By My Side Birth Support Program

Healthy Start Brooklyn (HSB) coordinated efforts that focused on five low-income, predominantly African American and Latino neighborhoods to create empowerment zones to shift breastfeeding practices and norms. The By My Side Birth Support Program was developed to deliver low-cost birth services to low-income and immigrant women. Women living in targeted neighborhoods were hired and trained as doulas to provide emotional, physical, and informational support to mothers during delivery and conduct pre- and postnatal home visits. Doula services that are typically available to higher-wealth communities are now accessible by low-income families through By My Side. The doulas also serve as lactation consultants.

HSB has reached out to organizations with strong community ties to initiate culturally appropriate breastfeeding support, expanding the training program so organizations can offer their own doula services.

The mission of the By My Side Birth Support Program is to provide birth support and encourage breastfeeding among low-income and immigrant mothers living in Brooklyn through the use of doula services.

By March 2012, the By My Side Birth Support Program successfully trained more than 30 women in the community. These doulas, along with those already working for By My Side, participated in more than 100 births.

By My Side Birth Support Program results show that mothers who used a doula have higher rates of exclusive breastfeeding. By March 2012, the program successfully trained more than 30 women in the community. These doulas, along with those already working for By My Side, participated in more than 100 births.