Abstract
Communication is a leading cause of preventable maternal morbidity among Black women and a significant contributor to racial inequities within the United States of America. Black women are disproportionately affected by Maternal Morbidity Rates (MMR) with more than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths being preventable. The field of Health Communication is failing Black women who continue to report negative experiences of being on the receiving end of poor communication as well as having their concerns and questions dismissed or ignored by medical personnel. Guided by the lens of Womanist Rhetorical Theory and Intersectional Theory, this qualitative textual analysis case study applies a Healing Justice Framework to an Instagram account, @Womb.ish, run by a Black birthing doula, which aims to create a digital community geared toward Black birthing women. Within this framework, three main themes emerged: Culturally Congruent Communication, Intersectional Healing, and Healing Justice in Practice. The findings explicitly reveal what forms of care and communication Black women want to receive in order to have a more positive birth experience.
In addition, emphasis is placed on representative anecdotes that exemplify culturally congruent communication and healing practices that could yield a call-to-action for more birth doula awareness and serve as useful models in the future for healthcare and medical personnel. This study is vital to the field of Health Communication as well as Black Maternal Health Care as it sheds light on the impact Black doulas have with their agency, communication, and power to ensure Black women have a more positive birthing experience.