Holyoke baby shower isn’t just about gifts — it’s saving Black mothers’ lives
HOLYOKE ― A hallway birth years ago changed Lucinda Canty's life. It wasn't the emergency that stuck with her — it was the calm, caring nurse who stepped in to help.
That moment inspired Canty to become a nurse-midwife and fight for better care for Black mothers.
Last month, she and three other women hosted the Holyoke Community Baby Shower at Holyoke Media. It was more than a celebration. The gathering became a call to action for better care, deeper connection and maternal health equity for Black and brown families.
The stories shared at the shower reflected a larger crisis — one backed by national data showing that Black and Indigenous women face the highest risks during pregnancy, a gap that widened during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Workshops covered infant CPR, maternal mental health and "counting the kicks," a method for tracking fetal movement. Over 16 local agencies, like MassHealth, Planned Parenthood, the YWCA and the Western Massachusetts Black Nurses Association, offered support.
"We wanted people to feel safe and cared for," said Canty, who organized the event with Doreen Reyes, Gina Delfino and Krystal Bariffe.
Reyes said the shower helped the 90 people who attended, including 31 families, discover and connect with service providers some did not know existed. "We're building a network," Reyes said.
According to a report issued in July by the Commonwealth Fund, the COVID-19 pandemic worsened existing racial disparities in maternal health, especially for Black and Indigenous women, a gap organizers say has not closed.
These groups faced higher pregnancy-related death rates before the pandemic. The gap widened due to increased exposure, lower vaccination rates and limited access to care, the report said.
Maternal deaths rose across all age groups, with the highest rates among those 40 and older. While numbers declined in 2022–2023, they remain above pre-pandemic levels, the report said.
For Canty, the 2020 murder of George Floyd during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic underscored the urgency of addressing disparities in maternal health.
She decided that improving equity meant engaging directly with the community — and the baby showers became a way to do that.
Canty began hosting showers in 2020. Her first event, in Worcester, drew 32 families. "They're a space for real conversations, and a way to hear about the needs in the community," she said.
In April, Jenise Katalina, left, and Lucinda Canty discussed the work of the Women of Color Health Equity Collective. Its mission is to use the arts to promote maternal health equity and share women's experiences. (Aprell May Munford / The Republican)Aprell May Munford
Reclaiming Black midwifery
Canty wears many hats. She's a mom, a certified nurse-midwife, an associate professor and director of the Health Equity in Nursing Program at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She's also a researcher, artist, poet and someone who fights for justice in reproductive health.
Canty didn't know midwifery ran in her family until she was in nursing school and witnessed the hallway birth.
After telling her parents about the experience she learned her parents were both born at home in the South — her dad was one of six, and her mom was one of 13. That history inspired her to learn more and help others, she said during a podcast with Reyes.
After nursing school, Canty worked in a hospital and later in a small community clinic.
Eventually, she became a midwife and started Lucinda's House — not a real house, but a safe space where people of color can talk openly about pregnancy, loss and healing.
Canty said her goal has always been to make sure patients feel safe and that no one leaves her care feeling unheard.
In her research, she has interviewed people who had tough experiences before, during or after giving birth. Their voices gave her strength. She was invited to speak in Connecticut about certifying doulas and shared her experience as a midwife.
"When I spoke, the room got really quiet," Canty said. "People hadn't heard these stories before."
One lawmaker told her she didn't fully understand the issue until she heard those stories. Canty said that's the power of sharing real experiences — it helps people understand what's really going on.
Canty believes one of the biggest challenges Black mothers face is not being seen or heard — both in hospitals and in society. That is why she feels events like a community baby shower are important for sharing information and stories.
Krystal Bariffe, owner of Saged Soul Healing in Agawam, works with other expectant mothers, providing care including Reiki, massage therapy, yoga, meditation and spiritual guidance. September 1, 2025. (Douglas Hook / The Republican)Douglas Hook
Peace of mind
Another organizer of the shower, Krystal Bariffe, is a doula, a mom and the founder of Saged Soul Healing in Agawam. She offers massage, yoga, energy healing and spiritual support — all with the goal of helping people feel calm, strong and cared for, from the inside out.
Bariffe said she felt drawn to help organize the Holyoke Community Baby Shower. She's pregnant with her seventh child and hadn't planned to have a baby shower of her own. She wanted to create something special for other moms.
"I just thought, 'What if we made a space where moms could feel pampered and heard?'" she said. "A place where they could walk in with nothing and leave with something — diapers, resources, even just peace of mind."
She said many expecting moms feel rushed during doctor visits and don't get enough time to ask questions. That's why the baby shower was designed to be a chance to slow down, connect, and get support, she said.
"When women walked in, they said, 'I wish this existed two pregnancies ago,'" Bariffe said. "They didn't know these resources were available, or that they could get things for free."
Bariffe's journey into birth work wasn't typical. She started out in real estate, helping families find homes and understand their rights. But as she worked with families, she realized she wanted to support them in deeper ways — especially during pregnancy and birth.
"I wanted people who look like me and come from my community to feel empowered," she said. "Whether it's buying a home or having a baby, they deserve to feel strong and supported."
She said the baby shower was a way to reduce stress and build community. "It's not just about gifts," she said. "It's about giving moms a moment to breathe, to feel seen, and to know they're not alone."
Quality of care
Black women face the highest mortality rate during childbirth. Black infants have the lowest birth survival rate, Reyes said.
Many factors contribute, she said. "So many things are connected to those numbers, that's why these events are so important."
Reyes said she found it powerful to hear younger women talk openly at the shower about pregnancy complications like preeclampsia, a condition that can be life-threatening if ignored.
Black mothers are often dismissed when they report symptoms, partly because they're assumed to have high blood pressure, she said.
"They're not believed when they say something's wrong," Reyes said. "That's the challenge — their pain isn't taken seriously."
A large number of birth-related deaths are preventable, she said. Better listening and care can save lives.
Canty said there's a common misconception that Black women don't seek prenatal care. "That's simply not true," she said. "You can go to every single appointment and still experience complications."
Canty said maternal care isn't just about showing up — it's about the quality of care and support that patients receive. "It's not how many visits you have," she said. "It's what happens in the room when you're with your provider."
She said maternal care providers need to do more than just reassure patients. "If you tell someone everything is fine, what are you doing to prove that?" Canty asked. "How are you ruling things out?"
Canty said birthing mothers must feel confident asking questions and seeking explanations.
Kalel Bariffe, 2, with his mother, Krystal Bariffe, at her Saged Soul Healing studio in Agawam. September 1, 2025. (Douglas Hook / The Republican)Douglas Hook
Becoming best practice
Organizers of the Holyoke Community Baby Shower say this is just the beginning.
They hope to bring the event back next year and stage similar events in other cities in Massachusetts and Connecticut, like Worcester and New Britain, where Black and brown families face many of the same challenges.
They also want to offer more than just one-time support by building ongoing resources and networks.
"A lot of people didn't know about doulas, midwives, or infant CPR classes," said Bariffe.
Reyes said improving care for Black mothers helps everyone. "If we fix the situation for the group that's three times more likely to die during childbirth, then we raise the standard for everyone," she said. "That becomes best practice."
Canty recalled a young woman at the Holyoke shower who was having her first baby. The woman's mother told Canty she was scared and wanted her daughter to have as much information as possible.
"People are still afraid," Canty said.
Krystal Bariffe is expecting her seventh child and works with other expectant mothers. September 1, 2025. (Douglas Hook / The Republican)Douglas Hook
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