Catching the Gaps: Advocating for Black Maternal Health Through Doula Care

Exciting things are happening! This month, we’re sharing resources, expanding support for birthing people, and diving into important conversations about maternal health. Whether you’re an expecting parent, a birth worker, or just passionate about the well-being of our community, there’s something here for you.

WHAT’S NEW IN COOCHIEVILLE?

Here’s what we’ve been up to lately:

• 🚼✨ FREE Portable Cribs – Limited Supply! ✨🚼

  We’re giving away brand new portable cribs to families in need—while supplies last!

  📞 Call now to get the pick-up location: 646-575-1217

  Don’t wait—once they’re gone, they’re gone! Share with anyone who may need one. 💕
  

• We’re thrilled to announce a new incoming contract as a doula with Emblem Health and Metro Health Plus! This partnership allows us to expand our impact, providing compassionate care and support to even more families. Stay tuned for more updates!

WHY I, NIKKI BROWN—THE COOCHIE COACH—AM STEPPING TO MATERNAL HEALTH AS A MEDICAID DOULA PROVIDER

For years, I’ve been in the business of helping women birth babies, books, and billions, but now, I’m stepping even deeper into the birth world. As a Medicaid doula provider with New York State, Emblem Health, and Metro Health Plus, I am committed to ensuring that Black and Brown women—especially those on Medicaid—get the birth support they deserve.

WHY NOW? WHY ME?

Maternal health in this country, especially for Black women, is in a crisis. We are three to four times more likely to die during childbirth than white women, and I refuse to let that statistic define our future. Too often, birthing people are left without advocacy, without care, and without the financial security to make the best decisions for themselves and their babies.

I’ve always been about coochie care and currency, and birth work is the intersection of both. If we’re going to heal our communities, we have to start at birth. And not just by ensuring that mothers survive—but that they thrive before, during, and after labor. That’s where I come in.

INSPIRED BY THE BIRTH WORKERS WHO PAVED THE WAY

I didn’t come to this work alone. I have been deeply inspired by incredible birth workers who have been fighting for Black maternal health long before I stepped in. Latham Thomas, the founder of Mama Glow, has shown us all what it means to hold space for birthing people with love and empowerment. Jennie Joseph has been a force in shifting maternal healthcare models to prioritize Black mothers. Ancient Song Doula Services, led by Chanel Porchia-Albert, has done groundbreaking work in New York to advocate for Black birthing people and train doulas to serve our communities.

Their work has ignited something in me—a fire to make high-quality doula care accessible to all women, regardless of income.

WHAT I’M DOING AS A MEDICAID DOULA

By becoming a Medicaid doula provider, I’m ensuring that:

• Medicaid-covered birthing people get high-quality doula support without financial barriers.

• Black birth workers get paid what they deserve while continuing to serve their communities.

• We disrupt the birth disparities that have plagued us for generations.

This isn’t just about catching babies—it’s about catching the gaps in care, in finances, in education, and in advocacy. It’s about making sure no one has to choose between a good birth experience and their financial stability.

WHAT’S NEXT?

I’m just getting started. I’m working with families, training other doulas to get their Medicaid provider numbers, and building partnerships to ensure that Black and Brown women don’t just survive birth, but come out of it stronger, wealthier, and more empowered than ever before.

If you’re an expecting parent looking for support, a doula who wants to get paid their worth, or an organization ready to collaborate, let’s connect. The revolution in birth work is happening right now—and I’m honored to be a part of it.

—Nikki Brown, The Coochie Coach

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Thank you for being part of our journey—stay inspired, stay curious, and we’ll see you next month with more to empower and uplift!