We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kiara Baskin a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Kiara, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Have you ever experienced a times when your entire field felt like it was taking a U-Turn?
In this work, you can always feel when the ground is shifting. And, for doulas in Michigan—especially doulas of color—we’ve experienced one of those pivotal U-turns.
For years, doula care in our communities has been essential but inaccessible. The support we offer—physical, emotional, informational—was historically only available through fee-for-service, meaning clients had to pay out-of-pocket. That left too many families behind, especially Black families already navigating a healthcare system stacked against them.
But here’s the U-turn: Michigan Medicaid now reimburses doula services. That’s huge. It means families who’ve never had access to this kind of care can now receive support at no cost. It’s a direct investment in better birth outcomes, and an overdue acknowledgment that doulas save lives.
Even more powerful? While I’m still clocking in at my 9–5 (because —many of us doulas are not out here living the self-employed dream just yet) our community based doula training through Day One Doula Collective is one of the few programs officially approved by the state for Medicaid-recognized certification. That means the doulas we train can become Medicaid-enrolled providers—making care more accessible for families, and income more sustainable for doulas. This isn’t just about ticking boxes. It’s about redefining what legitimacy looks like, especially for doulas of color trained in community-based models that center cultural relevance and lived experience.
And let’s be real— at Day One Doula Collective we’re a small team of Black women doing this work in honor of those who came before us. Every doula we train carries the legacy of Anarcha, Betsey, and Lucy—Black women whose bodies were used and abused in the name of medical progress, without consent, without dignity. We haven’t forgotten. We are building something they were denied: a system that centers care, consent, and community.
This moment is about more than Medicaid—it’s about sustainability, equity, and justice. When our communities can receive care without cost, when our doulas can be paid without hustle or burnout, and when our Black-led programs are recognized as valid—that’s the U-turn we’ve been working for.
We’re not just witnessing change—we’re making it.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’m Kiara Baskin—a doula, lactation counselor, placenta encapsulator, and Program Manager at Day One Doula Collective. My journey into this work wasn’t just a career decision—it was a personal one, shaped by my own experiences as a Black birthing parent.
Like so many others, my first birth didn’t go the way I imagined. I had a C-section, but I didn’t fully understand why. The decision felt out of my control, and the process was clouded by interventions that I wasn’t fully informed about. I was told I needed an induction, but I never got an explanation as to why—just a lot of medical jargon and a rushed decision. As Black women, we are often told what to do in birth, without ever being given a full understanding of what’s happening to our bodies or why certain decisions are being made. In the end, I signed a consent form, not fully understanding the consequences or the lasting impact it would have on me physically and emotionally. I was essentially asked to make a decision I wasn’t prepared for—just like so many of us are when we don’t have all the information or the chance to ask the right questions.
This lack of agency in my own birth experience led me to pursue a VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean) for my next birth. A VBAC, which is an attempt to have a vaginal birth after previously having a C-section, was something I was determined to achieve. But even with my determination, I faced pushback. People doubted me, and there was still so much misinformation about what was “safe” for me as a Black birthing person. That journey wasn’t easy, but it was powerful. I gave birth vaginally, and that experience of reclaiming my body and my choices completely shifted how I viewed birth—and how I viewed my role as a doula.
As a VBAC parent, I not only learned about the importance of informed consent, but I also learned how systemic racism affects our healthcare. Black women are often denied the full spectrum of choices and education around their birth, and are instead subjected to unnecessary interventions, like inductions and C-sections, without ever being fully informed of why those decisions are being made. Our voices are silenced, and our rights to bodily autonomy are frequently dismissed.
That’s why I started Bump to Birth Doula Services and later joined Day One Doula Collective. I wanted to ensure that families—especially Black families—were supported with information, empowerment, and advocacy. Through my work, I provide coaching and support through pregnancy, labor, postpartum, lactation, and placenta encapsulation. But it’s not just about guiding families through a process; it’s about changing the very systems that have historically excluded and undermined us.
What’s different about me? I’m not here just for the paycheck—I’m here to build something that lasts. I know first-hand that Black doulas and community-based care models have been undervalued, and that’s why I’ve worked hard to make sure the work we do is recognized as legitimate and worthy of support. Through Day One Doula Collective, we’ve created one of the few state-approved Medicaid training programs for doulas in Michigan. This means that doulas trained through our program can become Medicaid-enrolled providers, making it easier for families to access the care they deserve without financial barriers.
Being part of a small, Black-led team means that we are constantly navigating a system that hasn’t been kind to us. But it also gives us the opportunity to create real change—just like our ancestors did. If you know anything about Anarcha, Betsey, and Lucy, you know that Black women have always been at the forefront of this work, even when history tried to erase our contributions. I take that legacy seriously, and I’m proud to continue it with the work we’re doing in Michigan.
What am I most proud of? Seeing our doulas grow into confident providers, and knowing that we’re creating sustainable change that will be felt for generations. Watching our graduates fill the gaps in healthcare that have been ignored for too long, and doing so with the training and support to back it up—that’s the heart of this work.
I want people to know that our work isn’t just about births; it’s about breaking barriers and providing equitable access to care for those who have been denied it for so long. As I’ve said before, “Doulas are a right, not a luxury,” and I believe that now more than ever. Our community deserves more, and I’m here to make sure we get it—one birth, one family, and one doula at a time.
Through Day One Doula Collective, we’ve committed ourselves to changing the system, not just operating within it. From increasing access to care through Medicaid recognition to ensuring that our doulas have the tools to stand up for their clients, we’re setting the stage for a new standard of care. It’s not just about meeting the needs of today—it’s about transforming the landscape for the future. And that’s what makes the work we do so powerful.
Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?
Other than training, I think the most important thing for succeeding in this field is recognizing and trusting the innate magic we already have as Black women. We’ve all doula’d someone before—whether it’s been a friend, a sister, or a neighbor—we’ve been there for each other long before we ever considered calling ourselves “doulas.” This work is about reclamation, not invention. We’ve always had the intuition, the wisdom, and the strength to support those around us, especially in times of birth and transition.
As Beyoncé displays in the most recent visuals from the Cowboy Carter tour, “Don’t ask permission for something that was already yours.” This resonates deeply with the work we do. We’re reclaiming what’s always been ours, even when society or systems try to make us feel like we have to justify our worth. Our ancestors did this work without titles or formal training—they simply knew how to show up for their people. So, for me, it’s not just about what we learn in a classroom—it’s about remembering and embracing that deep-rooted connection to the people we serve and the wisdom that comes with it. When we trust our instincts and honor our experiences, we’re already ahead of the game.
If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?
Absolutely—every single time, I would choose this path again.
Becoming a doula isn’t something I stumbled into—it’s something that felt like remembering. I didn’t invent this work, I inherited it. From the grandmothers, aunties, and ancestors who supported births on porches, in back bedrooms, and wherever they were needed, I’m walking in their footsteps. There’s lineage in this work—real legacy. So for me, it’s not about doing something new, it’s about taking back what has always belonged to us.
And being a doula? It’s not a side hustle. It’s not a stepping stone to something more “professional.” This is the work. This is the calling. And there’s so much opportunity in it—whether that’s supporting birthing people through labor, holding space postpartum, offering lactation support, teaching classes, facilitating groups, doing policy and advocacy work, or training the next generation of doulas. The possibilities are wide and deep, especially for Black women, who have always done this work with or without titles.
I wouldn’t trade the power, purpose, or community that comes with being a doula for anything. This isn’t just what I do—it’s who I am. And every day I get to do this work is another day I get to honor the women who came before me and pour into the ones rising up now.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dayonedoulacollective/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DayOneDoulaCollective/
Image Credits
Kiara Baskin