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Senate Resolution 108
By: Senators James of the 28th, Mangham of the 55th, Rahman of the 5th and Anderson of
the 43rd
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing January 23, 2025, as Doula Day at the state capitol; and for other purposes.
1
WHEREAS, the Bellies to Babies Foundation has a long-standing reputation for its doula2
training program and effective maternal health support, improving outcomes for mothers and3
babies in the State of Georgia; and4
WHEREAS, obstacles to support in hospitals are a widespread issue, preventing mothers5
from having full autonomy and partnership in decision-making during childbirth, and the6
Bellies to Babies Foundation has trained doulas in the community since 2011, contributing7
to infrastructure changes within hospital systems that have seen decreases in cesarean section8
rates within a year of patients utilizing services from the foundation's trained doulas; and9
WHEREAS, the United States has the highest maternal mortality rate among developed10
countries, with at least half of these deaths being preventable; and11
WHEREAS, peer-reviewed research shows that doulas significantly improve the outcomes12
of laboring and birthing individuals when they have a supportive role on the birth team; and13
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WHEREAS, doulas in Georgia, including Berthina Marquez, Nar Sanders, Janisa, Imani
14
Gunn, Rara Hill, Wendi Wright, Naima Bond, Rosalee Henry, Destiny Muhammad, Simone,15
Ziah McKinney, Danielle Lyles Barton, Chi T Mathias, Zakirah Abdul-Hameed, DEricka16
Smith, Tiffany Bryant, Chanel Stryker, and Corrinna Edwards, are making a meaningful17
difference through their services, agencies, or advocacy; and18
WHEREAS, organizations and programs such as Birthin' with Berthina, Guiding Lite LLC19
Holistic Midwifery & Family Health Services, Doula of the Divine, Morehouse School of20
Medicine, Wellstar, Mothers Helping Hands Atlanta LLC, Chosen Womb, Divine Hands21
Agency, ATLdoula and Disability Advocacy, Blooming All Over, Your Divine Doula, Lamis22
Womb Care, Mamas With Her Wings LLC, the Georgia Community Doula Coalition, and23
the Bellies to Babies Foundation are well-known for servicing Georgia families and24
improving birth outcomes for all; and25
WHEREAS, women of color are more likely to experience discriminatory and inappropriate26
treatment as well as poorer quality of care; and27
WHEREAS, Black mothers are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related28
causes than their white counterparts; and29
WHEREAS, there is a shortage of Black healthcare providers, with data from the Association30
of American Medical Colleges showing that in 2019, only 2.6 percent of doctors and 7.331
percent of medical students identified as Black or African American; and32
WHEREAS, the Black infant mortality rate is more than twice as high as the rate for white33
infants; and34
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WHEREAS, studies suggest that the mortality disparity between Black and white infants
35
decreases when Black infants are treated by Black healthcare providers, and that racism,36
implicit bias, and lack of cultural competency play major roles in infant and maternal37
morbidity and mortality; and38
WHEREAS, Black doulas and doulas of color play an important role in improving birth39
outcomes for Black families; and40
WHEREAS, Ziah McKinney, owner of ATLdoula and Disability Advocacy, is a disabled41
doula who serves the disabled community; more doulas specializing in disability services are42
needed for Georgia's birthing families; and43
WHEREAS, there is a particular shortage of maternity care in rural areas, where fewer than44
half of all rural counties have a practicing obstetrician-gynecologist (OB/GYN) or baby45
delivery services; and46
WHEREAS, the Bellies to Babies Foundation is one of the oldest training programs for47
Black-led doula businesses and agency owners, continuing to increase the number of48
entrepreneurs in birth work, including doulas, birth assistants, community health workers,49
and midwives, with published peer-reviewed research showing that mothers have better50
experiences when utilizing this level of care and services for their births.51
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body52
recognize January 23, 2025, as Doula Day at the state capitol.53
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed
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to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the public and the55
press.56
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