Eliminating Disparities in the Maternal Mortality Crisis

Every year in this country, 700 to 900 women die from pregnancy or childbirth-related causes, and some 65,000 women suffer severe complications.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 60% of maternal deaths in this country are preventable.

The United States has one of the worst maternal death rates of any developed country, where African American women are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy complications independent of age, parity, or education. In fact, these types of maternal health disparities don’t end with African American mothers. The predominant issue comes down to medical equity and access to quality health and maternity care, which often extends to the baby before and after it has been born.

In Buncombe County, the infant mortality aggregate rate gradually increased from 5.2 deaths/1,000 live births in 2011 to 7.2 deaths/1,000 live births in 2015. During this time, the founders of Sistas Caring 4 Sistas (SC4S) were emotionally impacted by the statistics of infant and maternal outcomes for women who looked like them.

Several of the founders personally experienced the same inequities and traumas described by other women of color during childbirth and set about earning their Doula training certificates in 2016. Thus, Sistas Caring 4 Sistas Inc., 501c3, was created, designed, and co-founded as Asheville, North Carolina’s first ever African American women-led doula program. The founder felt that even though they were trained as birth professionals, it was still a field that is marketed as a luxury service for some.

Their doula services uniquely support birthing individuals. Whether a birthing family is at five weeks or 39 weeks, SC4S walks the journey with families. Services include birth doula support, breastfeeding counseling and support, and postpartum support at various stages of pregnancy, with a “meet-you-where-you-are” approach.

As of 2022, Sistas Caring 4 Sistas, Inc. has supported more than 300 black and brown families within 18 counties of North Carolina. SC4S has trained, mentored, and assisted in workforce development to increase birth professionals and to provide access to services for all birthing families. SC4S doulas are of diverse backgrounds, reflecting the populations they serve and support. Their lived experience and trainings are unique with services that are culturally competent and tailored for each birthing family’s wants and needs.

Get to Know the SC4S Staff

Cindy McMillan is the Executive Director of Sistas Caring 4 Sistas. Born in Chicago, Cindy spent most of her teenage and adult years in Florida. She became a resident of Asheville in 2012 and is an amazing mother of four. Cindy experienced infant loss, trauma, and PTSD shortly after the birth of her twin boys in 2002 and the death of her husband in 2018. She is currently a DONA Certified Birth Doula, Lamaze Trained Childbirth Educator, Certified Breastfeeding Peer Counselor, Certified North Carolina Peer Support Specialist, and a Trained Death and Bereavement Doula.

Cindy’s personal experience with loss, traumatic childbirth, and maternal health inequities has made her a strong ally, advocate, and leader among those who advocate and fight for maternal health to increase better outcomes through equitable methods of care and support.

LaVie Montgomery is the Director of Operations at Sistas Caring 4 Sistas. She is an Asheville native with a long-standing history of serving the Asheville community in the nonprofit fields of social work, education, and healthcare. LaVie obtained her Bachelor of Art in English with a minor in Sociology and Criminology from UNC-Greensboro and later obtained her Master of Science in Healthcare and Business Management from Winston Salem State University’s Department of Economics and Finance in 2015. LaVie has served on the board of United Way of Asheville-Buncombe County and on several community advisory committees with a focus on healthcare, educational advocacy, policy, and program implementation.

LaVie states, “What drives me to push so hard for our community? One half is: it’s innate; it’s in my DNA! After my father passed while actively serving in the United States Air Force, my mother and grandparents raised me here in Asheville. My grandparents, Arthur and Helen Edington, and my mother, LaJuana Edington Montgomery, instilled those foundational principles that drive me today. I was brought up on loving myself, my family, my community, and my melanin.

“Secondly, I’m driven by this work daily because I wake up and look into the eyes of my four Black and brown children and I know giving up on our youth and future generations is NOT an option! I show up passionate, believing in this work and the power of change.

“I wish I would have had a doula while I was fighting for my life and the life of my child.”

Nikita Smart is the SC4S Doula Coordinator and a Florida native who has resided in Asheville for over 15 years. Nikita is a Certified Birth Doula through DONA International and has enjoyed this journey of being able to assist mothers in the birthing process. Nikita is a Breastfeeding Peer Counselor, Lactation Educator, and a community resource to the mothers she serves in Buncombe County. Nikita has been doing birth work since 2016 and enjoys educating and supporting women through breastfeeding, realizing that breastfeeding is as important as giving birth. Nikita has found herself being able to support mothers in a variety of ways.

Wakina Robertson, the SC4S Referral Specialist, was born in Columbus, Ohio and raised in both New York and Detroit, Michigan. Wakina came to Asheville as a teenager in the mid ’80s and graduated from A. C. Reynolds High School. She states, “After researching doula work, I thought to myself… ‘You know what? If this is a way to help my community, I need to learn it!’”

Wakina became a Certified Birth Doula, PostPartum Doula, Lamaze Trained Birth Educator, and a Certified Breastfeeding Peer Counselor after attending and assisting in the birth of her own six grandchildren.

After becoming both personally and educationally aware of the maternal mortality and morbidity rates among Black women, she decided that changing the narrative and outcomes were a must. She embraces the gift of welcoming life for parents and their babies as they journey into this new world.

Black Maternal Health Fundraiser

On Saturday, April 29, 2023, Sistas Caring 4 Sistas will host their 1st Annual Black Maternal Health Fundraiser featuring keynote speaker Omari Maynard.

Omari and his life partner, Shamony Gibson, started their own business, Artful Living, a lifestyle- and event-planning business with an emphasis on artistic expression. Unfortunately, Shamony transitioned on October 6, 2019, after giving birth to their second child.

After the tragic death of his beloved partner, Omari and his mother-in-law, Shawnee Gibson, founded the ARIAH Foundation.

The foundation seeks to support individuals, families, and communities who’ve experience the devastating aftershock associated with maternal/infant morbidity and mortality. ARIAH provides mental, physical, emotional, and/or spiritual assistance to support affected families as they navigate the impact of their traumatic experiences.

Since the passing of Shamony and the creation of the ARIAH Foundation, Omari has been featured in the award-winning documentary, Aftershock, which is currently streaming on Hulu and other platforms. He has also been a guest on Good Morning America, ABC Nightline, The Breakfast Club on Power 105, and interviewed by The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, raising awareness on this tragic epidemic.

The 1st Annual Black Maternal Health Fundraiser will be held at Hi-Wire Brewing in Biltmore Village behind Biltmore Fitness. The event will be catered by Cooking with Comedy’s Chef Clarence Robinson. Live music will be provided by Ray Mapp’s local Hypnotic Band. There will be a silent auction and a VIP option to have exclusive time and photos with the keynote speaker. This will be a night to remember! The theme is “Shades of Red” and the event colors are black and red.

If you or your organization are interested in sponsoring this event, or supporting Sistas Caring 4 Sistas, please email [email protected]. To purchase tickets for this fundraising event, go to www.eventbrite.com/e/sc4s-1st-annual-black-maternal-health-fundraiser-tickets-539629786217.

Learn more about Sistas Caring 4 Sistas at  www.sistascaring4sistas.org. Follow them at www.facebook.com/sc4sdoulas for news and updates.