Sabra Barker Brown bags up diapers and wipes for Diana Dorr and her 7-month-old daughter, Shayahu Ellis, on Wednesday, March 27, at Delighted to Doula in Dallas.A few months after Si'Mone Scott gave birth to her daughter, she knew something was off.
“I called the 988 suicide line, because I was needing their help,” she said. “I was searching for it. I just wasn't getting it. And I felt like I exhausted all of my resources of trying to find it.” In Texas, obstetric hemorrhage was the most common cause of pregnancy-related death, followed by mental health conditions and non-cerebral thrombotic embolism , according to the
She said health issues that happen after giving birth can often start small, with minor pain or swelling. These issues can be easy for people to ignore as they’re caring for a newborn and managing a household. She said part of her work as a doula is helping people to advocate for their health needs, because “you are an expert in your body.”
But she’s hopeful her research will underline the importance of cultural competency and equity training for doctors to better serve Black and other pregnant patients of color.