(RE)CONNECTING WITH COMMUNITY
Sometimes the journey to parenthood is hard! Often times we're left not knowing what to expect and rarely are we ever fully prepared. The Arch is here to bring you support in ways that are fulfilling, familiar, and affordable. We offer this through our individualized support services, education, resources, community forums, and informational resources.
A DOULA AND THE DOCTORS WHO FAILED HER
Te-Ana Souffrant chose to become a full-spectrum doula after the births of her first and seconds sons, neither of which went according to plan and both of which left her scarred. She wanted to help fix flaws she saw in the medical system and help women like her, especially women of color, navigate childbirth safely.
Then came the birth of her third son, which was the most traumatic of all.
DID YOU KNOW?
The average OBGYN spends just 15 minutes with each patient and stops listening after 11-28 seconds. At The Arch, support is available 24/7 in just a click of a button.
*Data taken from over 100 families partaking in our annual comprehensive study on maternal health and wellness.
will have to wait up to an hour or longer to be seen by a doctor/provider with Black women spending longer in the wait room compared to others.
of pregnant persons–many of whom come from low income backgrounds– lack options, networks and knowledge when it comes to advocating for themselves
of all pregnant persons walk away from their regularly scheduled appointments still feeling unheard or unanswered.
A WORD FROM OUR CEO/FOUNDER: WHAT THE ARCH MEANS TO US
It means creating a space where people can finally take control and take charge of their birthing experiences, where suffering in silence ceases. It means empathy and understanding. It means support. It means lower incidences and the eventual eradication of maternal mortality. It means bringing more awareness and access for the undeserved.
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It means visibility.
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It means vulnerability. It means familiarity, commonalities, shared experiences.
It means family, friends and connection, sometimes with/to total strangers who become your community and uplift and center you and your desires to want to live and raise and grow your families. It is a place that we created, because it is what we wished we had for ourselves and for so many others like us, whom because of our own barriers to care and support (like distance to family, work obligations, lack of education, resources and information, etc), found ourselves in circumstances that we wished we were better prepared for.
Things beyond our control and for the first time, in a long time, we choose ourselves and we choose each other.
Te-Ana Souffrant
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