Naturopathic Practitioner Midwifery Certification

Peace and abundance of love, light, and blessings,

My name is Ife Adebowale, CD/B-P and I am a birth worker and childbirth educator here in Columbus, GA and surrounding areas. 

 After my 3rd hospital birth, catching a staph infection while on bed rest, having to beg to breastfeed my healthy 32 week old baby and not being able to latch her but only able to  pump for her because they insisted something wrong with her, etc. In 2011, after the birth of my daughter, I knew I had to change the way I was birthing my babies. In 2015, the ancestors called me and advised the mission of what most know now as a doula. I accepted the call not knowing that the ancestors had a greater mission for me in due time. As I studied, the ancestors began to teach me more than “just being a doula”. I actually began learning how to birth unassisted, maternity terminology, and even began watching videos on “everything birth”. Fast forward, I not only earned my stripes BUT the greater mission was happening and I didn’t even realize it until my baby girl was birth Earthside.

THE MISSION: to become a baby catcher and create an atmosphere for african American women to birth their child(ren) with love, nurturing care and respect, and ensure they receive the best aftercare to ensure our maternity mortality rate doesn’t continue to rise.

THE GOAL: to become a Certified naturopath practitioner with a concentration in midwifery so that I can officially be a “baby catcher”. I will also mentor and certify a pool of cultured Doulas to assist mothers throughout pregnancy and birth.  Lastly, building a birthing center catered to all women but specifically women of color to provide them with the necessary healthcare required. 

It is statistically proven that black women maternal mortality rate is 2.5 times higher than white women. In other words, 37.1 black women died per 100,000 births oppose to 14.3 white women died per 100,000 births. The question remains: Why is the U.S. maternal mortality rate so high compared to other developed countries, and why do black women suffer disproportionately? 
1. America's fragmented health system, which can leave some women without access to prenatal and postpartum care
2. Racism in healthcare, either conscious or unconscious
3. More women with health problems; chronic health issues, particularly heart disease, are increasingly prevalent and can lead to pregnancy complications
4. Lack of awareness of signs of trouble among women and their providers

Please help me reach my goals. My first financial goal is $2000 so that I can take my certification program. Once reached, my next goal is $5000 to be able to train women for FREE to become Doulas, lastly, my goal is $30,000 to purchase land and a building to create a birthing center here in Columbus, GA. Help me make history and tear down the narrative of black women dying during labor and delivery and/or after birth.