Uzima Rejuvenation Station received a $400,000 grant from Bi3to run the program for three years. The program also includes a partnership with Nyni, Inc., a doula service.
Toni Tipton and Lauren Braswell, who have more than 25 years of combined experience in healthcare and alternative wellness modalities, founded the West Chester Twp. company, which provides a multi-faceted approach to expecting mothers’ health and wellness, through midwifery care. Tipton and Braswell are both midwives, who are healthcare professionals specializing in women’s reproductive health and provide care during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period.
A community health worker has been hired for the countywide program, which will start Jan. 13. The program is designed to provide support to Black women and families in areas including child education, breastfeeding, financial planning, healthy relationship coaching and mental health.
Historically, infant mortality rates among Black babies have been double those of white babies., though rates decreased in the last year, according to the Bi3 report. Black babies also face higher rates of low birthweight and pre-term births.
Tipton said there’s evidence that shows midwifery care decreases risks for pregnant women and mothers who recently gave birth. According to the National Institutes of Health, midwifery-led care has positive impacts on various outcomes, such as preventing preterm births, reducing the need for interventions, and improving clinical outcomes.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services shows that Black babies have an infant mortality rate 2.4 times higher than white babies, and are almost four times as likely to suffer complications related to low birthweight. Low birthweight is the leading cause of death among Black babies before their first birthday, according to HHS.
Tipton said there are not many midwives in Ohio, “so as you can imagine, there are not a lot of Black midwives” such as herself and Braswell. “And we know that when a people see a provider that looks like them, that can relate to them, they feel a little more comfortable and tend to do better.”
To learn more or to sign up for the program, contact Uzima at 513-202-3228.
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