Perpetual Doula Education Fund

Want To Train As A Doula?

We are excited to announce the Perpetual Doula Education fund!

    Have you read the doula stats in the news: 50% reduction in cesarean rate, 25% shorter labor, 60% reduction in epidural requests, 30% reduction in pain medication use, 40% reduction in forceps delivery, 40% reduction in oxytocin (pitocin) use. Dr. Kennell said that "Ïf doulas were a drug, it would be unethical not to use it."

    In TN we are seeing the following birth stats. "Between 2019 and 2021, there was a decrease in the number of early neonatal deaths (deaths among infants 0 to 6 days old). However, the number of late fetal deaths (fetal deaths greater than 28+ weeks) increased between 2019 and 2021." Also, maternal complications of pregnancy are ranked 5th in Tennessee for leading causes of 2021 infant deaths. The number of infant deaths per 1000 live births is 6.2 in Tennessee and 5.4 in the nation. We are still higher than the national average, but the rate has gotten better since 2017 where it was 7.4 in TN. 55% of the deaths were due to the baby being preterm in the preterm babies group. From the low birthweight group 57% of the deaths were due to the baby starting out with low birth weight. Whereas "post-neonatal mortality rate (2.4 and 3.0 deaths per 1000 live births) increased between" 2020 and 2021. "Racial disparity continues to exist in sleep-related deaths. Over the past 5 years Black infants were 2-4 times as likely to suffer a sleep-related fatality as White infants." Could better support and education have changed these outcomes? (TN 2023 Child Fatality Annual Report p. 26 - 29)

   Given the great doula stats listed above, one idea to help Tennessee families is more doulas from the communities at risk. Simple right? Unfortunately, these women have problems paying basic bills, so paying for a $1000 doula training is out of the question. Plus, even if they paid for and attended a training only about 16% of people trained as doulas actually work as doulas due to lack of support in the doula field.

    We are excited to announce the Perpetual Doula Education Fund. With this program potential doulas from at risk areas and populations can start training right away for as little as $15. Then, they get support and only pay $15 a month for 6 more months and the PDEF is refilled, allowing another doula to get trained. It is that simple!

   We also created a second option if they want financial support for getting doula tools too. They pay $40 to start training and then $40 a month for 6 more months. We will train them plus give them a "doula kit" including a rebozo, knitted breast, peanut ball, Class on Mental Health, First Aid Trained, t-shirt, name badge, Cultural Training Class, and Lactation Counselor class.

    Our goal is to make doula training affordable and provide quality education, plus support. 

    The Perpetual Doula Education Fund is not about the money, it’s about giving a better education and support to at-risk communities to have a change now. It’s a leadership program where we help people become more effective leaders in their community.

    Consequently, the fund produces a “multiplier effect.” We train one doula who teaches and supports moms in making better choices who in turn share the ideas with other moms therefore changing a whole community.  One small ripple that affects the whole pond.

    At the end of the day, however, the PDEF program would not be successful without the generous donations from other people. We are grateful for any and all size donations from people who see this as a wonderful way to help Tennessee families. 

Contact us today to donate to the fund or apply to use the PDEF for yourself.