Season 8 Episode 3: Mama Bird: Serving the Community Through Compassionate Doula Services

InCast

Mama Bird Doula Services' mission is to improve the maternal health outcomes for Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color (BIPOC) and their babies in their community. They believe that all birthing persons and their families should feel Safe, Seen, and Heard. Through lived experience, the founder of Mama Bird, Birdie Johnson, came to understand the importance of having complete support and information to make decisions for the best possible outcomes. Knowing that this support and information is often missing, she made it her mission to be sure that others would have a better birth and postpartum experience than she had. Because knowledge is power, she set out to make the childbearing year better for those in her community.

Today’s podcast includes the history of Mama Bird Doula Services as we visit with Felicia Hawkins, Director of Doula Program, and Emma Lemke, Director of Communications and Outreach. Felicia is a seasoned healthcare professional and dedicated advocate for expectant mothers and Mama Bird’s Doula Mentor. With 24 years of dynamic patient/client care, a doula certification, and robust nursing expertise, Felicia brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to the organization. Her alignment with Mama Bird's mission of empowering BIPOC pregnant individuals for better birth outcomes further amplifies her impact as Mama Bird’s Doula Mentor. Emma is a dedicated professional with a background in program management and volunteer coordination, driven by her fervent commitment to reproductive justice. Her unwavering commitment to reproductive justice, bodily autonomy, queer and trans liberation, and anti-racism is evident and aligns with Mama Bird’s mission of increasing visibility for families of color.

Listen and Learn:

• What gap was seen in maternity care for first black and then all people of color that Mama Bird aims to close

• Who qualifies for the services Mama Bird Doula Services offers

• What challenges or barriers do Mama Bird’s clients face

• How the doulas who work with Mama Bird are trained

• What the “Care-Team” model is

• Who funds the work that the organization does

• What makes Mama Bird's services different from other organizations

• How listeners can create a program similar to Mama Bird in their own area

Resources & Mentions:

Mama Bird Doula Services

InJoy Products:

Understanding Pregnancy Curriculum

Understanding Birth Curriculum

Understanding Breastfeeding Curriculum

Understanding Your Newborn Curriculum