Welcome to Yemaya's Circle of Care
Pregnancy and postpartum care rooted in power, protection, and trust
Named for the Yoruba goddess of the ocean and motherhood, Yemaya’s Circle of Care centers Black women and women of color in pregnancy and postpartum support.
Because the statistics are devastating. Black women are 3.5 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women. More than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable. And the wealthiest Black woman in California faces higher maternal mortality risk than the poorest white woman.
This isn’t about different biology. This is about a healthcare system shaped by centuries of medical racism, where providers are less likely to identify pain in Black patients’ faces and less likely to believe when you say something’s wrong.
Yemaya’s Circle of Care addresses the unique challenges, celebrates the strength, and provides culturally grounded support that mainstream healthcare fails to offer.
What We Cover
Pregnancy Navigation
Preconception planning and health optimization
Choosing providers who will actually listen
High-risk pregnancy management and advocacy
Recognizing and addressing discrimination
Birth Planning & Preparation
Creating birth plans in systems that don’t trust Black women
Building your support team (doulas, midwives, advocates)
Understanding interventions and when to question them
Hospital policies and how to challenge them
Postpartum Support
Fourth trimester recovery and healing
Breastfeeding challenges and solutions
Postpartum depression vs. postpartum anxiety
Returning to work and life transitions
Your Birth Care Guide
A special series within Yemaya’s Circle
Comprehensive pregnancy and birth guidance specifically addressing what Black mothers and mothers of color need to know.
Our Approach
We tell the truth about risks without creating fear. We acknowledge systemic racism without leaving you helpless. We provide practical tools for navigating a broken system while fighting to fix it.
Every piece includes:
Medical information contextualized for your reality
Self-advocacy strategies for getting the care you deserve
Warning signs that require escalation
Community resources for additional support
Cultural Grounding
Pregnancy and birth are sacred. You deserve care that:
Respects your cultural traditions and practices
Honors your intuition and embodied knowledge
Acknowledges the strength and wisdom you carry
Celebrates your family and community connections
Yemaya’s Circle holds space for the joy, fear, power, and vulnerability of bringing life into a world that hasn’t always protected Black lives.
Recent Topics
“Creating Your Birth Plan When Hospitals Don’t Trust Black Women”
“The Preeclampsia Red Flags Your Doctor Might Dismiss”
“Building Your Birth Team: Doulas, Midwives, and Advocates”
“Postpartum Depression in Black Women: Why It’s Different and What to Do”
Community Wisdom
This isn’t just medical expertise from the outside. Yemaya’s Circle centers the knowledge and experiences of Black mothers and birthing people. Your stories, your wisdom, your survival strategies matter here.
You are not alone. We circle you with protection, power, and trust.
