Our StoryOur journey has been anything but ordinary. Through every step, we've focused on staying true to our values and making space for thoughtful, lasting work.
About RATI RCW
Born out of seeing a need for more doulas of color, understanding care practitioners, and evidence based providers, RATI (Race & Trauma Informed) Reproductive Care Work is gender affirming, unbiased, holistic, & based on a sliding-scale payment system.
It is the creation of M. Smith (shown left), a Black, trans birthworker, yoga instructor, herbalist, and student-nurse-midwife.
M is rooted in factual evidence (not protocols), traditional medicines, spiritual practices, & a midwife model of care.
Background Information
Doula Training
As a Cornerstone Birth & Labor Doula and Birthworker, it is my full responsibility to provide care that “is focused on closing gaps in disparate maternal and infant health outcomes, increasing reproductive health equity and creating positive change in all reproductive health outcomes — and as a result, our society at large.”
Evidence Based Birth
As a Professional Member, I have been granted with the availability to provide well-rounded, full scale research and knowledge to all who want it. This is a resource filled with information for all those who are interested in birthwork, and can be a starting off point to fine-tune Birth Preferences.
Rooted Doula Collective
RDC is a group focused on bringing low-cost, personalized care to black birthing people across Arizona. They are part of my team, and together we create a network of birthkeepers who “are committed to reproductive justice - a movement that seeks to end the myriad conditions that produce reproductive health disparities, particularly for Black, Indigenous, and Families of Color, working-class, queer and trans folks, and those at the intersections.”
Yoga Training
Being trained in both the Hatha tradition of yoga, as well as Prenatal/Postpartum yoga, my goal is to focus on breath-work, mindfulness, and a connection between the body & the inner divine. Yoga is shown to provide better health and life outcomes for BIPOC, in and out of hospital settings. It matches seamlessly with the overarching theme of doula and midwifery work.