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End Maternal Mortality

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84% of pregnancy-related deaths are PREVENTABLE

In the USA, the risk of dying while giving birth or shortly after nearly doubled between 2018 and 2021. The USA spends more money on healthcare than most developed countries, but our mothers are dying at rates nearly 10x greater.

BIPOC mothers face a significantly higher risk of experiencing life-threatening complications during delivery compared to white mothers, with Black women alone nearly three times more likely. Moreover, they face an alarming eight-fold higher risk of death due to pregnancy-related complications. Racial disparities also exist in breastfeeding rates and the frequency of emergency Cesarean sections. Additionally, a greater number of Black infants are born prematurely or with low birth weights, both of which contribute significantly to infant mortality rates.

Fortunately, a mounting body of research highlights doula care as a highly beneficial and cost-effective intervention for improving the health outcomes of both infants and mothers.

We’re

Saving

Lives.

We pride ourselves on our uniquely comprehensive model of care that addresses the entire family's needs, starting as early as conception through the crucial postpartum period, also known as the 4th trimester. Doulas play an indispensable role in providing holistic support, including prenatal, labor, and postpartum, even in the unfortunate event of a pregnancy loss.

Our dedicated team offers invaluable assistance to new parents by equipping them with evidence-based education on infant care and lactation, empowering them to make informed decisions. Furthermore, they serve as knowledgeable guides, helping families navigate the wide array of community and health resources available to them.

Our doula services encompass a wide range of support, starting with multiple prenatal visits to ensure expectant parents receive comprehensive care and preparation. They continue to offer continuous support throughout the labor and delivery process, providing comfort, encouragement, and advocacy. Additionally, our postpartum doulas offer crucial support during the early weeks of parenthood.

Understanding the unpredictability of birth timing, our doula care is thoughtfully provided between 20 and 42 weeks of pregnancy, longer than most, ensuring that expectant parents have consistent and reliable support during this transformative period. We are committed to being there for families every step of the way, addressing their unique needs and fostering a nurturing environment that promotes the well-being of both parents and their newborn(s).

To continue providing a premier level of service, we need your help. Partner with us financially so we can serve more families and save more lives.

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Meet Deanna and Savannah.

They survived pre-eclampsia, one of the leading causes for maternal mortality, with the help of Sweet Bee Services.

Leah...was probably a God send.

I can’t for the life of me even remember how we got connected but we did. 

Leah is the owner of Sweet Bee Services, she is a black (praise dance) full-spectrum doula out of Baltimore Maryland. We had an initial convo and I immediately felt safe and safe with her. She felt like a familiar friend and put me at ease. 

She is caring, knowledgeable, informative, and a calm spirit. She not only cares about your health but the baby’s and the well-being of the couple. Papa Bean and I had a virtual meeting with her and she helped us prepare a birth plan and covered numerous intervention options in case things were to go left…

At my 36 week appointment, my doctor came in and told me I was going to the hospital, that I had preeclampsia, and that I wasn't leaving the hospital without a baby. She told me they would do everything they could to get me to 37 weeks but if my condition worsened there was nothing they could do but deliver.

My mind started racing, the nursery was not ready, we were supposed to take our birthing class that weekend, we had not taken any safety classes, i didn't have my hospital bag, this was too early and of course...my life and my child's life was in danger.

The one thing I didn't want to happen was happening...I was devastated. After almost 6 days of waiting, the time had come. My labor was helped to be inducted with a Foley bulb since I was still dead set on natural birth. I laid for hours for it to work its magic....well into the next day I was only 6 cm. I was weak, I had not eaten (i couldn't in case they needed to do surgery), I was tired, I was over everything. All the while Leah my doula was still by my side virtually-- checking in, letting me know my options, giving me the real meaning behind all they were saying, and preparing me for things if they went south.

 A few short hours later my water was broken and I was in full-blown labor. 20 minutes (I assume) later Savannah was born, I labored and delivered in my hospital bed facing the wall on my knees with my arms draped across the head of the bed that was set up right. Things after that were a blur.

Things have not been all rainbows and butterflies since then but I am still here, I still get to hold my daughter every day and I survived something that many black women and women in general do not.

I thought I was dying. I want women of color to know the importance of hiring a doula like Leah of Sweet Bee Services so they will have someone knowledgeable about our struggles by their side to ensure things are not missed and can help them navigate the medical talk…

I'm sharing my story so black mothers make it home to their children.

I often still wonder what would have happened had I never changed doctors, had Leah never came into my life, had I not gotten a black female doctor when I went to the hospital the second time.

It's horrifying.”

-Excerpt from HOW I ALMOST LOST MY LIFE TO PREECLAMPSIA: MY BIRTH STORY Client Testimonial from Deanna Bobbi, ThePrettyGirlsGuide

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