The discussion around offering state-funded doulas to low-income pregnant people might be headed back to the Georgia legislature, advocates and lawmakers say. Supportive legislators are planning to introduce a bill that would allow the state’s Medicaid dollars to fund doula services in an effort to reduce maternal deaths in Georgia. The state has among the […]
Black maternal health
Posted inHealth, Reproductive Health
Why Black Doulas Say They Can’t Fix Georgia’s Maternal Mortality Crisis Alone
Nearly 18 years ago, Elysia Douglas’ friend was headed to Crawford Long Hospital (now Emory Midtown) for the birth of her son and asked if she would come along. The friend’s boyfriend wouldn’t be able to show up for the first part of the birth, and she initially just wanted Douglas to sit next to […]
Posted inHealth, Reproductive Health
Need Help Finding a Black Doula? We Got You.
When it comes to maternal health, Georgia’s reputation as one of the worst places to give birth is well known. According to a Capital B report, since 1994, the state has lost 41 labor and delivery units, including at least six in the metro Atlanta area. Those closures, along with increasing maternal death rates among […]
Posted inHealth, Reproductive Health
Pregnant Women in Georgia Could Qualify for Welfare. Here’s What We Know.
Expecting mothers in low-income households might get some relief if new legislation is passed. Under House Bill 129, filed on behalf of Gov. Brian Kemp, pregnant women who qualify can apply for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, also known as welfare. HB 129 is just one part of Kemp’s initiative to solve the state’s maternal […]
Posted inHealth, Reproductive Health
Emory Midtown’s Labor and Delivery Service Scrutinized After Viral TikTok
When Latasha Gomiller, a southwest Atlanta resident, contacted Emory University Hospital Midtown for her scheduled induction on Aug. 31, she was stunned by the “rude” response she received from the person who answered the phone. With a dismissive tone, the person curtly stated that all the beds were full in the labor and delivery unit. […]
Posted inHealth, Reproductive Health
Despite Temporary ‘Sigh of Relief,’ State Supreme Court Upholds Abortion Law
The state’s highest court just ruled to keep Georgia’s six-week abortion ban in place, ending a short-lived victory for abortion rights advocates. Last Tuesday, a Fulton County Superior Judge ruled the law, HB481, passed in 2019 unconstitutional since it was passed while Roe v. Wade was still in effect. Robert McBurney, the judge in the […]
Posted inElections, Politics
Abortion, Cost of Living, and Housing Motivating Black Women Voters in Metro Atlanta
Before, during and after the Nov. 8 midterm election in Georgia, Capital B Atlanta will be speaking with Black voters to hear your thoughts and share your stories. From the campaign trail to local events, “What Black Voters Are Saying” wants to document the issues most important to you. Want to share your story? Hit […]
Posted inHealth, Reproductive Health
What Are the Biggest Issues For Black Maternal Health in GA? An Expert Explains.
The art of birthing, as she calls it, is one that never grows old for Rose Horton. Six years ago, Horton, a registered nurse from New York City, found herself at Emory Decatur Hospital when it was then known as DeKalb Medical Center. Horton said that she realized working in the Atlanta area would mean […]