Photo Essay: How a midwife is solving Houston’s Black maternal health crisis
This story is a part of an ongoing series reporting on the Black maternal health crisis in Harris County and different ways that providers are working to combat it.
Deshaun Desrosiers is one of the few Black midwives in the Houston area addressing maternal health care disparities among Black women by providing a safe, holistic alternative to standard hospital prenatal, labor and delivery, and postpartum care. Meridith Kohut and Houston Landing reporter Monique Welch followed Promise Ealy, one of Desrosiers’ patients, through her delivery. Ealy allowed them to be with her during this vulnerable and powerful moment, as she continued to take control over her health, and her baby’s, with the guidance of Desrosiers.
Promise Ealy, 28, tied her hair securely in her satin scarf and bonnet, changed into a neon orange bathing suit top and stepped into the bathtub, while in labor on December 6, 2024 at her home in Cypress, TX. As a sound machine played ambient noises in the background, Ealy closed her eyes, trying to relax with deep breaths and sporadic sighs as the contractions intensified. After a traumatic experience giving birth to her first son in a hospital, Ms. Elay opted to give birth to her second and third babies with a midwife at her home. (Meridith Kohut for Houston Landing)
” data-medium-file=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241206_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_34.jpg?fit=300%2C200&ssl=1″ data-large-file=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241206_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_34.jpg?fit=780%2C519&ssl=1″ src=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241206_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_34.jpg?resize=780%2C520&ssl=1″ alt class=”wp-image-47028 perfmatters-lazy” data-sizes=”(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px” srcset=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241206_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_34.jpg?w=1700&ssl=1 1700w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241206_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_34.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241206_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_34.jpg?resize=1024%2C682&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241206_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_34.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241206_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_34.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241206_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_34.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241206_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_34.jpg?resize=600%2C400&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241206_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_34.jpg?resize=1568%2C1045&ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241206_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_34.jpg?resize=400%2C267&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241206_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_34.jpg?resize=706%2C471&ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241206_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_34.jpg?w=370&ssl=1 370w”>Promise Ealy endures another painful contraction, in her bathtub on December 6, 2024, at her home in Cypress, Texas. Black patients are more than three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than their white counterparts, due to a variety of factors from variation in quality health care, underlying chronic conditions, structural racism, and implicit bias, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 80 percent of pregnancy-related deaths were preventable, according to the CDC. Despite being home to the largest medical center in the world, Harris County has also faced one of the highest rates of Black maternal and infant mortality in Texas and the U.S., consistently exceeding state or national averages since 2016, according to a 2024 maternal and infant health report by Harris County Public Health. Between 2016 and 2020, Black people who gave birth in Harris County had 83.4 deaths per 100,000 live births. During that same period, infants born to Black people in Harris County experienced mortality rates of 11.66 per 1,000 births. (Meridith Kohut for Houston Landing)
” data-medium-file=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241206_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_36.jpg?fit=200%2C300&ssl=1″ data-large-file=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241206_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_36.jpg?fit=682%2C1024&ssl=1″ src=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241206_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_36.jpg?resize=780%2C1170&ssl=1″ alt class=”wp-image-47029 perfmatters-lazy” data-sizes=”(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px” srcset=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241206_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_36.jpg?w=1133&ssl=1 1133w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241206_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_36.jpg?resize=200%2C300&ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241206_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_36.jpg?resize=682%2C1024&ssl=1 682w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241206_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_36.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241206_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_36.jpg?resize=1024%2C1536&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241206_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_36.jpg?resize=133%2C200&ssl=1 133w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241206_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_36.jpg?resize=400%2C600&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241206_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_36.jpg?resize=706%2C1059&ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241206_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_36.jpg?w=370&ssl=1 370w”>Promise Ealy endures another painful contraction, in her bathtub on December 6, 2024, at her home in Cypress, Texas. “It’s almost over. You got it,” her husband, Glen Guilbeau said, encouraging her as he tirelessly poured water over her belly to relax her muscles and reduce some of the pain. He catered to Ealy’s every need, and occasionally told jokes about getting her ice cream and even a milkshake from Whataburger. (Meridith Kohut for Houston Landing)
” data-medium-file=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241206_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_47.jpg?fit=300%2C200&ssl=1″ data-large-file=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241206_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_47.jpg?fit=780%2C519&ssl=1″ data-id=”47032″ src=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241206_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_47.jpg?resize=780%2C520&ssl=1″ alt class=”wp-image-47032 perfmatters-lazy” data-sizes=”(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px” srcset=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241206_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_47.jpg?w=1700&ssl=1 1700w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241206_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_47.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241206_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_47.jpg?resize=1024%2C682&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241206_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_47.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241206_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_47.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241206_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_47.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241206_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_47.jpg?resize=600%2C400&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241206_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_47.jpg?resize=1568%2C1045&ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241206_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_47.jpg?resize=400%2C267&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241206_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_47.jpg?resize=706%2C471&ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241206_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_47.jpg?w=370&ssl=1 370w”>Licensed midwife, DeShaun Desrosiers smiles, watching Promise Ealy hold her baby for the first time, after Ms. Desrosiers delivered the baby at Ms. Ealy’s home on December 6, 2024 at home in Cypress, Texas. “Black women want to have Black doulas and midwives because they don’t have to code-switch,” Desrosiers said. “They can be open and honest and tell us what’s going on, we can help them with these things. They feel safe. They feel connected.” (Meridith Kohut for Houston Landing)
” data-medium-file=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_57.jpg?fit=300%2C200&ssl=1″ data-large-file=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_57.jpg?fit=780%2C519&ssl=1″ data-id=”47063″ src=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_57.jpg?resize=780%2C520&ssl=1″ alt class=”wp-image-47063 perfmatters-lazy” data-sizes=”(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px” srcset=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_57.jpg?w=1700&ssl=1 1700w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_57.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_57.jpg?resize=1024%2C682&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_57.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_57.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_57.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_57.jpg?resize=600%2C400&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_57.jpg?resize=1568%2C1045&ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_57.jpg?resize=400%2C267&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_57.jpg?resize=706%2C471&ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_57.jpg?w=370&ssl=1 370w”>Promise Ealy endures another painful contraction, in her bathtub on December 6, 2024, at her home in Cypress, Texas. As she labored for roughly another hour and a half, her Licensed midwife, DeShaun Desrosiers continued to encourage her, reminding her to keep breathing, listen to her body and to center her hips. At times when the contractions grew intense, Ealy clenched tightly to Desrosiers’ hand. “There you go. That’s perfect. Perfect breathing,” Desrosiers said calmly to Ealy as she groaned a low-pitched “ahhh.” “It hurts,” Ealy said as Desrosiers responded: “You can do anything for one minute,” supporting her through the contraction. (Meridith Kohut for Houston Landing)
” data-medium-file=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241206_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_45.jpg?fit=300%2C200&ssl=1″ data-large-file=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241206_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_45.jpg?fit=780%2C519&ssl=1″ data-id=”47031″ src=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241206_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_45.jpg?resize=780%2C520&ssl=1″ alt class=”wp-image-47031 perfmatters-lazy” data-sizes=”(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px” srcset=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241206_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_45.jpg?w=1700&ssl=1 1700w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241206_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_45.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241206_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_45.jpg?resize=1024%2C682&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241206_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_45.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241206_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_45.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241206_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_45.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241206_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_45.jpg?resize=600%2C400&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241206_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_45.jpg?resize=1568%2C1045&ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241206_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_45.jpg?resize=400%2C267&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241206_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_45.jpg?resize=706%2C471&ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241206_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_45.jpg?w=370&ssl=1 370w”>Promise Ealy holds her son Ian for the first time, fans herself and winces while her midwife, DeShaun Desrosiers, removes the placenta, shortly after Ian was born, on December 6, 2024 at the family’s home in Cypress, Texas.
” data-medium-file=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_60.jpg?fit=300%2C200&ssl=1″ data-large-file=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_60.jpg?fit=780%2C519&ssl=1″ data-id=”47036″ src=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_60.jpg?resize=780%2C520&ssl=1″ alt class=”wp-image-47036 perfmatters-lazy” data-sizes=”(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px” srcset=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_60.jpg?w=1700&ssl=1 1700w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_60.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_60.jpg?resize=1024%2C682&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_60.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_60.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_60.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_60.jpg?resize=600%2C400&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_60.jpg?resize=1568%2C1045&ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_60.jpg?resize=400%2C267&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_60.jpg?resize=706%2C471&ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_60.jpg?w=370&ssl=1 370w”>Licensed midwife, DeShaun Desrosiers, hands baby Ian to his father, Glen Guilbeau, for skin to skin contact while Ms. Desrosiers cared for his mother, Promise Ealy, after she gave birth on December 6, 2024 at the couple’s home in Cypress, Texas. (Meridith Kohut for Houston Landing)
” data-medium-file=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_63.jpg?fit=300%2C200&ssl=1″ data-large-file=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_63.jpg?fit=780%2C519&ssl=1″ data-id=”47064″ src=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_63.jpg?resize=780%2C520&ssl=1″ alt class=”wp-image-47064 perfmatters-lazy” data-sizes=”(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px” srcset=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_63.jpg?w=1700&ssl=1 1700w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_63.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_63.jpg?resize=1024%2C682&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_63.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_63.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_63.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_63.jpg?resize=600%2C400&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_63.jpg?resize=1568%2C1045&ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_63.jpg?resize=400%2C267&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_63.jpg?resize=706%2C471&ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_63.jpg?w=370&ssl=1 370w”>Promise Ealy endures another painful contraction, and gives birth to her son Ian, in her bathtub on December 6, 2024, at her home in Cypress, Texas. “It’s almost over. You got it,” her husband, Glen Guilbeau said, encouraging her as he tirelessly poured water over her belly to relax her muscles and reduce some of the pain. Licensed midwife, DeShaun Desrosiers, handed baby Ian to his father, Glen Guilbeau, for skin to skin contact while Ms. Desrosiers cared for his mother, Promise Ealy, after she gave birth. (Meridith Kohut for Houston Landing)
“Black women want to have Black doulas and midwives because they don’t have to code-switch,” Desrosiers said. “They can be open and honest and tell us what’s going on, we can help them with these things. They feel safe. They feel connected.”
Licensed midwife, DeShaun Desrosiers places baby Ian onto his mother, Promise Ealy’s chest immediately after he was born, at 11:02 p.m. with his amniotic sac still intact. Ian is Promise and Glen’s third son, and weighed 5 pounds and 2 ounces. (Meridith Kohut for Houston Landing)
” data-medium-file=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_52.jpg?fit=300%2C200&ssl=1″ data-large-file=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_52.jpg?fit=780%2C519&ssl=1″ src=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_52.jpg?resize=780%2C520&ssl=1″ alt class=”wp-image-47034 perfmatters-lazy” data-sizes=”(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px” srcset=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_52.jpg?w=1700&ssl=1 1700w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_52.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_52.jpg?resize=1024%2C682&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_52.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_52.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_52.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_52.jpg?resize=600%2C400&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_52.jpg?resize=1568%2C1045&ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_52.jpg?resize=400%2C267&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_52.jpg?resize=706%2C471&ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_52.jpg?w=370&ssl=1 370w”>
As she labored for roughly another hour and a half, Desrosiers continued to encourage her, reminding her to keep breathing, listen to her body and to center her hips. As Ealy closed her eyes and breathed through contractions, Desrosiers simultaneously monitored Ealy’s progress and the baby’s heart rate, and updated Ealy’s charts on her laptop. At times when the contractions grew intense, Ealy clenched tightly to Desrosiers’ hand.
“There you go. That’s perfect. Perfect breathing,” Desrosiers said calmly to Ealy as she groaned a low-pitched “ahhh.”
At 11:02 p.m. after one hour and 43 minutes of active labor, Ealy gave birth to Ian Guilbeau, the couple’s third son, weighing 5 pounds and 2 ounces.
Promise Ealy, holds her son Ian, shortly after he was born, on December 6, 2024 at the family’s home in Cypress, Texas. Ms. Ealy expressed that it was comforting to her to get to recover in her own bed after giving birth, and to not have people coming in constantly waking her up, like she experienced after giving birth in a hospital with her first son. (Meridith Kohut for Houston Landing)
” data-medium-file=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_84.jpg?fit=200%2C300&ssl=1″ data-large-file=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_84.jpg?fit=682%2C1024&ssl=1″ src=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_84.jpg?resize=682%2C1024&ssl=1″ alt class=”wp-image-47041 perfmatters-lazy” data-sizes=”(max-width: 682px) 100vw, 682px” srcset=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_84.jpg?resize=682%2C1024&ssl=1 682w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_84.jpg?resize=200%2C300&ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_84.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_84.jpg?resize=1024%2C1536&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_84.jpg?resize=133%2C200&ssl=1 133w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_84.jpg?resize=400%2C600&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_84.jpg?resize=706%2C1059&ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_84.jpg?w=1133&ssl=1 1133w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_84-682×1024.jpg?w=370&ssl=1 370w”>Licensed midwife, DeShaun Desrosiers updates Promise Ealy’s medical chart, while she was in labor on December 6, 2024, at her home in Cypress, Texas. (Meridith Kohut for Houston Landing)
” data-medium-file=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_BLACK-MIDWIFE_MK_103.jpg?fit=300%2C200&ssl=1″ data-large-file=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_BLACK-MIDWIFE_MK_103.jpg?fit=780%2C519&ssl=1″ data-id=”47033″ src=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_BLACK-MIDWIFE_MK_103.jpg?resize=780%2C520&ssl=1″ alt class=”wp-image-47033 perfmatters-lazy” data-sizes=”(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px” srcset=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_BLACK-MIDWIFE_MK_103.jpg?w=1700&ssl=1 1700w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_BLACK-MIDWIFE_MK_103.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_BLACK-MIDWIFE_MK_103.jpg?resize=1024%2C682&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_BLACK-MIDWIFE_MK_103.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_BLACK-MIDWIFE_MK_103.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_BLACK-MIDWIFE_MK_103.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_BLACK-MIDWIFE_MK_103.jpg?resize=600%2C400&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_BLACK-MIDWIFE_MK_103.jpg?resize=1568%2C1045&ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_BLACK-MIDWIFE_MK_103.jpg?resize=400%2C267&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_BLACK-MIDWIFE_MK_103.jpg?resize=706%2C471&ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_BLACK-MIDWIFE_MK_103.jpg?w=370&ssl=1 370w”>Glen Guilbeau holds his son Ian for the first time, giving him skin to skin contact while licensed midwife, DeShaun Desrosiers cared for his wife, Promise Ealy, after she gave birth to Ian on December 6, 2024 at the couple’s home in Cypress, Texas. Ms. Desrosiers keeps newborns attached to their placenta for the first hour after they are born to help them thrive. (Meridith Kohut for Houston Landing)
” data-medium-file=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_66.jpg?fit=300%2C200&ssl=1″ data-large-file=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_66.jpg?fit=780%2C519&ssl=1″ data-id=”47037″ src=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_66.jpg?resize=780%2C520&ssl=1″ alt class=”wp-image-47037 perfmatters-lazy” data-sizes=”(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px” srcset=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_66.jpg?w=1700&ssl=1 1700w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_66.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_66.jpg?resize=1024%2C682&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_66.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_66.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_66.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_66.jpg?resize=600%2C400&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_66.jpg?resize=1568%2C1045&ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_66.jpg?resize=400%2C267&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_66.jpg?resize=706%2C471&ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_66.jpg?w=370&ssl=1 370w”>Licensed midwife, DeShaun Desrosiers takes baby Ian’s measurements shortly after he was born, on December 6, 2024, at home in Cypress, Texas. (Meridith Kohut for Houston Landing)
” data-medium-file=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_95.jpg?fit=300%2C200&ssl=1″ data-large-file=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_95.jpg?fit=780%2C519&ssl=1″ src=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_95.jpg?resize=780%2C520&ssl=1″ alt class=”wp-image-47045 perfmatters-lazy” data-sizes=”(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px” srcset=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_95.jpg?w=1700&ssl=1 1700w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_95.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_95.jpg?resize=1024%2C682&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_95.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_95.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_95.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_95.jpg?resize=600%2C400&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_95.jpg?resize=1568%2C1045&ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_95.jpg?resize=400%2C267&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_95.jpg?resize=706%2C471&ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_95.jpg?w=370&ssl=1 370w”>
Ealy’s experience is a stark contrast to her first pregnancy where she had an epidural at a hospital, where she said she felt disregarded and patronized because doctors and nurses weren’t listening to her.
“Every single thing I brought up, it was: ‘You’re pregnant. That’s normal.’” Ealy said.
But she never got any guidance. After delivering her first son, the disregard continued. She was administered magnesium sulfate to treat preeclampsia that she had developed from her high blood pressure, she said.
As she floated in and out of consciousness, doctors continued to ignore her, she said.
“He just kept talking until he was done talking and then he left. Then once he left they’re like ‘oh sorry it was on.’”
“I could’ve died off that magnesium,” Ealy said.
After that experience, she vowed never to deliver in a hospital again and take her chances with a homebirth.
Licensed midwife, DeShaun Desrosiers takes baby Ian’s measurements shortly after he was born, on December 6, 2024, at home in Cypress, Texas. (Meridith Kohut for Houston Landing)
” data-medium-file=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_91.jpg?fit=200%2C300&ssl=1″ data-large-file=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_91.jpg?fit=682%2C1024&ssl=1″ data-id=”47044″ src=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_91.jpg?resize=780%2C1170&ssl=1″ alt class=”wp-image-47044 perfmatters-lazy” data-sizes=”(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px” srcset=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_91.jpg?w=1133&ssl=1 1133w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_91.jpg?resize=200%2C300&ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_91.jpg?resize=682%2C1024&ssl=1 682w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_91.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_91.jpg?resize=1024%2C1536&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_91.jpg?resize=133%2C200&ssl=1 133w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_91.jpg?resize=400%2C600&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_91.jpg?resize=706%2C1059&ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_91.jpg?w=370&ssl=1 370w”>Glen Guilbeau fills out a keepsake birth certificate with baby Ian’s footprints, shortly after he was born, on December 6, 2024, at home in Cypress, Texas. At the bottom of the certificate, on the line for “place” of the birth, “Home” with a heart drawn next to the word was written. (Meridith Kohut for Houston Landing)
” data-medium-file=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_106.jpg?fit=200%2C300&ssl=1″ data-large-file=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_106.jpg?fit=682%2C1024&ssl=1″ data-id=”47049″ src=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_106.jpg?resize=780%2C1170&ssl=1″ alt class=”wp-image-47049 perfmatters-lazy” data-sizes=”(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px” srcset=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_106.jpg?w=1133&ssl=1 1133w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_106.jpg?resize=200%2C300&ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_106.jpg?resize=682%2C1024&ssl=1 682w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_106.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_106.jpg?resize=1024%2C1536&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_106.jpg?resize=133%2C200&ssl=1 133w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_106.jpg?resize=400%2C600&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_106.jpg?resize=706%2C1059&ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241207_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_106.jpg?w=370&ssl=1 370w”>Licensed midwife, DeShaun Desrosiers takes baby Ian’s measurements shortly after he was born, on December 6, 2024, at home in Cypress, Texas. Then, Glen Guilbeau fills out a keepsake birth certificate with baby Ian’s footprints. At the bottom of the certificate, on the line for “place” of the birth, “Home” with a heart drawn next to the word was written. (Meridith Kohut for Houston Landing)
Black patients are more than three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than their white counterparts, due to a variety of factors from variation in quality health care, underlying chronic conditions, structural racism, and implicit bias, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 80 percent of pregnancy-related deaths were preventable, according to the CDC.
Licensed midwife, DeShaun Desrosiers, makes a house call to check on baby Ian Guilbeau, on December 12, 2024, in Cypress, Texas. (Meridith Kohut for Houston Landing)
” data-medium-file=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_115.jpg?fit=300%2C200&ssl=1″ data-large-file=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_115.jpg?fit=780%2C519&ssl=1″ src=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_115.jpg?resize=780%2C520&ssl=1″ alt class=”wp-image-47052 perfmatters-lazy” data-sizes=”(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px” srcset=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_115.jpg?w=1700&ssl=1 1700w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_115.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_115.jpg?resize=1024%2C682&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_115.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_115.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_115.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_115.jpg?resize=600%2C400&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_115.jpg?resize=1568%2C1045&ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_115.jpg?resize=400%2C267&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_115.jpg?resize=706%2C471&ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_115.jpg?w=370&ssl=1 370w”>
“They bring their kids, they bring their man, they bring grandma, grandpa, all that so they can get all the questions [answered],” she said. “I’m getting to know everybody. And I do that for the whole pregnancy. So I basically become a central part of their family. I know all their business.”
Promise Ealy holds her newborn son Ian, during her second postpartum appointment with her midwife, DeShaun Desrosiers on December 12, 2024 in Cypress, Texas. “How are you feeling physically, emotionally, mentally?” Desrosiers asked Ealy. Desrosiers said it’s common for all of her home birth appointments to last nearly an hour long because they cover everything from food security, geographic location, their sex life and relationships with their partner, family life, and other social factors. She also educates her patients on herbs, lifestyle changes and preventative measures that can make for a smooth labor and delivery, and postpartum recovery process. (Meridith Kohut for Houston Landing)
” data-medium-file=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_133.jpg?fit=300%2C200&ssl=1″ data-large-file=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_133.jpg?fit=780%2C519&ssl=1″ src=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_133.jpg?resize=780%2C520&ssl=1″ alt class=”wp-image-47057 perfmatters-lazy” data-sizes=”(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px” srcset=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_133.jpg?w=1700&ssl=1 1700w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_133.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_133.jpg?resize=1024%2C682&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_133.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_133.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_133.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_133.jpg?resize=600%2C400&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_133.jpg?resize=1568%2C1045&ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_133.jpg?resize=400%2C267&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_133.jpg?resize=706%2C471&ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_133.jpg?w=370&ssl=1 370w”>Ian Guilbeau photographed when he was just a few days old, on December 12, 2024 at his family’s home in Cypress, Texas. Ian was born at home with a midwife caring for his mother. Despite being home to the largest medical center in the world, Harris County has also faced one of the highest rates of Black maternal and infant mortality in Texas and the U.S., consistently exceeding state or national averages since 2016, according to a 2024 maternal and infant health report by Harris County Public Health. Between 2016 and 2020, Black people who gave birth in Harris County had 83.4 deaths per 100,000 live births. During that same period, infants born to Black people in Harris County experienced mortality rates of 11.66 per 1,000 births. Studies published in the National Library of Medicine, show that midwifery care has generally led to better outcomes for birthing parents, particularly Black people. In low-risk pregnancies, midwifery has been associated with decreased labor interventions, decreased cesareans, preterm births, and operative vaginal births with no increased odds of neonatal intensive care unit admissions, neonatal deaths, or severe maternal morbidity. (Meridith Kohut for Houston Landing)
” data-medium-file=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_110.jpg?fit=200%2C300&ssl=1″ data-large-file=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_110.jpg?fit=682%2C1024&ssl=1″ src=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_110.jpg?resize=780%2C1170&ssl=1″ alt class=”wp-image-47050 perfmatters-lazy” data-sizes=”(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px” srcset=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_110.jpg?w=1133&ssl=1 1133w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_110.jpg?resize=200%2C300&ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_110.jpg?resize=682%2C1024&ssl=1 682w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_110.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_110.jpg?resize=1024%2C1536&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_110.jpg?resize=133%2C200&ssl=1 133w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_110.jpg?resize=400%2C600&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_110.jpg?resize=706%2C1059&ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_110.jpg?w=370&ssl=1 370w”>
“She gave me the pros and cons and she left it up to me,” she said. “I could definitely tell the difference with DeShaun. She actually cared about me. She cared about the health of my baby and that really made me like yeah ‘I gotta stay here. I’m not going to anyone else.’”
Licensed midwife, DeShaun Desrosiers, helps Promise Ealy and her husband, Glen Guilbeau, make homemade beans during a house call to check on them and their newborn baby Ian, on December 12, 2024, in Cypress, Texas. Nutrition, water consumption and physical activity were a key focus during Ealy’s prenatal visits with Desrosiers to regulate her blood pressure and prevent her from developing pre- and post- eclampsia again like her previous births. “It’s more like a mental health check, a lifestyle check. Those things weren’t happening in the doctor’s office,” Ealy said. It’s also for the whole family, Ealy said, noting how Desrosiers had a stern talk with her husband about his health as well and the effects of his unhealthy habits on Ealy and their then unborn child. (Meridith Kohut for Houston Landing)
” data-medium-file=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_139.jpg?fit=300%2C200&ssl=1″ data-large-file=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_139.jpg?fit=780%2C519&ssl=1″ data-id=”47060″ src=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_139.jpg?resize=780%2C520&ssl=1″ alt class=”wp-image-47060 perfmatters-lazy” data-sizes=”(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px” srcset=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_139.jpg?w=1700&ssl=1 1700w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_139.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_139.jpg?resize=1024%2C682&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_139.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_139.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_139.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_139.jpg?resize=600%2C400&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_139.jpg?resize=1568%2C1045&ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_139.jpg?resize=400%2C267&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_139.jpg?resize=706%2C471&ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_139.jpg?w=370&ssl=1 370w”>Ian Guilbeau photographed when he was just a few days old, on December 12, 2024 at his family’s home in Cypress, Texas. Ian was born at home with a midwife caring for his mother. Despite being home to the largest medical center in the world, Harris County has also faced one of the highest rates of Black maternal and infant mortality in Texas and the U.S., consistently exceeding state or national averages since 2016, according to a 2024 maternal and infant health report by Harris County Public Health. Between 2016 and 2020, Black people who gave birth in Harris County had 83.4 deaths per 100,000 live births. During that same period, infants born to Black people in Harris County experienced mortality rates of 11.66 per 1,000 births. Studies published in the National Library of Medicine, show that midwifery care has generally led to better outcomes for birthing parents, particularly Black people. In low-risk pregnancies, midwifery has been associated with decreased labor interventions, decreased cesareans, preterm births, and operative vaginal births with no increased odds of neonatal intensive care unit admissions, neonatal deaths, or severe maternal morbidity. (Meridith Kohut for Houston Landing)
” data-medium-file=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_128.jpg?fit=300%2C200&ssl=1″ data-large-file=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_128.jpg?fit=780%2C519&ssl=1″ data-id=”47055″ src=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_128.jpg?resize=780%2C520&ssl=1″ alt class=”wp-image-47055 perfmatters-lazy” data-sizes=”(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px” srcset=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_128.jpg?w=1700&ssl=1 1700w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_128.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_128.jpg?resize=1024%2C682&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_128.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_128.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_128.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_128.jpg?resize=600%2C400&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_128.jpg?resize=1568%2C1045&ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_128.jpg?resize=400%2C267&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_128.jpg?resize=706%2C471&ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_128.jpg?w=370&ssl=1 370w”>Promise Ealy and her husband Glen Guilbeau reflect on the pregnancies of their three children, during their second postpartum appointment at their home with their midwife, DeShaun Desrosiers on December 12, 2024 in Cypress, Texas. Ealy’s experience giving birth to her third son at home was a stark contrast to her first pregnancy where she had an epidural at a hospital, where she said she felt disregarded and patronized because doctors and nurses weren’t listening to her. After that traumatic experience, she vowed never to deliver in a hospital again and take her chances with home birth. Medical experts and certified nurse midwives say the continuum of pregnancy, birth, and postnatal care is what sets midwives apart from what is often considered standard care. “In combating racial disparities and high maternal mortality rates, Black birth workers play a crucial role in advocating for, providing culturally competent care, and improving the health outcomes of Black mothers, birthing people, and infants,” wrote Alaysia Black Hackett, the chief diversity and equity officer in the Office of the Secretary, in a U.S. Department of Labor Blog. “By providing culturally competent, individualized care, Black doulas and midwives can help mitigate the impacts of racism that are embedded within the healthcare system, including addressing the causes of pregnancy-related deaths.” (Meridith Kohut for Houston Landing)
” data-medium-file=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_127.jpg?fit=300%2C200&ssl=1″ data-large-file=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_127.jpg?fit=780%2C519&ssl=1″ src=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_127.jpg?resize=780%2C520&ssl=1″ alt class=”wp-image-47054 perfmatters-lazy” data-sizes=”(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px” srcset=”https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_127.jpg?w=1700&ssl=1 1700w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_127.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_127.jpg?resize=1024%2C682&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_127.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_127.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_127.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_127.jpg?resize=600%2C400&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_127.jpg?resize=1568%2C1045&ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_127.jpg?resize=400%2C267&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_127.jpg?resize=706%2C471&ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241212_From-statistic-to-birth-hero_-How-a-midwife-is-solving-Houstons-Black-maternal-health-crisis_MK_127.jpg?w=370&ssl=1 370w”>
Photography by Meridith Kohut.
Editing by Lexi Parra and Antranik Tavitian.
Text excerpts based on reporting and writing by Monique Welch.
