Abundance and generosity are a community responsibility.

Maternal and child health outcomes of Native families in our community are significantly impacted by geographic isolation, distrust of the medical system, and detachment from traditional ways of healing. It is not a surprise to us, as Native doulas, that we are losing mothers in their journey to parenthood. The birthing experience in this country is often a reenactment of the trauma and disconnection Indigenous families have experienced for centuries.

We humbly ask for your partnership and financial support.

As Aunties, we believe the attachment to community, ancestral birthing practices, and post-natal support systems create a life-saving layer of protection for birthing families when they are at their most vulnerable.

Our work is to create connection and healing in medical settings that are often viewed with understandable mistrust and fear.

Ceremony, song and the presence of Aunties invites parents to feel greater trust, safety and confidence in their ability to navigate complex medical systems. We believe that health systems that support parents to connect to their traditions and advocate for their needs will lead to better maternal and child outcomes well beyond the birth experience.

With your support, we hope to ensure that:

Doula care is affordable for Native families in Northern California.

The presence of a doula at the bedside of a high-risk parent has been shown to decrease the number of negative maternal and child outcomes. (Link to evidence)

And, doula care is out of reach for those who cannot pay out of pocket. This is the economic reality for most Native families. The state of California has recently made it possible for doula care to be reimbursable for MediCAL patients. However, this only covers in-hospital care. We believe doulas need to be a more integrated and central support for parents if the Native health outcomes are to be improved.

Doulas can afford to do birth work sustainably.

Doulas are cost effective for medical systems but the role is not financially sustainable for most practicing doulas. Most of our Aunties are mothers themselves and struggle to afford to do this work. Our hope is that Doulas no longer need to choose between essential birth work and supporting themselves.

Your financial support is needed to support us to build the
Aunties On The River Collective.

Doula care is not confined to the moment of birth at the hospital.

Doulas educate and advocate within medical systems at the time of delivery but also can play a powerful role both prenatal and postpartum. Before birth, Doulas educate and support parents to prepare for the child-rearing journey ahead. Post-partum, doulas offer emotional and nutritional support, validate their fears, and bear witness to their parenting journey.