meet latona

“Birth Worker, Reproductive Justice Leader & Writer”

Latona Tope Giwa (she/they) is a parent, perinatal health advocate, birth doula, Registered Nurse, International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), and writer based in New Orleans, LA. Latona has worked as a community organizer, a delivery and lactation nurse in the hospital, a doula wherever birth may happen, and a home-visiting maternal-child health nurse. In 2011 and 2018, they founded the birth justice organizations Birthmark Doula Collective and New Orleans Breastfeeding Center. In 2023, Latona became the Executive Director of the Midwest Access Project- to fill the gaps in comprehensive reproductive health care provider training.

Latona thinks, writes, and builds community around the intersections of birth justice, racial justice, parenting for liberation, and Black body politics. Her analysis builds on her personal experience as a Black, queer, parent, a daughter, and a survivor. She has taught workshops and lectured on topics ranging from birth justice and Black chestfeeding to eroticism in parenting and trauma-informed perinatal support. She has served on several Louisiana state and provider committees to improve perinatal health inequities.

Watch this 2023 “60 Minutes” segment where Latona discusses the role of birth justice is post- Roe Louisiana. And read this beautiful 2018 NY Times Magazine piece by Linda Villarosa describing Latona’s work with Birthmark Doula Collective to support Black birthing mothers facing astounding rates of maternal morbidity and mortality.