In 2023, 3.6 million births occurred in the United States, while nearly 98% of those births took place in hospitals, the Centers for Disease Control reported. But for some women, the thought of putting their health in the hands of a medical facility is their worst fear. For Black women, the thought alone can be anxiety-inducing. From medical malpractice to birth inequity, hospital births are becoming the last resort for an increasing number of Black households as doulas stand in the gap.