Jessica Roach is noticing a pattern.
We cant just get enough money.
[Black maternal mortality] is steeped in institutional, structural racism.
D’Ara Nazaryan
(These numbers dont even encompass the black people who are injured or traumatized in birth.)
), Certified Nurse-Midwife (C.N.M.
), and Certified Midwife (C.M.).
Midwife certifications can alsovary based on your state.
For example, in California, a Licensed Midwife (L.M.)
iscertified to practiceby the states medical board.
(More on that here.)
Midwives and doulas are intimately aware of whats going on with the birthing families in their communities.
They see which clients are struggling to be heard by doctors.
They see which families are traumatized by past experiences.
I didnt believe the story, which [was] that we were broken.
Jessica Roach has worked as a clinical nurse, doula, and midwife for close to 20 years.
In June 2017, she and policy expert Dorian Wingard officially launchedROOTT.
Thus far, ROOTT has trained and employs 15 full-time doulas who attend around four births per month.
Through this work, Roach is carrying on a family tradition.
My great-grandmother was a black midwife, she explains.
Roach’s birth experiences have also contributed to her dedication to black birthing families.
Roach had an uncomplicated birth with her first child, but her second was born preterm.
In reality, her third child was born at home, full-term, and at a healthy weight.
After that experience, I decided I needed to become more involved in birth care, Roach says.
I didnt believe the story, which [was] that we were broken.
“We need change at the individual level.”
Nicole Deggins, founder and CEO ofSista Midwife Productionsin New Orleans, began training doulas in 2013.
From preconception all the way through postpartum.
Deggins is hopeful that systemic change at a hospital, policy, and legislative level is coming soon.
Until then, she says, black birth workers are on the front lines.
In our culture, we hand over our situations to the supposed expert.
We hope that expert has our best interests in mind, but sometimes they dont.
We take care of our black and brown families in our local community, and we serveLGBTQIA familiesas well.
An important part of Serikis work has involved forging professional relationships with local physicians.
Education is key so you can begin to change the tide.
We need to help people feel empowered to use their voices but also to take action without feeling paralysis.
She originally launched Mama Glow in 2011 as a media destination where expecting parents could find information and support.
Ask questions, demand information.
Recognize when something doesnt feel right and [when] you oughta switch providers, she says.
We need to help people feel empowered to use their voices but also to take action without feeling paralysis.
(Heres advicefrom a range of experts on how exactly to do this.)
But I was informed I needed to have a C-section because of my childs position, which was breech.
That was devastating and put me into adepression.
JeanBaptiste wishes shed received help processing her feelings and thinking through any alternatives.
(While cesarean births are sometimes required for breech pregnancies,they arent always.)
We do things like practice or review different labor positions.
We discuss any complaints or concerns that might be brewing in my clients head.
“One way I support my clients is by providing evidence-based data and information.”
She began her doula training in February 2018.
I like to help them to learn how to use the power thats in their words, she says.
“If my client does feel uncomfortable …
I have permission to step in.”
We can be an advocate for them in the birthing space.
Finley says that this work typically begins long before labor.
The system is neglectful and can also be kind of insidious to people on the margins, she says.
I found myself with my own children tied to my back going to births all over California.
Its not odd or strange for us, its not something we make a big fuss about.
Its just what we do.
It felt like a necessity.
We dont want to see babies die in our community.
We dont want to see mothers die.
