Black Doulas: Potential Benefits and Concerns Surrounding Certification

A recent study conducted in Massachusetts explored this question by surveying Black doulas and doulas from other racial and ethnic backgrounds. Black doulas reported potential benefits of certification, including the importance of credentialing for doulas who have never personally experienced pregnancy or childbirth. Additionally, Black doulas saw an opportunity to train more Black doulas in the community, such as offering women reentering society from prison the opportunity to train as doulas. They also believed that credentialing could lead some hospitals to sponsor and include doulas to address historic racial health inequities.

Black doulas deserve quality certification training that educates and empowers!