly—advocate for you.

For moms who’ve felt dismissed or ignored in medical settings, doulas are game-changers. They make sure you understand your options, that your preferences are honored, and that consent is always part of the process.

Sofia Pimienta, one of the program’s graduates, gets it. After a traumatic first birth, she hired a doula for her second pregnancy and finally felt empowered and respected during her birth. Now, as a trained doula herself, she’s helping other moms feel the same empowerment she experienced.

Related: A pep talk for pregnant mamas from a doula—you can do this

Why this is a win for all moms

This program focuses on reducing racial disparities in maternal care, which is absolutely critical. But it’s also a reminder that every mom deserves to feel supported during birth.

Let’s be real—birth is emotional, vulnerable, and, yes, sometimes scary. Having someone by your side who knows how to advocate for you, calm you, and keep things on track can make all the difference.

And it’s not just about getting through labor—it’s about setting moms up for success afterward. When moms feel heard and supported, they recover better, bond with their babies more easily, and are healthier—physically and emotionally. 

The U.S. historically has not invested in maternal care and postpartum support. In England, a midwife supports moms during birth and provides home visits for weeks afterward, all free of charge through the National Health Service (NHS) program), and it shows. Programs like this one in Texas prove that investing in birth support isn’t just the right thing to do—it saves lives and changes families for the better. 

Sources:

1. Effect of doulas on mother and birth. PubMed Central. 2023. “The Effect of Doulas on Maternal and Birth Outcomes: A Scoping Review.”
2. New doula program. AOL. 2024. “New doula program uses advocacy to target racial gap in maternal mortality in Fort Worth”
3. US ranks in maternal care. AJMC. 2020. “US Ranks Worst in Maternal Care, Mortality Compared With 10 Other Developed Nations.”
4. Maternity care in England. Maternity Action. 2022. “NHS maternity care for women from abroad (in England)”