Doula Latham Thomas on Black Maternal Mortality and Advocating For Change

Maternal mortality rates in the U.S. have seen an unsettling spike in recent years, disproportionately affecting Black women. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 44 deaths per 100,000 were in 2019 were Black women, 2.5 times the rate for white women. As a result, doula Latham Thomas is dedicated to calling attention to the issue. 

Thomas, founder of MamaGlow, a brand dedicated to supporting women along the childbearing continuum and recent partner of Carol’s Daughter to advance their Love Delivered initiative, is a proponent of working to make the birthing process a safer and more supportive experience for Black women. 

Not only do Black women face a higher maternal mortality rate, but they are also more likely to experience maternal morbidity. The CDC states that Black women are twice as likely to have conditions caused or worsened by pregnancy, including but not limited to cardiac arrest, extreme blood loss, and sepsis. 

Due to the 15% increase in maternal mortality rates in 2019 and the heightening overall risks, many women and their families are looking to doulas to provide emotional support and an added layer of safety. Unlike midwives who provide clinical expertise, doulas specialize in providing emotional support and advocating for the mother, the baby, and the family during a process that can be stressful.

In a conversation with Refinery 29 and R29Unbothered, Latham Thomas raises awareness about the disparity and dangers of Black maternal health and how doulas are making an effort to enact change. 

“How you’re born into motherhood or parenthood matters, and so the idea that you can just be treated any kind of way is not acceptable. Protecting Black life starts before birth,” says Thomas.

To propel the awareness of the support that can be provided by doulas, MamaGlow “launched a global doula training program, which primarily services people of color who come to really service, support and advocate alongside birthing people — particularly Black folks who are navigating this reproductive health experience, but primarily pregnancy and birth,” Thomas explained. She went on to report that there has been a noticeable increase in demand for doulas, as many see the value of having someone to guide them through such a momentous process. 

In response to being asked why she felt compelled to partner with Carol’s Daughter for the Love Delivered initiative, Thomas replied:

“[Carol’s Daughter CEO] Lisa Price is someone I’ve known for a long time and who has been a friend. Carol’s Daughter’s primarily serves Black women with their products, and I think Lisa has seen what we’ve done over the years and thought, ‘How can I be a part of what you all are doing?’ So we decided to join forces.” She continued, “This partnership fits into Mama Glow’s work and allows us to continue to make an impact on our communities, and really drive forward the need for better maternal health outcomes, better information, better advocacy tools, and better health for all of us.”

To read the full conversation, check out Thomas’s discussion with Refinery29 here, and learn more about MamaGlow’s mission on their official website.