At Swedish First Hill in Seattle, a major shift in maternal care is rewriting the narrative for Black mothers. Once facing disproportionately high rates of cesarean sections, Black patients now experience lower C-section rates than white patients at the hospital—a reversal that leaders call historic.
Providence Swedish’s JUST Birth and TeamBirth initiatives have driven this change. JUST Birth, launched in 2022, offers culturally connected care through doulas, educators, and navigators who support patients from pregnancy through postpartum. TeamBirth ensures shared decision-making through structured huddles at key moments during labor.
“When I looked at the data, I just didn’t believe it,” said Dr. Tanya Sorensen, executive director of the Women’s and Children’s Institute. “We kept getting beat up by the numbers, which are a result of centuries of institutional racism.”
Before these programs, Black mothers were 25% more likely than white mothers to undergo unnecessary C-sections. Many reported feeling unheard and under-treated for pain. Now, patients say they feel listened to, empowered, and more involved in their birth plans.
JUST Birth Network founder Sauleiha Akangbe emphasized the importance of intentional support. “We want to keep this moving… because it works,” she said. “Families feel the positive impact.”
With Medicaid now covering doula care, access is expanding. Swedish’s success offers a model for equitable, respectful childbirth—one where Black and Brown mothers are no longer sidelined in the delivery room.
See: “At Swedish, a historic drop in C-sections among Black mothers” (March 5, 2025)
