Hey Mommas, if you’re pregnant and living in Los Angeles County—especially as a Black woman or woman of color—I need you to know this one thing: You might be eligible for a FREE doula.
Yep. I said it. Free. Doula. Support.
When I found out I was pregnant, my husband and I knew we’d need extra support. We’re both from Florida, and our entire family still lives there. So when I stumbled across the AAIMM Doula Program online, I thought it sounded too good to be true. But something in me said: Look deeper. And thank God I did.
🫶🏾 My Experience With a Free Doula in L.A.
Even though the site said you couldn’t pick your own doula, I took a leap and reached out to the one I felt most aligned with. She was soft-spoken, calm, around my age, and spoke with the peace of a yoga instructor. I knew from her bio and energy—this was my doula.
And guess what? After a consultation and confirmation, I was officially assigned to her through the AAIMM Doula Program. That decision changed my life.
She came to our home. She taught me and my husband birthing positions. She explained every stage of natural labor, how to breathe through contractions, and what to emotionally expect when trauma (yes—trauma) might show up during labor. She helped me face my fears, especially my inherited fear of C-sections, rooted in my own mother’s traumatic birth story.
She empowered me to birth in peace.
To trust my body.
To breathe through the pain.
During my 24-hour labor, she rubbed my feet, dimmed the lights, spoke affirmations, and reminded me that I had the power to do this.
At one point, I remember doubt creeping in and whispering to her, “What if he doesn’t come out?” She calmly rubbed my back and said, “He’s gonna come out. That’s how this goes.”
Whew. I still cry thinking about that moment. Because, of course, he’s got to come out. But in my mind, he might not. And even the thought of something negative happening can cause an adverse outcome. My doula knew that and helped redirect my mindset before spiraling.
She stayed two hours after my son was born to help him latch. She returned the next day to teach me how to express milk and nurse effectively. She literally set me up for success with breastfeeding (I’m still going strong a year later).
She also supported my husband, helping him understand that he had a role too. She taught him how to give me hip squeezes during contractions (vital, by the way), how to manage stress, and how to emotionally show up. She wasn’t just my doula, she was our team’s doula.
🤰🏾 What Is a Doula?
A birth doula is a trained companion who supports you emotionally, physically, and mentally during pregnancy, labor, and early postpartum. They are not medical professionals like midwives, but they’re trained in:
- Labor support
- Pain management techniques
- Lactation education
- Emotional support
- Advocacy and birth planning
Having a doula has been shown to:
✅ Decrease labor time
✅ Reduce the need for c-sections or medical interventions
✅ Improve maternal satisfaction with the birth experience
✅ Increase chances of successful breastfeeding
✨ What’s the AAIMM Doula Program?
AAIMM (African American Infant and Maternal Mortality) Initiative is a life-saving program for Black families in Los Angeles County. It’s part of a countywide effort to reduce racial disparities in infant and maternal deaths.
🔸 Black moms are 4x more likely to die from pregnancy complications
🔸 Black babies are 2–3x more likely to die before their first birthday
🔸 AAIMM exists to change those statistics—with community, education, and support
Through the program, eligible moms receive:
- 3 prenatal visits
- Continuous labor and birth support (home, hospital, or birth center)
- 3 postpartum visits (1 week, 2 weeks, and 6 weeks after birth)
- Emotional support via text/calls between visits
- Parenting education, lactation tips, and advocacy
All at no cost to you.
💻 How to Apply for a Free Doula in L.A. County
If you meet the following criteria, you may be eligible for a free doula with the AAIMM Doula Program:
✔️ Pregnant
✔️ Black or African American (or multiracial including Black)
✔️ 18 or older (or a foster youth)
✔️ Reside in Los Angeles County
How to Sign Up:
🔗 Fill out this form
📧 Email: [email protected]
📞 Call: (213) 639-6448
❤️ How to Choose a Doula That’s Right for You
Choosing the right doula is just like finding the right therapist or doctor—you want someone you feel safe with. Here’s what I suggest looking for:
- Someone whose energy calms you, not triggers you
- Someone you feel comfortable around, even vulnerable
- Someone with experience, training, and references
- Someone who respects your birth choices and vision
- Someone who sees your partner as part of the process, not an obstacle
Trust your intuition. And remember—you can request someone you connect with, even if the site says otherwise. 🙃
🖤 Why This Matters for Black Moms
The data is heartbreaking, but it’s also fuel for change:
🏥 Black women in LA County are 4x more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes.
👶🏾 Black infants are 3x more likely to die before their first birthday.
😔 Systemic racism and trauma are part of the root cause.
This isn’t about fear, it’s about empowerment. It’s about knowing the facts, using available resources, and building a safe, sacred, supported birth experience, especially for us.
Final Thoughts: The Gift of My Doula
Having a doula shaped not just my birth, but my motherhood.
She helped me heal.
She helped me trust.
She helped me grow into the mother I was becoming.
And I want that for you, too.
Whether you’re planning a hospital birth, home birth, medicated, natural, or somewhere in between, you deserve support. You deserve calm. You deserve to feel powerful, not afraid.
And if you’re eligible, you also deserve a free doula.
📌 Quick Links + Resources
✔️ Apply for a Free Doula in LA County: https://www.blackinfantsandfamilies.org/doulas
✔️ Email: [email protected]
✔️ Phone: (213) 639-6448
✨ Come Sit with Me… The Momma, The Muse, The Multihyphenate. Let’s Talk Mom Life!
✨ Subscribe to the blog so you never miss a post—real talk, personal stories, and helpful tips for every season of motherhood.
📌 Follow me on Pinterest @multihyphenatedmomma for daily inspiration, breastfeeding tips, motherhood hacks, and creative motivation.
📩 Join the email list to get updates, freebies, and behind-the-scenes life as a multi-hyphenated momma who’s just trying to keep the baby fed, the hair done, and the dream alive.
📚 Official Blog: https://multihyphenatedmomma.com
📝 Substack: Multi-Hyphenated Momma
📰 Articles also available on Medium: https://medium.com/@shkia
