BLM NH Doula Certification Cohort & Curriculum

Expanding Birth Equity Through Community-Rooted Doula Training

This spring, BLM NH is launching its first Doula Certification Cohort, an essential step in strengthening maternal health outcomes and expanding access to culturally grounded care for Black, Indigenous, and other families of color across New Hampshire.

We are developing our own doula curriculum, built intentionally to center the experiences, histories, and needs of BIPOC birthing people. Our training prioritizes culturally responsive support, trauma-informed practices, and advocacy skills that reflect the realities of navigating healthcare systems that too often overlook or dismiss the concerns of marginalized families.

  • Doulas play a critical role in improving maternal health outcomes. Research consistently shows that doula support can:

    • Reduce the likelihood of birth complications

    • Increase feelings of safety, dignity, and agency during pregnancy and childbirth

    • Improve communication between birthing people and healthcare providers

    • Strengthen emotional and physical support before, during, and after birth

    For BIPOC families—who face disproportionate rates of maternal morbidity and mortality—the presence of a trained, culturally aligned doula is not just supportive; it can be lifesaving.

    Yet New Hampshire currently has a limited number of BIPOC doulas, creating gaps in access and representation during one of life’s most vulnerable and powerful moments.

  • Our goal is to build a pipeline of highly skilled BIPOC doulas who are equipped to:

    • Provide compassionate, culturally grounded birth support
      Advocate for birthing people inside medical settings

    • Address systemic inequities contributing to birthing disparities

    • Strengthen community care networks

    • Expand the maternal health workforce across the state

    By offering this training at no cost to participants, we remove financial barriers and uplift emerging doulas who are deeply connected to the communities they will serve.

Join the BLMNH Maternal Health Committee

Join the BLMNH committee members working to improve Black maternal health through research, programs, and more.

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