Expectant fathers attend birthing center meetup to advocate for better maternal health outcomes

Caption

The Atlanta Birth Center’s Ocean room is seen.

Credit: The Atlanta Birth Center

Although pregnancy and childbirth are often centered on the mother’s experience, framing the journey through sports can help men connect to their role in it. 

On a Saturday morning inside the Atlanta Birth Center adjacent to Emory University Hospital in Midtown, midwife Janine Jones prepared to speak to a group of expectant fathers.

“It’s important to use something that men can relate to, such as sports, to really get them familiarized not only with the birth process but with their role of advocacy for their partners,” Jones told GPB in at the event in partnership with 4Kira4Moms, a Georgia-based maternal health advocacy group. 

4Kira4Moms, the Atlanta-based direct-response program, was founded by Charles Johnson after the death of his wife, Kira, during childbirth to raise awareness and advocate for improved maternal health care for black families. 

Black pregnant people in Georgia face some of the highest maternal mortality rates in the country. In 2021, the rate for Black birthing people was 69.9 death per 100,00 live births, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Advocacy can include education, support and hiring a doula.

Jones said theme of the event —  “It’s game time!” —  presents the responsibilities of fatherhood through the lens of football, where doulas are akin to coaches and cheerleaders.

Kenneth Williams, a first-time father attending the event, said learning about the challenges of the postpartum period helped him understand how to better support his partner.

“It’s definitely taught me to be more patient and more kind, and try to understand fully what she’s going through,” he said. 

Data from the American Academy of Pediatrics shows that expectant moms with involved fathers are twice as likely to have good pregnancy outcomes.

And the Atlanta Birth Center hopes men like Williams will take what they learn into the community and spark more conversations among Black fathers.

“Once somebody learns something, it piques their interest,” community engagement coordinator Danielle Allen. “That word of mouth is really what gets more people in.”