The beauty of childbirth can be life changing. However, every two minutes, the time it may take to do a small task in our people's lives, a woman dies during pregnancy or childbirth, according to a February 2023 report from the World Health Organization.

“Not only is the United States one of the most dangerous places to give birth in overall, but for Black women, we are three-to-four times more likely to die in childbirth in the United States,” New York state Sen. Samra Brouk said.

What You Need To Know

  • One woman dies every two minutes from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth, according to a new multi-agency report from the United Nations and World Health Organization, among others

  • Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women, according to the CDC

  • Black Maternal Health week is observed April 11 through the 17th, raising awareness of Black women's maternal mortality rate in U.S.

Brouk also shared that in Monroe County, the maternal mortality rates are forty percent higher than the state’s average. It inspired her to advocate for Black maternal health. 

“The fire that really got me going was the fact that as a Black woman, I became a mother right here in Monroe County, two years ago and saw for myself what that process looks like and really the fear that a lot of Black women face going through this process,” Brouk said.

Brouk has found doula care to be a strong piece in fighting against the maternal mortality crisis. As of January 2024, any birthing person on Medicaid can have access to doulas and be reimbursed through their insurance. That represents almost 50% of births in New York state.

“I know that I wouldn't be here if it weren't for my doula,” Brouk said. “My daughter wouldn't be a healthy 2-year-old if it weren't for the care I had for my doula.”

Finding a calling to serve those in the community, the owner of royalty birth services, Phyllis Sharp, has had an interest in birth since she was 17 years old.

“All my clients call me Auntie Phyllis,” Sharp said. “So I have lots of nephews now. So it is clearly fantastic. It is the best job. I call it the best job on earth. Right. I get to cuddle babies and cold mamas and hold space for them, making sure they're doing okay.”

Sharp is a mother of five and grandmother to nine children, extending her love from her own family to others, she has helped assist over 200 mothers through her business Royalty Birth Services.

“Our most vulnerable population here in Monroe County did not have access to doulas, and now they do, which is fantastic,” Sharp said. “Because we hear stories of what some people will say, they're being forced to do things that they don't want to do, that they don't understand what's going on. So we want to make sure that they're taken care of throughout this, throughout their pregnancy journey.”

Providing guidance and support for women during pregnancy, birth and postpartum, Sharp has been there every step of the way. 

“We're here to make sure they're doing OK,” Sharp said. “We're here to make sure that the family is thriving. And that makes us feel so great to see so many great stories that are coming out of having people having doulas, not only us, but any other doulas in our area as well too.”

Brouk and Sharp hope the roles they serve will continue to give women the health care they and their infants deserve.