A Doula Story

Nearly 10 percent of births in the United States are to poor and uneducated teens. It's a tragic cycle of defeat, spanning generations of unprepared mothers and challenged children. Doulas (from the Greek word for birth attendant), often former teen mothers themselves, are trained educators, mentors and advocates who give young mothers-to-be skills and advice. A Doula Story documents one African-American woman’s fierce commitment to empower pregnant teenagers with the skills and knowledge they need to become confident, nurturing mothers. This powerful film follows Loretha Weisinger back to the same disadvantaged Chicago neighborhood where she once struggled as a teen mother. Weisinger uses patience, compassion and humor to teach “her girls” about everything from the importance of breast-feeding and reading to their babies to communicating effectively with health care professionals.