Maternity Care in Rural Areas Is in Crisis. Can More Doulas Help?

Morehouse School of Medicine in Georgia has graduated its first class of Perinatal Patient Navigators, a workforce of black women trained as doulas, or childbirth support companions. The move is an attempt to address the state’s exceptionally high rate of maternal mortality, particularly among black women. The doulas are trained to offer support through every stage of the maternal and newborn period, guiding birthing patients through the healthcare system to improve outcomes.