When Birth Doesn't Go as Planned - NICU Doula

Dr. Bolds is a nationally recognized high-risk Birth Doula, childbirth educator, and maternal health advocate based in New York City’s Hell’s Kitchen. With over 40 years in allied health and more than a decade supporting high-risk births, she founded Bold Doula®, Black Women Do VBAC®, and Birth While Black Inc., a Black led 501(c)(3) organization focused on Black maternal health education, consulting, and research.

Dr. Bolds provides advanced Doula training in VBAC/surgical support, NICU support, and induction, equipping BIPOC birthworkers to navigate complex hospital systems while centering safety, dignity, and justice.

Her doctoral dissertation, Weathering of Black Doulas in Hospitals: Challenges and Opportunities, introduces the Black Doula Wheel of Care™, an innovative, evidence-based model designed to address institutional racism, advocacy fatigue, and the cumulative effects of weathering among Black Doulas. A published author, podcaster, and powerful public speaker, Dr. Bolds is frequently invited to present at universities, hospitals, and conferences across the United States, where she amplifies the experiences of Black birthing people and the Doulas who serve them.