The systematic eradication of black midwives in America is a grievous wound that dramatically impacted birth outcomes for the marginalized birthing bodies. Midwives were primarily people of color or slaves who had attended over 50% of births.The explicit language used in the 20th century referred to it as the "Midwife problem". While we know very well Midwives were not the contribution to infant mortality nor the maternal morbidity rate that they proclaimed as a means of scapegoating, still they were referred to as "Evil, ignorant, and dirty".

In 2020, we are facing a haunting reminder of a blemish on America's history with systematic racism. In an attempt to homogenize and institutionalize support for birthing bodies of all genders, races, financial standings and beliefs; hospitals are attempting to implement policies to diminish the support of doulas in their hospitals. 

Doulas are hired by birthing bodies to ensure transparency between doctors and patient as well as encourage informed consent. Doulas never leave the side of the birthing body, unlike nurses and doctors who must be present for all the of labor and delivery rooms.We are able to immediately alert doctors and nurses in the event that something should go wrong. We are trained to coach our clients through pain relief, to ensure they do not birth alone, and to prevent birthing bodies from common consequences of obstetric negligence and abuse that occur in hospitals. 

Doulas in the time since their erection have PROVEN to reduce outcomes for cesareans, medical intervention as well as ensured healthy, happy, living babies and bodies both. The infant mortality rate according to Roy Cooper, the governor of North Carolina, decreased by 9% in 2016, thus decreasing the outcomes for black babies still to double the chance of dying than white babies. 

The policies implemented by Novant Health in North Carolina and possibly others include:
- Doulas must sign on to hospitals as VENDORS
- ANNUAL FEE of 385, 485$ for NON vendors
- Drug Test
- Background Test
- Up to date on all vaccines
- Full Certification 

The processes for DONA certification, for example, takes years to complete, and REQUIRE that we are in hospitals doing births IN ORDER to be certified. This will effectively remove uncertified doulas, which disproportionately removes doulas of color. This further requires a demand for increase in pricing for doulas, of whom ordinarily work on a sliding scale to be sure they are capable of offering care particularly to birthing bodies unable to pay upwards of 1100 dollars for support. 

The business of medicine is not the business of doulas. These policies are a stark reminder of how we came to the 1 in 3 black maternal morbidity rate as well as the 12.5 infant mortality rate for black children. Very simply, this implementation would reverse our efforts to empower and educate our birthing people and place them in a dangerous return to a darker time in medicine. 

Signing this petition is the first step in fighting for birthing options for marginalized people in this state. Please help us.