To Doula or Not to Doula: Rethinking Maternal Care

Black women in America are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women—a crisis rooted in systemic inequities. In this moving talk, maternal wellness advocate and doula Latham Thomas explores how the growing embrace of doulas is reshaping maternal care and offering a pathway to saving lives. With stories from the front lines of birth work, she reveals why having a doula is more than a trend—it’s a vital intervention that centers women’s voices, restores trust, and reclaims agency in one of life’s most vulnerable moments. Thomas makes a powerful case for reimagining maternal health so that every woman, especially Black women, can give birth with dignity and thrive beyond it.