Oklahoma Birth Equity Initiative

We had the pleasure of participating in the Oklahoma Perinatal Quality Improvement Collaborative (OPQIC) summit recently. Not only did we attend the conference, OKBEI community doula Kaytlin, took to the podium to share personal testimony to help empower people and understand biases in the healthcare field. ????

This is why our mission is so important ????

You can get 12 months of postpartum care if: - You are in a Medicaid program that covers the birth of a child. This includes Medicaid for pregnant women. - You were a SoonerCare member while pregnant sometime between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2022, but you are no longer pregnant and were a SoonerCare member on Jan. 1, 2023. - Your pregnancy ended 60 days before Jan. 1, 2023 (between Nov. 1-Dec. 31, 2022). - You become pregnant on or after Jan. 1, 2023. Postpartum care starts when your pregnancy ends. Your 12-month postpartum care period will end on the last day of the 12th month. ????

La'Ebony is a dedicated mother, wife, and Chicago native who has successfully owned her own cosmetology business. She specializes in serving the justice involved, teen moms, and in substance abuse recovery on occasion. ?? La'Ebony was called to this doula after her experiences a teen mother, being in and out of jail pregnant, time in foster care, poor hospital treatment, and emancipation. During one of her pregnancies, La'Ebony's midwife suggested she look into becoming a doula; something she had never heard of before. La'Ebony then found the OKBEI program. Today, La'Ebony is a mother of 8 and a certified community based doula. ? Her commitment to empowering families reflects her deep belief in the importance of compassionate care during this transformative time. ????

Honoring the brilliance and resilience of Black Moms of Tulsa, founded by Ariel Faulk—an inviting space for Black mothers to unite, uplift, and nurture one another while raising our melanin kings and queens in a world that may not recognize their inherent greatness. Rooted in the spirit of community and tradition, Ariel’s mission is to weave a network of love and empowerment, where Black motherhood is celebrated as the foundation of cultural pride and generational strength. As a proud member of Queens Village Tulsa's advisory board since 2022, Ariel embodies the essence of service, ensuring Black mothers are supported, uplifted, and celebrated. ???? #BlackMothersUnite #MelaninMagic #CulturalRoots

LaChelle is a certified Community-Based Doula deeply dedicated to holistic practices. She completed her training in our Community-Based Doula Training Cohort #8 and has been a doula with OKBEI for 1 year! ? LaChelle demonstrated active engagement in ReproduceU, a policy advocacy-driven cohort focused on enhancing reproductive health outcomes. Embracing the role of a doula as a profound calling, she wholeheartedly aims to provide clients with essential education and support during this sacred time, regarding it as a significant honor that demands utmost reverence. She considers herself blessed by the opportunity to be an agent of the change she aspires to see and to embody this change daily. ?? She is a native of Tulsa, a wife, mom, LaLa, and a growing herbal business owner. ??

If you’ve already had a Cesarean birth (also called c-section), you may be able to have your next baby vaginally. This is called a vaginal birth after cesarean (also called VBAC). More than 6 to 8 out of 10 women (more than 60-80 percent) who try VBAC are successful in having their baby vaginally. ??

Last week, Omare led a morbidity panel and presented a lecture on Maternal Health disparities at the AMEA & Haruv Simulation. Medical professionals and students present learned how to build trust to improve Black Maternal Health in Tulsa. ????????

Say hello to the newest OKBEI Doula Program graduates! We are incredibly proud of this group who will go on to bring birth equity and justice to the community through their care. We can't wait to see the good you do. Congratulations! ????? Community Based Doula Training is supported with funding from Ascension St. John! ??

Working to tear down systems that cause disparities, also means taking time to hear from community and take care of ourselves. Thanks to our partner Andreya M. Williams, Ph.D. for allowing us to take a moment to exhale with beautiful company and great conversations.