Culturally Safe Care for Black-bodied Birthing Families
For generations, Black women across the African and Caribbean diaspora have carried stories, traditions, and wisdom about pregnancy and birth. These teachings — from grandmother remedies to traditional midwifery practices — have always centred safety, intuition, and deep cultural knowing.
Yet today, many Black-bodied birthing people find themselves navigating maternity systems that do not always recognise, honour, or protect their lived experiences.
Culturally safe care is not a luxury. It is a necessity. And for Black birthing families, it can be the difference between feeling seen or silenced, empowered or dismissed, safe or unsafe.
What Is Culturally Safe Care?
Culturally safe care places the birthing person — their identity, heritage, values, and lived experience — at the centre of their maternity journey. For Black-bodied birthing people, this means care that:
Recognises the importance of African and Caribbean ancestry
Understands the legacy of colonialism and systemic racism
Values traditional knowledge and community wisdom
Creates space for cultural expression, autonomy, and dignity
Culturally safe care acknowledges that Black-bodied birthing people do not enter maternity spaces as blank slates. They carry history, resilience, and ancestral memory — all of which deserve to be honoured.
Why Culturally Safe Care Matters
Birthing bodies function best in environments that feel safe, loving, and supportive. When a person feels threatened, dismissed, or misunderstood, the body responds with stress hormones like adrenaline — the same physiological response triggered by danger. This can interrupt labour, increase interventions, and heighten the risk of harm.
For Black-bodied birthing people, this is compounded by systemic racism.
Culturally safe care creates conditions where Black-bodied birthing people can birth in environments that feel:
Physically safe
Emotionally supportive
Psychologically affirming
Spiritually grounded
When care providers understand cultural behaviours, respect identity, and listen deeply, birthing families experience greater autonomy, reduced intervention, and improved wellbeing.
Take a moment to explore your own experiences and expectations:
Can you identify examples of culturally safe or unsafe care in your journey?
How might your experience shift if your care felt more culturally safe?
How accessible does culturally safe care feel to you right now?
These reflections can help you advocate for the care you deserve.
Watch this Free Webinar to discover more about culturally safe and unsafe care.
How The ReBirth Space Supports Culturally Safe Care
At The ReBirth Space, culturally safe care is not an add-on — it is the foundation. Through doula support, advocacy, and education, we:
Walk alongside you throughout your perinatal journey
Offer accurate, up-to-date information so your choices are informed
Centre your voice in every decision
Advocate for your preferences when needed
Affirm your identity, your intuition, and your power
Our work is rooted in compassion, cultural understanding, and the belief that every Black-bodied birthing family deserves care that honours who they are.
Are you searching for culturally safe care in your perinatal journey?
Book to have a chat today or discover The ReBirth Space doula services. Additionally, access more articles and offers when you sign up to The ReBirth Space mailing list.
Thank you for reading. Take wonderful care.
With compassion,