Currently, EverThrive IL is hosting its Grand Rounds Virtual Training for healthcare providers who work with prenatal and postpartum populations in hospital settings. The training is designed to deepen understanding of how implicit bias and systemic racism affect patients’ pregnancy, birthing, and postpartum experiences. It also focuses on strengthening provider awareness of the important role doulas play in supporting birthing people and explores how healthcare providers and doulas can work together to improve outcomes and create more patient-centered care within hospital systems.
We continue to offer this training because implicit bias remains a persistent issue throughout the birthing experience, contributing to inequities in maternal health outcomes across Illinois and the nation. Last year, CBS News reported on a Black pregnant woman who was denied care while in pain in a hospital lobby and ultimately gave birth on the side of the road in her car. Unfortunately, this story is not an isolated incident. It reflects the very real experiences many Black birthing people face when their concerns are dismissed or minimized in medical settings.
According to the most recent Illinois Department of Public Health Maternal Morbidity and Mortality Report, Black women in Illinois were more than twice as likely to die from pregnancy-related conditions and three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related medical conditions than white women. The report also found that nearly all pregnancy-related deaths reviewed were considered at least somewhat preventable. Additionally, Black women were more likely than Hispanic or white women to experience discrimination as a contributing factor in pregnancy-related deaths.
At EverThrive IL, we are committed to uplifting the birthing experiences of BIPOC communities and working to eliminate these disparities. One critical way to support healthier outcomes is by expanding awareness and integration of doulas into maternal healthcare systems, particularly for communities of color. Research has shown that doulas can help reduce cesarean births, lower rates of preterm birth, improve breastfeeding outcomes, and increase overall patient satisfaction during pregnancy and childbirth. By expanding access to doula support within hospital settings, more patients can receive the culturally responsive care, advocacy, and emotional support they need to achieve positive birth outcomes.
Understanding the role of doulas within hospital systems is especially important because many birthing people report feeling unheard or unsupported during their care. Through focus groups hosted on the South and West sides of Chicago, EverThrive IL heard directly from community members who shared that healthcare providers did not always listen to or validate their experiences regarding their own bodies and pregnancies. Participants also described how trust between providers and birthing people is often damaged, leading some individuals to avoid seeking postpartum care altogether.
Integrating doulas into healthcare teams can help bridge these gaps in communication and trust. Doulas provide continuous support throughout pregnancy, labor, and postpartum recovery, while also helping patients better understand medical information and advocate for their needs. Their presence can strengthen connections between providers and patients and ensure birthing people feel seen, heard, and supported throughout their care journey.
By continuing to educate healthcare providers on implicit bias, racial disparities, and the value of doulas, EverThrive IL hopes to help create a more equitable maternal healthcare system where every birthing person receives respectful, compassionate, and high-quality care.