Documentary highlights the work of doulas in Upstate, SC

Doulado, a tech company creating software solutions for doulas and co-founded by Greenville native Mary Beth Johnson, has partnered with Hollywood cinematographer and Greenville native Rebekah Lloyd, and Upstate Birth and Postpartum Doula Madi Yates, to release a short documentary film focused on doulas and their clients in Upstate South Carolina.

Doulas are trained professionals who provide emotional, physical and educational support for women throughout pregnancy and childbirth. They provide an invaluable service for expecting mothers by supporting the work of traditional medical providers, such as doctors and midwives.

This new documentary is set to premiere at an exclusive red carpet event at Feed & Seed Hayne Hipp Community Room on June 29, 2023.

The Doula Effect: Upstate, SC will feature the stories of:

• Bobbie, an Afghanistan refugee who discovered she was expecting twins during her flight to safety in the US (Bobbie’s story was previously featured by national news outlets, including ABC News)
• Cherie, a mother was a high risk pregnancy in her third trimester who relies on the expertise of her medical team and the support of her doula
• Lakesha Quarles, Greenville Chamber of Commerce Young Entrepreneur of the Year, whose work as a Black doula has a vital impact on the South Carolina community and more.

Birth should be safe for everyone. Yet, South Carolina ranks 40th in infant mortality rates and 45th for the number of midwives and OB-GYNs per capita*. The stories these women tell may help to change that.

“We want The Doula Effect: Upstate, SC to help raise awareness about the crucial role doulas play in helping birth people thrive,” says Doulado founder and Greenville resident Mary Beth Johnson.

“The data is clear that doulas reduce the need for medical interventions during labor, improve physical health outcomes for mother and baby, reduce racial disparities for Black and non-white mothers, and provide a more emotionally satisfying birth experience. But many people don’t know what a doula does, and why they matter.”

This inside look hopes to change that.

For more information and a doula fact sheet, please visit: https://www.doulado.co/the-doula-effect-greenville-sc-documentary

About Doulado

Doulado is one of the first Client Management Systems (CMS) designed exclusively for doulas and the nonprofits and agencies that support doula accessibility. Doulado’s individual software solution is now available for individual and team doula practices, or enterprise-level organizations.

About Mary Beth Johnson

Mary Beth Johnson is a multi-time entrepreneur and digital strategist, with a passion for amplifying incredible stories through media. She co-founded Doulado in 2022 to help address the lack of support in women’s healthcare.

Source:

https://www.marchofdimes.org/peristats/reports/south-carolina/report-card