Part 3: Doulas Escorted Out, Birth Outcome, and the Aftermath

In the final installment of the series, doulas Sheila Lawrence and Jain McKinney describe being repeatedly removed from a hospital labor room after a breech client’s care became entangled in provider resistance, bias, and shifting “chain of command.” After the client received an epidural, an older white male OB told the doulas he needed the mother alone to confirm decisions; despite this, county police and hospital security ultimately escorted the doulas out of the building, refused to let them say goodbye, retrieved their belongings, attempted to have them sign a visitor behavior policy, and restricted FaceTime. The doulas feared arrest and retaliation and remained nearby while coordinating by text; the baby was born by cesarean around 11:21 AM the next day. They discuss misinformation online, legal guidance, delays in going public until discharge, trauma and “weathering,” and the painful loss of contact with the mother amid public scrutiny.

00:00 Part Three Setup

01:34 Back In The Room

02:24 Epidural And Power Play

04:26 Waiting Outside Doors

05:47 Police Removal Order

07:52 Visitor Policy Pressure

09:20 Escorted Out In Fear

13:52 Parking Garage Debrief

15:25 Texts And Birth Outcome

17:03 Clearing The Record

20:39 Postpartum Distance

24:20 Why They Went Public

25:41 Choosing When To Speak

26:01 Life Keeps Moving

27:28 Facing The Public Fallout

28:48 Weathering And Retraumatization

31:44 Doulas As Untapped Resource

33:21 Support Systems And Doubt

36:22 Witnesses And Healing

38:07 Shera On The Disconnect

40:18 Returning To The Hospital

44:20 Faith And Vindication

46:16 How The Podcast Happened

47:36 Final Blessings And Wrap

In Part 2 of this powerful three-part series, we continue the firsthand account from Shira Lawrence and Jet’aime McKinney as they navigate an increasingly complex and high-stakes hospital experience during a birth in Georgia.

What begins as a moment of hope—with a provider finally listening—quickly shifts into a deeper examination of power, bias, and control within the hospital system.

This episode captures the tension between advocacy and authority, and what it means to support a laboring mother while systems actively resist that support.

1. A rare moment of alignment with a provider who listens—and why it mattered
2. The role of the anesthesiologist in shifting the trajectory of care
3. How doulas are perceived, dismissed, and sometimes erased in clinical spaces
4. The critical importance of advocacy when a client cannot advocate for themselves
5. The emotional and psychological labor of doulas during prolonged, high-pressure situations
6. Hospital policies vs. practice: how “rules” are inconsistently applied
7. The escalation from support to surveillance—and the introduction of hospital security
8. The moment advocacy becomes risk—and the fear that enters the room

1. Advocacy vs. Authority

Even when care is medically appropriate, access can be delayed or denied based on provider bias or resistance.

2. The Doula’s Role Is Not Optional—It’s Essential

This episode reinforces why families choose doulas: for advocacy, clarity, and grounded support in moments where systems become overwhelming.

3. Bias in Real Time

Listeners will hear how bias shows up not just in decisions—but in tone, access, communication, and escalation.

4. Emotional Labor of Birth Workers

Beyond physical support, doulas are navigating systems, protecting clients, and managing their own safety simultaneously.

5. Systems Under Pressure Reveal Truth

Moments of stress expose how institutions operate—and who they prioritize.

This episode ends in the middle of an intense and unfolding situation:

1. The client is in active labor without pain management
2. Hospital dynamics have escalated
3. Security has entered the room
4. The doulas are being confronted and pressured to leave

Part 3 will take you into the final removal, the aftermath, and the lasting psychological impact of this experience—along with what ultimately happened to mom and baby.

This episode contains descriptions of medical stress, confrontation, and systemic challenges within birth settings. Listener discretion is advised.

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What stood out to you in this episode?

Have you experienced or witnessed similar dynamics in birth spaces?

Drop your thoughts in the comments—we want to hear from you.

Ravae Sinclair, JD, CLC, PBD(NBPP), PPD(NBPP)

Dr. Denise Bolds

doulathatpodcast@gmail.com

We’re relaunching the Doula That! Podcast with a conversation that requires depth, context, and care.

In this episode, we sit down with Black doulas Shira Lawrence and Jet’aime McKinney to begin unpacking the story behind a viral video showing their removal from a hospital birth.

This is Part 1 of a 3-part series, where we intentionally move beyond headlines and social media assumptions to center their lived experience, professional insight, and the full context of what occurred.

This episode lays the foundation—who they are, how they practice, and what led up to the hospital encounter.

1. The intention behind this conversation: listening over speculation
2. Shira and Jet’aime’s backgrounds in education, birth work, and community care
3. What it means to serve families in a maternal health desert
4. The client’s journey navigating limited provider options in rural Georgia
5. Why the family made the decision to travel to the Atlanta area for birth
6. The behind-the-scenes realities of doula support (logistics, planning, advocacy)
7. How hospital systems operate through hierarchy, policy, and liability
8. Early signs of bias, miscommunication, and resistance in triage
9. The critical moment when a breech diagnosis shifts the course of care
10. The client’s clear request for pain management vs. provider insistence on cesarean

1. Patient Autonomy vs. Hospital Policy
2. Bias and Communication in Birth Spaces
3. The Role of Doulas as Advocates and Care Partners
4. Access Gaps in Rural Maternal Healthcare
5. What Happens When Systems Don’t Listen

Shira Lawrence

Birth & Postpartum Doula, Trainer, and Childbirth Educator.

Founder of a nonprofit supporting vulnerable teenage girls.

Serves families in maternal health deserts, often navigating high-risk and limited-access environments.

Jet’aime McKinney

Birth & Postpartum Doula, Agency Owner, and Educator based in Metro Atlanta.

Former educator turned full-time birth worker after a personal birth experience transformed her path.

Supports families through advocacy, education, and community-centered care.

This episode is grounded in the doulas’ firsthand account.

We are not providing legal advice or speaking on behalf of the hospital or medical team.

Our goal is to create space for clarity, understanding, and informed dialogue.

This is Part 1 of a 3-part series.

👉 Part 2 drops soon—be sure to subscribe and turn on notifications so you don’t miss what happens next.