The World Needs More Black Male Doulas. TEDDY Proves Why

Image Source: Eventive and @teddydocumentary on IG

I sat there in the dark, watching this quiet, steady presence move through a birth space with care, intention, and deep respect, and I felt it in my chest.

I had just finished watching TEDDY, a short film about a Black male doula in Houston, and honestly? It stayed with me.

Not because I hadn’t seen birth support before. I’m a doula. I see it all the time. But because I hadn’t seen that.

A Black man, deeply rooted in his purpose, holding space for a Black family, not as a backup plan, not as a side character, but as a pillar.

The Power of a Black Male Doula

Timothy “Teddy” Gant is a security guard by day and a full-spectrum birth doula by heart. He became a doula after hearing about his own mother’s traumatic birth experience. That story lit something in him, and you can see it in how he shows up. His presence is calm. His care is deliberate.

And in a city like Houston, where Black birthing people face some of the highest pregnancy-related death rates in the U.S. (The Texas Tribune, 2023), his work isn’t just important. It’s life-saving.

But for me, what hit hardest wasn’t the data; it was the way he held space. There’s something powerful about seeing a Black man in that role.

So often, Black men are portrayed as protectors through pain or aggression. But here, Teddy protects through presence. Through peace. Through listening and honoring birth as sacred.

This Work Is Bigger Than Gender

Watching TEDDY reminded me that this work isn’t about ticking boxes.

It’s about who you are when someone is at their most vulnerable.

It’s about who you become when you’re in the room.

As a Black doula myself, I know how heavy this work can feel, especially when you're serving families who have every reason to be afraid. I also know how deeply needed we are in those moments.

But seeing Teddy…

It reminded me that healing won’t come from one type of doula, one type of voice, or one type of care.

It’ll come from all of us, Black doulas, Black male doulas, doulas of color, queer doulas, young doulas, seasoned doulas, who show up and make people feel seen. Because that’s what Teddy did. And it was powerful.

Why We Need More Black Male Doulas

Representation matters. And not just for the sake of optics, but for the real, tangible comfort it can bring to a birth space.

There’s a unique kind of healing that happens when a Black family walks into a room and sees someone who shares their story, their roots, their rhythm.

That’s why we need more Black male doulas, not to replace anyone, but to expand the circle. To give more families the chance to say, “We felt safe. We felt held.”

Teddy’s story is proof that this is possible. That care can look like softness and strength in the same breath. That the doula world is wide enough to hold all of us, and that our communities are better when it does.

If You’re Looking for a Birth or Postpartum Doula in Boston or Massachusetts, We’re Here

At Haven Place Doulas, we believe care should be rooted in trust, representation, and deep listening.

We show up with heart. We show up with purpose. And we show up for you. Whether you’re birthing in Boston, recovering postpartum in the suburbs, or somewhere in between, our doulas are here to walk with you through every wave, every worry, every moment.

You don’t have to do it alone. Let us hold space for your story. Let us walk with you. Because you deserve care that reflects who you are.

And you deserve doulas who believe in your birth, your body, and your voice. 💜 Reach out to Haven Place Doulas, serving Boston and families across Massachusetts.

Don’t go through birth alone. Let us help.