We’ve come a long way from the dangers of centuries ago, but we still have a long way to go. As we step into World Doula Week (March 22nd–28th) and wrap up Women’s History Month, we at CHOICES declare our determination to persevere in solving continuing problems and meeting new challenges.
IMAGINE THIS
It’s 1501, and you wake up pregnant—a potential death sentence. With no sterility, pain relief, or medical knowledge, childbirth is agony. You sit in a wooden chair, clutching religious relics for comfort, while a woman with a lot of experience but limited expertise does her best to help. You make your will. Survival is uncertain.
Today, despite much greater knowledge and technological developments there are still enormous challenges for women’s health, especially maternal and postpartum care, with shocking disparities in serious medical problems and death rates between white, and poor and young Black women.
Statistics in a recent report revealed that the U.S. has a shocking maternal mortality rate when compared with other developed countries. An even more upsetting fact is that Black women in the U.S. had a maternal mortality rate more than double the U.S. rate overall! Although the number of deaths from maternal mortality is relatively low (22.3 per 100,000), the U.S. number was more than 50% higher than the rate of the next closest country (Chile). The real shock is that most of the reasons are quite preventable.
WHEN BEING SERENA WILLIAMS DIDN’T MATTER
HOW SERENA SAVED HER OWN LIFE
Read what the tennis champ Serena Williams wrote in Elle Magazine about the childbirth trauma that almost killed her.
(Excerpted from the article of the same name written by tennis great Serena Williams, Elle Magazine, April 5, 2022. In the article, she movingly tells about her wanted pregnancy and the difficult birth of her daughter, Olympia. We encourage you to read the entire article at Elle.)
“Giving birth to my baby, it turned out, was a test for how loud and how often I would have to call out before I was finally heard…In 2010, I learned I had blood clots in my lungs – clots that, had they not been caught in time, could have killed me. Ever since then, I’ve lived in fear of them returning. It wasn’t a one-off, I’m at high risk for blood clots. I asked a nurse, ‘When do I start my heparin drip? Shouldn’t I be on that now?’ The response was, ‘well, we don’t really know if that’s what you need to be on right now.’ No one was really listening to what I was saying…”
Later, “I spoke to the nurse. I told her: ‘I need to have a CAT scan of my lungs bilaterally, and then I need to be on my heparin drip.’ She said, ‘I think all this medicine is making you talk crazy.’ I said, ‘No, I’m telling you what I need: I need the scan immediately. And I need it to be done with dye.’.. She told me I just needed to rest. But I persisted: ‘I’m telling you, this is what I need. Finally the nurse called my doctor, and she listened to me and insisted we check. I fought hard, and I ended up getting the CAT scan. I’m so grateful to her. Lo and behold, I had a blood clot in my lungs, and they needed to insert a filter into my veins to break up the clot before it reached my heart.
“In the U.S., Black women are nearly three times more likely to die during or after childbirth than their white counterparts. Many of these deaths are considered by experts to be preventable. Being heard and appropriately treated was the difference between life or death for me. I know those statistics would be different if the medical establishment listened to every Black woman’s experience.”
“Being heard and appropriately treated was the difference between life or death for me…”
The odds of cesarean delivery were 40.9% lower for Medicaid-funded births with doula support than for Medicaid-funded births generally. Among vulnerable subgroups, such as Black women, lower cesarean and preterm rates for doula-supported births are indicative of the role doulas could play in reducing persistent racial/ethnic disparities in these outcomes if high-quality doula services were made financially and culturally accessible to women at highest risk of poor outcomes.
New findings from the NYC Dept of Health in 2025 reported that 66 New Yorkers died during pregnancy or within one year from the end of pregnancy in 2022 – up from 58 such deaths the year before. Among those who died during or within a year of pregnancy, 42.4 percent were Black, while Black New Yorkers accounted for 17.4 percent of live births that year.
The new report also concluded that preventable things – differences in health insurance, the use of midwives, and the existence of parental leave may contribute to the gap between the U.S. and other countries in maternal death.
But pregnant women do not have to suffer such outrages. CHOICES is determined to do our part to change things.
While obviously CHOICES is not able to impact all of these factors, we feel strongly that prenatal care beginning in early pregnancy—including Doula care—care that is patient-centered with the woman’s health and concerns foremost, is critical to ensure a positive outcome.
Now we are especially excited to announce that CHOICES has recently begun a full-scale Doula and Hospitalist Program to assist women with all aspects of prenatal and maternal care. CHOICES will continue to provide the very best in prenatal and maternal health care, and offering this service will help pregnant women learn more about their bodies and how to take the best care of themselves between office visits.
Anna is a full-spectrum doula, student midwife, and childbirth educator from New York. She trained with Carriage House Birth in Brooklyn and supports individuals and families through major life transitions, including birth, postpartum, abortion, adoption, loss, and end-of-life care.
Anna believes these experiences deserve to be met with dignity and respect. She approaches her work with deep trust in the body and offers both evidence-based education and emotional presence. Anna is deeply committed to community and equitable care; as a doula, she prioritizes meeting people where they are, honoring their lived experiences, and providing informed support during vulnerable and transformative moments.
A WINDOW INTO OUR DEDICATED DOULA'S DAY
When Jasmine, a 29-year-old first time mom, came in at 22 weeks, she told me she was feeling “excited, but a little overwhelmed.” She had been reading the most popular baby books, listening to birth podcasts, and scrolling online- the information felt endless and conflicting. Read More
Dr. Andrea Olanescu has joined our team as part of our exciting new partnership to enhance our prenatal program by performing deliveries at Flushing Hospital and New York Presbyterian Queens.
Dr. Olanescu is a board-certified OB/GYN and a Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, bringing over 25 years of experience and an extraordinary record of delivering more than 10,000 babies. Throughout her distinguished career, she has also played a pivotal role in training multiple generations of OB/GYN physicians.
When asked about her work, Dr. Olanescu shares with heartfelt conviction: “Delivering babies is my lifetime passion.”
A dedicated advocate for women’s health, Dr. Olanescu is passionate about empowering women to make informed, confident decisions about their futures. We are honored to have her join us in providing compassionate, expert care to our prenatal patients and their families. Together, we’re committed to delivering healthier outcomes and the highest quality of care.
Doula Support at CHOICES
Abortion Doula Support
Making decisions about your body can be overwhelming. An abortion doula provides compassionate, non-judgmental support before, during, and after your procedure:
- Emotional grounding and reassurance
- Breathing and comfort measures
- Information and resources to help you feel empowered
Learn More about Abortion Doula Services at CHOICES.
Prenatal Doula Support
Pregnancy brings joy but also questions. A prenatal doula ensures you feel cared for and informed:
- Reduce stress with personalized guidance
- Understand childbirth options with confidence
- Receive continuous care alongside your medical team
Learn More about Prenatal Doula Support at CHOICES.
Birth & Hospital Support
Your doula is by your side throughout labor and delivery:
- Early labor comfort techniques
- Breathing, relaxation, and massage support
- Advocacy to help you feel seen and heard
- Partner support to keep them confident and present
- Post-birth bonding and breastfeeding guidance
Take The Next Step
Book your consultation today and discover how doula care can transform your experience.
GENEROUS DONATIONS SUPPORT OUR WORK. THANK YOU!
At CHOICES Institute of Women’s Health, our non-profit organization, we are on a mission to empower women and girls around the world, ensuring they have access to the education, services, and support they need to thrive and achieve their full potential. But we can’t do it alone; we need your help. Your tax deductible donation can make a real difference in the lives of countless individuals.