NYC Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene announced that more than 4,200 people have received doula care since launching their newest initiative.
Approximately six hospitals have incorporated the Citywide Doula Initiative across all five boroughs. Through the initiative, hospitals in Lincoln, Metropolitan, Elmhurst and Jacobi have increased access to doula services. The initiative also focuses on helping doulas with the cost of living, ensuring they get livable wages through Medicaid reimbursement and by incorporating more doulas into the pregnancy and birthing process.
The Citywide Doula Initiative is expected to expand to provide patients with up to eight doula visits, plus an additional in-person labor or delivery support visit.
Proud to announce that New York City has registered a record 4,200 New Yorkers in our doula care program.
— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) August 24, 2026
Pregnancy and childbirth are life-changing moments. No one should be forced to navigate them alone.
The Citywide Doula Initiative has connected thousands of New Yorkers… https://t.co/SpQUMYYwPf
“This milestone speaks to the power of one of our City’s most successful programs: the Citywide Doula Initiative, which has already supported thousands of families, including in communities that have been too often left behind by our health care system,” said Mayor Mamdani per a statement. “4,000 people served is only the beginning. We are expanding access through our public hospitals and to City employees because every New Yorker deserves support to bring a child into this world safely and with care.”
Through increasing access to doula care, the city is attempting to address maternal inequities amongst Black and Latino mothers.
In healthcare, Black and Latino mothers are often subjected to discrimination. According to the KFF, Black women and Hispanic women are often forced to deal with verbal harassment and are often refused requests for assistance throughout their pregnancies.
They are also less likely to receive routine medical procedures and receive lower-quality care throughout their pregnancies. Approximately 22% of Black women said that they were denied pain medication that they needed throughout their pregnancies. They are also more likely to receive emergency cesarean sections.
As a result, the mortality rate for the infants of these affected mothers is nearly twice as high as those born to white mothers, recording a mortality rate of 10 deaths per 1,000 births. Stillbirths are also more common amongst Black women due to maternal complications, including diabetes.
Through doula services, these mothers, who are usually affected by a lack of quality healthcare, can receive assistance through their partum and postpartum experiences.
“Community-based doula programs support the mental, emotional and physical well-being of expecting families, especially in Black and Latino communities where families have faced deep inequities and higher rates of maternal mortality,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Dr. Helen Arteaga per a statement. “The Citywide Doula Initiative is a powerful program that brings support to those who need it most, particularly those who too often are unable to access critical resources. We look forward to celebrating thousands more New Yorkers served by this remarkable initiative.”
