Los Angeles, California
Avery Bright
My journey into the world of doula work is deeply rooted in my personal experiences and commitment to serving marginalized communities. As a Black Jamaican queer woman who has navigated the complexities of raising a family and building a career in diverse environments, I have come to understand the profound impact of culturally competent and empathetic support during the transformative experiences of reproductive care and justice framework, childbirth, lactation, postpartum, newborn care, bereavement and grief support. I began my career as a full-spectrum doula inspired by my own birthing challenges and experiences, I am a mother of 4 (twin daughter 33 and sons 25 and 22), however, what struck me harder than my own challenges, were the facts, stories, challenges and barriers that black mothers/birthers and their infants were experiencing. The Black maternal/prenatal and infant mortality rate in America is alarming and according to the CDC, “Black women in the United States are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than White women. In 2022, the maternal mortality rate for Black women/birthers was 49.5 deaths per 100,000 live births, which is higher than the rates for White (19.0), Hispanic (16.9), and Asian (13.2) women/birthers. Some factors that contribute to these disparities include: Variation in quality healthcare, Underlying chronic conditions, Structural racism, Implicit bias, and lack of access to paid parental leave.” I wanted to be part of the solution, I began by becoming a newborn care specialist and now I've expanded my services to include full-spectrum doula, radical reproductive justice advocacy, death, grief, end-of-life doula and future IBCLC and midwife. Beginning with self, propelled me into what had been calling me for decades. Here I am, more ready than ever to expand my career and serve my community. Helping others understand the unique challenges black birthers face, is one of my goals, understanding the problems is the first step in working towards the solution. The realization I found is that many Black families do not receive the support they need to thrive. These realizations propelled me into expanding my career as a newborn care specialist to include full-spectrum doula, lactation educator, death and end-of-life doula and currently working towards becoming a childbirth educator, IBCLC and eventually a midwife. My work has always been centered around advocacy for BIPOC and LGBTQIA2S+ communities, ensuring that all families, regardless of their background, receive the compassionate and personalized care they deserve. In my practice I center black and brown folks and prioritize a holistic approach that encompasses not only the physical aspects of reproductive health care but also the emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being of my clients, their partners and their family members. I believe that they all deserve to feel empowered, respected, and supported throughout the birthing person's journey and other reproductive health care scenarios. This belief drives me to provide comprehensive care that includes prenatal visits, continuous labor support, immediate postpartum lactation support, postpartum visits, newborn care and when needed abortion support, bereavement and grief support. My goal is to create a safer and nurturing environment where my clients, their partners, and family members, can feel heard, valued, and confident in the birthing person’s birth choices and beyond. Whatever their reproductive heath care needs may be. One of the core tenets of my philosophy is the importance of community and connection. I actively engage with support groups, and I'm looking forward to connecting with clinics, hospitals, community and faith-based organizations, and through social media, to support and advocate for reproductive health care rights and justice, recruiting clients and building a network of support. I understand that addressing the disproportionately high rates of Black/African American infant and maternal/prenatal/infant mortality rates in this country requires a collective effort. By fostering strong relationships within communities, I aim to raise awareness of the value of Black doula support and ensure that more Black families have access to these vital services. I am committed to continuous learning and professional development. Attending trainings on lactation, trauma-informed care, full spectrum doula support, newborn care, lactation education, bereavement and grief support, billing and including sliding scales to increase accessibility, and data collection allows me to provide the highest standard of care and to be inclusive to my clients and my community. Moreover, I value the opportunity to present my work and facilitate client support groups, as these activities help to amplify the voices of Black families and promote best practices and cultural traditions, within the doula community. What matters most to me when supporting clients and their families is their autonomy and dignity. EVERY birthing person should have the RIGHT to make informed decisions about their care, and it is my role to provide them with the information, resources, and emotional support they need to do so. I strive to be a compassionate advocate, a reliable partner, and a source of strength for my clients, their families and the communities I serve, by helping them navigate their unique paths to parenthood, reproductive health care, midlife care and through death/dying/end-of-life care, bereavement, and grief, with confidence and grace and to provide support to their folks and to communities in which they live.
