A death doula walks the space between living and dying – and that space can be vast. It’s a myth that death doulas only offer their support during the eleventh hour of life. It’s a fact that death doulas fluidly move wherever they are called, serving at the threshold of life and death along its many stops before the final moment of dying.

Unfortunately many people, both in medical professions and in the general public, view doula care for pregnant, birthing, and postpartum parents as an expensive luxury. But would people view doula care differently if they knew that the presence of a doula before, during, and after birth can act as preventative care against physical and mental health complications related togiving birth?

I am here to tell you my origin story: how I chose to become a death doula, and just how much it means to me. My journey to becoming a death doula began in 2017, with the death of my grandfather, whom I called Papa.

The statistics for black and brown birthing people are terrible. In Tennessee black people are 69% more likely to die than white people. It’s heartbreaking and maddening and dire. I asked Kaila, “Why? What can we do?”

To me, death is a part of life that we cannot avoid. But what happens at the time of death and afterwards, has always been an unknown.

Support from death doulas during the time of death addresses various aspects of the dying process: emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual.

When Taja Iglesias, a young BIPOC girl with a Spanish last name, gave birth in southern Florida over a decade ago, she had no idea that her experience would inspire her to create a doula agency that would support families in the U.S. and beyond.

I experienced a very traumatic birth with my first child that caused physical injuries to both of us, as well as postpartum depression and the inability to breastfeed. My family doctor, who had been at my first birth and knew what I wanted to avoid, suggested a doula.

When his grandfather passed away, Marquis Allen flew in from out of town to pay his respects and be with his family during a delicate and sad time. After some reflection and research, Marquis learned about the existence of death doulas, trained professionals who assist families in taking care of the end of life planning.

Doulas support all kinds of people and all kinds of births, without judgement. If every mother felt heard and supported in her birth, just imagine the potential impact on maternal physical and mental health worldwide.

What is an End-of-Life Doula and how do they support families? Sheila Burke, death doula, author, and Global Doula Project grant recipient, explains.

Before my first baby was born I remember being home on maternity leave and feeling a bit lost, like I didn’t have a purpose…