Brad Edwards turned his grief into action after a devastating loss in 2017. Following the stillbirth of his twin sons, Edwards grappled with guilt and suppressed emotions. Years later, while watching football with friends, the dam broke—he began sobbing uncontrollably, releasing years of pent-up pain.
Instead of letting the grief consume him, Edwards channeled it into creating Dads to Doulas, a program aimed at empowering Black men to support their partners during pregnancy, childbirth, and beyond. The initiative provides tools to help fathers advocate for their families. It aims to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates in the Black community, where these rates remain alarmingly high.
In partnership with the St. Louis-based Dear Fathers platform, Edwards expanded his mental health efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. By 2020, he launched Dads to Doulas, a free six-week program offering doula-level education for Black fathers. The program covers essential topics like birthing history, safety, partner advocacy, and even infant care.
Edwards’ journey began with educating himself. When preparing for his daughter Carielle’s birth, he worked with longtime friend and doula Kyra Betts to create a robust birthing plan. This preparation proved critical, helping him navigate his partner’s preeclampsia diagnosis and ensuring his active role in his daughter’s care.
“Dads to Doulas” builds a supportive community, with in-person and virtual sessions designed to motivate fathers to fully engage in the birthing process. Edwards believes sharing his story helps others heal, stating, “Our shared experience should be shared. It’s therapeutic for me and empowering for others.”
We think Edward is doing a great job in creating a safe space where sharing personal stories helps break the stigma around men’s mental health, and vulnerability is welcome. How do you think this allows fathers to advocate for maternal and infant health in their families?
