Right to Informed Consent, Right to a Doula: An Evidence-Based Solution to the Black Maternal Mortality Crisis in the United States

This Note seeks to build on existing research about how improve childbirth in the United States for women, particularly Black given States’ extremely high maternal mortality rate. Through examining history and characteristics of American Western childbirth, it explore current birth framework contributes mortality. To fight this ongoing harm, I suggest increasing access doulas— nonmedical support workers who provide “continuous support” birthing person. seek others by identifying ways medicalized practices fail possible solutions crisis. that end, examine pathologization paternalism medicine, early gynecologists’ experimentation enslaved women reverberates context today, as both a cause medical racism paternalism, symptom misogyny, misogynoir, racism. Furthermore, builds work field suggesting solution has become more popular recent years: use doulas labor childbirth. identify why are such an excellent tool combat issues plague women’s pregnancy births country, specifically against backdrop racism, law have hamstrung ability safely birth. Finally, workable increase usage most need support: adding “maternity newborn care” essential health benefit, one ten benefits private insurers required cover under ACA.