As Mississippi’s maternal health system struggles, doulas move from rarity to mainstream. With one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the country, many soon-to-be mothers are turning to doulas for support before, during and after childbirth.
The state’s maternal mortality rate is 39.1 deaths per 100,000 live births, according to the World Population Review. This is 66% higher than the national average of 17.4. Mississippi ranked last among 52 jurisdictions for preterm births in the 2024 March of Dimes report, with 5,017 babies born prematurely.
To fill that gap, doulas, or nonmedical professionals who provide emotional, physical and informational support during pregnancy and childbirth, are becoming more common…