About Me
My name is Atija Byers. . .most people call me Tee. I am a Birthing Project USA certified birth and postpartum doula in Sacramento, CA and I am blessed to be a wife and mother of three beautiful children.
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Why did I become a doula?
I chose to have a doula for the birth of my second child after being rear ended in a car accident because I wanted to have a vaginal birth but was afraid I’d be unable to due to the extreme pain I was experiencing. The knowledge and support I received was immeasurable so I decided to have the same doula present for my third child. From my experience, I realized how important doula work is and thus, sparked my interest in becoming a doula so I could educate and support other expectant mothers in the same way.
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I began my research about the duties of a doula, pregnancy, labor, childbirth and postpartum care and it was through my research that I learned about the racial and ethnic disparities in care and treatment between African American mothers and European American mothers (prenatally, during labor & delivery and postpartum). These disparities have caused the mortality rate amongst African American mothers to be significantly higher than all other races/ethnic groups. This information is what really catapulted me into taking the necessary steps to become a certified doula.
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As your doula, I promise to provide exceptional support and care because it is essential for optimal health for you & baby.
I am a founding member of the California Black Women’s Health Project’s, The Giving F.O.R.W.A.R.D. Collective, which is dedicated to improving the health of California's Black women and girls through advocacy, education, policy, and outreach.
I am a Community Mental Health Advocate for Sisters Mentally Mobilized.
SMM, a project of the California Black Women’s Health Project, is a statewide movement that aims to reduce mental health stigma, anxiety, and isolation among Black women and create space for us to tend to our minds, hearts, souls and communities.
Sisters Mentally Mobilized is funded by a grant from the California Department of Public Health, Office of Health Equity, and is part of the California Reducing Disparities Project.
I am a Professional Member of the Evidence Based Birth program which supports my desire of continuing my education to ensure the information I provide is based on actual evidence.