This performance measure reflects how supported and respected clients felt during one of the most important experiences of their lives. The percentage of clients who reported walking away from their birth feeling proud and dignified has remained consistently high, reaching 100% in multiple quarters. Notable dips—such as the 86% in Q1 2024 and 89% in Q2 2024—may have been linked to staffing transitions, inconsistent hospital experiences, or broader systemic issues in maternity care settings. The strong rebound in the latter half of 2024 suggests that SisterWeb was able to address some of these disruptions, reinforcing its commitment to centering client dignity in care delivery.

Key partners in this outcome include SisterWeb doulas, mentors, and program leads who train and support doulas to center respect and empowerment in their work. Clinical partners, including nurses, midwives, and OBs, significantly influence whether clients’ experiences feel affirming or dismissive, particularly in hospital settings. Clients also play a central role, providing essential feedback that drives quality improvement. The Evaluation Team ensures timely and consistent data collection to capture the client voice and identify trends.

Doulas help ensure that clients are seen, heard, and honored throughout their pregnancy and birth experience. Strategies such as collaborative birth planning, culturally affirming care, trauma-informed communication, and continuous labor support contribute directly to clients feeling proud and dignified. Doulas’ presence often buffers against medical racism and rushed care, providing clients with the advocacy and grounding they need to feel in control and respected. Reaffirming client agency at each step of care makes a lasting difference in how people remember their birth.

To maintain and improve this measure, SisterWeb can continue embedding client dignity into training, supervision, and care protocols. When dips occur, rapid review of client feedback can help identify patterns (e.g., specific hospitals, shifts, or staff changes) and guide response. Increasing collaboration with hospital partners around cultural humility and patient-centered care can also support more consistent birth experiences. Sharing positive client stories can reinforce best practices and uplift the importance of dignity as a measurable and meaningful outcome of doula care.