Embracing Doula Care

“Embracing Doula Care” is a short video series that sheds light on the profound impact of free doula services in the lives of individuals residing in the Queens and Elmhurst neighborhoods of New York City. The films showcase the powerful impact doulas have on pregnant, birthing, and postpartum individuals.

The documentary style films were created in the Haitian Creole, Bangla, Spanish, and English languages to accommodate the diverse population of Queens and Elmhurst, NYC. One film in the series was created as a training tool to bridge the gap between health care providers and doulas, sharing stories from hospital staff about welcoming doulas into their clinical spaces and how that ultimately leads to positive outcomes for patients.

Overall, the films aim to raise awareness about the crucial role of doulas both inside and outside the hospital, as well as the availability of free doula care through Caribbean Women's Health Association, Ancient Song, and the HoPE Community Doula Program. They also highlight how these programs are accessible to individuals facing various challenges like houselessness, food insecurity, recent immigration, or past incarceration.

Doula’s are trained local companions and advocates who provide emotional, physical, and educational support — helping their clients create a birth plan and providing lactation advice. Studies show that doula support reduces cesarean section rates, the need for pain medication, the length of labor, birth complications, and perinatal anxiety and depression. Doula support improves communication between birthing people and their healthcare providers, increases breastfeeding, and leads to more positive birth experiences.

Production Company: Womanly

Director: Attia Taylor

Director of Photography: Sawyer Roque

Gaffers: Nick Love, Dexter Dugar

Key Grip: George Haley

Sound Recordist: Christian Guinanzaca

Editor: Wesley Bacon

Production Assistant: Ailyn Robles