The Perinatal Experience: Insights from Families in Baltimore City

This webinar presents an overview of findings from community feedback, needs assessments, and qualitative and mixed-methods work conducted in Baltimore City. The session will highlight how mothers, fathers, and families describe their experiences throughout pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period, with a focus on care interactions, emotional experiences, and support systems. The webinar will also discuss insights from doula-focused inquiry, particularly the role of continuous non-clinical support during high-stress and emergent birth situations, and consider implications for practice and systems of care.

By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:

• Identify common themes described by mothers, fathers, and families regarding perinatal experiences in Baltimore City.
• Describe how qualitative and mixed-methods approaches, and community feedback inform understanding of care experiences across the perinatal period.
• Summarize insights related to doula support, including during emergent and high-stress birth situations.
• Discuss considerations for strengthening family support within perinatal care systems.