Labor Support
The most essential role of the Perinatal Support Professional is to provide continuous labor support to the birthing client. Our PSPs are extensively trained to be able to do this in a manner that honors the birth wish/plan of the clients we serve. During labor, the assigned doula will serve in the capacity of a support person, labor coach, instructor, peer counselor and peer advisor. BBC’s perinatal support team are not clinicians, physicians, nurses, or any other licensed provider. PSP’s are insured for their work as birth and/or postpartum support.
The Childbirth Education Series is offered within the Labor Support. Classes offered are culturally centered and include Birth Planning 101, which teaches clients the importance of a birth plan, how to create a birth plan, and the choices mothers have during labor, what to expect during labor, and relaxation for natural labor.
Life Goal Planning
Offering classes to promote health in wellness, Life Goal Planning offers nutrition education classes, financial classes, GED assistance and Yoga classes. Nutrition Education offers a guide for beneficial foods during pregnancy and development. It also helps clients to establish a healthy relationship with food and being mindful of consumption.
These classes are included to aid BBC clients in developing healthy habits and promoting longevity.
Our Wellness Network (OWN) Mental Health Services
OWN was established to improve the behavioral health of Black mothers, fathers, and families, to educate community members on preventing infant loss, and to provide grief coping strategies.
OWN focuses on addressing the social determinants impacting the Black community as it relates to processing grief and loss. Structural racism, healthcare inequity, and inaccessibility to behavioral healthcare programs have created barriers to mental health services within the Black community. OWN eliminates these barriers through the building of an accessible mental health support system that contracts with mental health providers and Grief Recovery Method Specialists. Our support system provides: mental health peer support groups, crisis intervention resources, suicide prevention resources, counseling for individuals/couples, and bereavement support.
Lactation Support
Prenatal Breastfeeding Class Series
The lactation support team holds a series of classes that all mothers are expected to attend to learn about the benefits of breastfeeding, for us to dispel any myths, acknowledge any anxieties or fears, and to answer any questions.
Regular visits with mother
To ensure that we are helping mom and baby reach each breastfeeding milestone, the lactation support team and perinatal support make regular visits. There is only so much you can learn from reading about breastfeeding or talking to others – sometimes the best help is hands-on with the assistance of an experienced lactation support person. When working with a breastfeeding client, we can see the situation in person and being able to aid in the moment – even through tiny adjustments – makes a huge difference.
Breastfeeding Celebration
After completion of the prenatal breastfeeding class series, BBC hosts a party honoring the mothers who completed the series and made a commitment to initiate breastfeeding.
Postpartum Breastfeeding Class Series
The lactation team facilitates regular in-person and virtual classes for families throughout the postpartum period.
Postpartum (After Birth) Plan
The lactation support team works with a PSP and our client to help create a breastfeeding plan that is integrated with their overall birth plan.
Consultation
Lactation or breastfeeding consultation are available for all clients to assist with client questions or concerns around breastfeeding or to assist families as they begin their breastfeeding journey.
Visits Mother within 48 Hours
The lactation support team visits the mother within 48-hours of delivery to answer any questions she or her family may have about breastfeeding, offer hands-on support if needed and provide encouragement.
Our goal is to increase breastfeeding initiation rates of our clients to 100%. To do so, we need the support of the entire perinatal support team, the community, the lactation team, and family and friends of clients.
Grocery Shopping
BBC values quality nutrition during pregnancy and postpartum for breastfeeding mothers. We support grocery store shopping on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays to establishments that provide fresh produce and perishable items at the minimum. This includes supermarkets, farmer’s markets, food drives and Cleveland Foodbank associated food pantries. Clients may travel to grocery stores within an 8-mile radius of their home.
Transportation Services
BBC continually works to eliminate barriers to receive optimal health care and support for their clients. For those who have attended or are actively working toward Essence of a Woman, we’ve eliminated the barrier of transportation. Uber transportation is available for clients:
- To travel to and from approved classes
- Client prenatal and postpartum appointments
- Baby well-check appointments
- Approved task completion including grocery shopping
Clients can request Uber to attend our Childbirth Series classes, workshops, and hosted events. Uber can also be used for doctor appointments that insurance transportation can’t accommodate, Women Infants and Children (WIC) appointments related to pregnancy, or Centering Pregnancy.
