The Graceful Hope Foundation

07/01/2026

According to the March of Dimes 2025 US report card:

"In 2024, nearly 380,000 babies were born preterm—1 in 10 births—placing the US among the highest rates in developed nations. Progress is not reaching the families who need it most."

"For the fourth consecutive year, the United States earned a D+ grade for preterm birth, marking the longest stretch of the lowest grade in Report Card history."

Less than 8 US states earned A and B reports. The US is failing our most vulnerable women and children.

We cannot emphasize enough that doulas are bandaids on the massive wound that is US health care. We aid in improving outcomes for each of our clients but we are not the solution, neither is the responsibility ours.

Nonetheless, a 2024 study found doula support was associated with a 29% lower risk of preterm birth. Why?

It's likely multifaceted but doula care is often associated with:

✨️ Education about risk factors, red flag symptoms, and ways to reduce risks around a variety of pregnancy complications
✨️ Encouragement to attend all prenatal care appointments
✨️ Continuity of support and encouragement of advocacy - if something feels off, you deserve appropriate care!
✨️ Reminding parents of their rights during pregnancy and labor

Not all cases of preterm labor can be prevented and we don't always know why a preterm labor occurs. However, there are things we can do, when families have access to proper medical care, to reduce the risk of preterm labor. Some ways to reduce risk include:

✨️ Adequate prenatal care
✨️ Continuity of care with midwives
✨️ Continuity of care with an OB
✨️ Addressing any signs of and treating UTIs
✨️ Adequate support, including nutrition support, for parents with hyperemesis gravidarum
✨️ Educating parents and providing screening for risk of cervical insufficiency and treating it
✨️ Establishing care in the first trimester
✨️ Proper support for managing gestational diabetes
✨️ Monitoring blood pressure and signs of preeclampsia

If your response to this is, "but doesn't everyone already have access to those things?" unfortunately, no. Many disparities in care exist.

06/23/2026

🚨 NEW STUDY: Labor Induction Not Linked to Higher C-SectionRates in CNM-Led Births

But wait, I thought ARRIVE said no increase, other studies said YES increase, and this study says no increase? What's with all the conflicting info?

The real world and studies do not always line up. No matter how well we design a study, no two pregnancies are identical, many variables exist.

Back to this study. It's important to note study authors, midwives, stated this:

"As midwives, we place high value on spontaneous labor and birth because it often has the most straightforward outcome. But more and more people have a medical reason for induction and sometimes request one.

"So the question became: What are the outcomes for those patients, and how can we best counsel them about what to expect? ....Most existing studies are based mostly on physician-led care."

Midwives value spontaneous birth. But the reality is, in large practices in large health systems where midwives are seeing ALL risk levels, inductions will happen.

"The Takeaway: A retrospective review of more than 7,300 midwife attended births in three Colorado hospitals found that labor induction did not increase the likelihood of cesarean birth compared to expectant management.

"Researchers from the CU Anschutz College of Nursing found that prolonged pregnancy beyond 41 weeks – not induction itself – was associated with higher C-section rates."

Does that mean going beyond 41 weeks means you're more likely to have a c-section? Not enough that the study authors suggest induction to reduce c-section. Remember, increased risk isn't always a large increase.

What this study highlights is that CNM attended births that require or choose medical intervention via an induction had favorable outcomes.

Regardless of risk level, midwifery care has significant value. Parents deserve accurate data ro make decisions based on their type of care.

This is reassuring for patients requiring truly necessary inductions. They do not need to assume induction with their CNM will = c-section.

Ultimately, a c-section isn't the only outcome to look at when considering induction. Birth experience should be considered too.

05/19/2026

Black women in the United States continue to experience pregnancy-related mortality rates far above every other racial group.

Maya Hardigan built Mae around a question: What happens when doula care moves inside the insurance system?

Mae now operates across 11 states with 19 health plan partners covering approximately 110 million lives. The company has facilitated more than 12,000 doula sessions and built a maternal care platform connecting Black mothers to culturally aligned support through Medicaid and managed care networks.

Mae is named in honor of Dr. May Edward Chinn, the first Black woman to graduate from what is now NYU School of Medicine. After being excluded from hospital practice, she built her own practice in Harlem and spent decades caring for Black families across the community.

The company built around reimbursement infrastructure, doula workforce enablement, care coordination, and payer integration to scale access through the healthcare system itself.

Full story in comments👇🏾

04/28/2026

Who supports the grandparents?

In our latest blog post, PSI Founder Jane Honikman, MS speaks to the often-overlooked emotional needs of grandparents during the perinatal period and why an intergenerational approach to mental health support is long overdue. She also shares a preview of her upcoming workbook, From Generation to Generation, designed to build bridges across families and generations.

She reflects on nearly 50 years of work in this field and shares her vision for PSI to become a full life-cycle organization, because, as she says, "postpartum is forever." 💙

🔗 Read the full interview here: https://loom.ly/kDIywbg

04/13/2026

Black Maternal Health Week calls on all of us to confront inequities in maternal care and end our nation’s maternal health crisis.

Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause.

My Democratic colleagues in the House are working to pass the , end this crisis, and improve outcomes for Black moms across the nation.

03/17/2026

✨Save the Date - April 11-17, 2026✨

3rd Annual Black Maternal Health Week of Tampa Bay!

In case you missed it: Our BMHW26 Call for Proposals closes tomorrow at 5:00pm! Presenters can be in-person or virtual. This is call is open to the community including faculty, students, partners and other members of the community.

Do you have an idea for a workshop or panel discussion? Interested in submitting a proposal for an event during BMHW26?

Click the link below for full proposal guidelines:
https://linktr.ee/FloridaBMH

01/02/2026

💙 New Year, New Awareness 💙

As we step into January, it’s a powerful time to check in on how you’re really feeling after birth.
Not every postpartum mood change is the same, and knowing the difference can help you get the right support:

🔹 Baby Blues: Temporary mood swings, tearfulness, irritability; usually resolve within 2 weeks
🔹 Postpartum Depression (PPD): Persistent sadness, low energy, hopelessness, loss of interest; may last months without treatment
🔹 Postpartum Anxiety (PPA): Excessive worry, racing thoughts, panic; can interfere with daily life

✨ Early recognition leads to earlier support and recovery.

And remember, perinatal mental health conditions can also include OCD, Bipolar Mood Disorders, PTSD, and Psychosis.

💙 You are not alone, and help is available.

If you need support now:
🔷 Call or text the Postpartum Support International HelpLine at 800-944-4773 (no diagnosis needed)
🔷 Call or text the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-852-6262
🔷 In a crisis, call or text 988
🔷 Download the Connect by PSI app
🔷 Visit Postpartum.net for programs and resources

✨ A new year can be the beginning of feeling better.

11/25/2025

05/07/2025

God Cares About Your Struggles

You don’t have to pretend everything is okay. God welcomes your honesty and is close to the brokenhearted. Mental health challenges are not a lack of faith—they are a place for God’s compassion to meet your need.

Scripture:
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” – Psalm 34:18

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