Rebekah is more than a doula—she is a passionate birth worker and mother of four. Her mission? To transform the maternal healthcare experience for women, particularly Black women, ensuring they receive informed, respectful, and empowering care.

Rebekah’s path into birth work was deeply personal. Her first birthing experience was traumatic—her doctor ruptured her membranes without consent, leading to a dangerous emergency C-section under general anesthesia. She recalls the confusion and fear of that moment, feeling powerless in a system that failed to communicate with her.

Determined to rewrite her story, she pursued a vaginal birth after cesarean for her second child. Through persistence, she found a supportive doctor and successfully delivered vaginally, despite the overwhelming push for another C-section. These experiences ignited a passion in her—to help other mothers navigate the system with confidence and knowledge.

Through her work, Rebekah has witnessed the deep-rooted systemic racism in hospital settings. Black mothers are often pressured into unnecessary interventions, spoken down to, and denied autonomy in their birthing choices. She recounts heartbreaking cases where mothers were coerced into C-sections or had their pain dismissed by medical staff who assumed they had a higher tolerance.

She is particularly vocal about the hospital industry’s profit-driven practices, where interventions like epidurals and C-sections are pushed unnecessarily. As a doula, she stands as a fierce advocate, ensuring her clients’ voices are heard and their birth plans respected.

Despite these challenges, Rebekah finds immense fulfillment in her work. She cherishes moments when she sees partners actively engaged, mothers standing firm in their choices, and families experiencing the birth they envisioned. One of her most rewarding experiences was when a former colleague, inspired by Rebekah’s guidance, sought a midwife and had a successful home birth.

She also takes great pride in providing postpartum support, helping families with breastfeeding, recovery, and emotional well-being. Knowing she has played a role in a family’s positive birth experience is what drives her forward.

Rebekah dreams of a future where every mother, regardless of income, has access to a doula. She champions policies advocating for insurance and Medicaid to cover doula services, ensuring no one is left without support. Education is key, and she hopes to see more awareness around birthing options, so women can make informed choices without fear or coercion.

As she continues her work, Rebekah remains committed to creating change. Whether mentoring new doulas, advocating for systemic reform, or providing compassionate, hands-on care, she stands firm in her belief: Every mother deserves to be heard, respected, and empowered.

Stand with Southern Birth Justice Network as we continue to demand dignity, equity, and safety for all birthing people by joining the Florida Statewide Birth Justice Coalition. Help us amplify the Birth Justice Bill of Rights—a powerful declaration affirming every person’s right to respectful, culturally affirming, and empowering care. Be sure to explore and share the Maternal Health Guide, a critical tool created to educate, inform, and protect our communities.

Together, we can build a future where all births are just and all families thrive.