What happens when a birth photographer picks up a camera and decides she can no longer stay silent?

This week, Dr. Stu and Midwife Blyss welcome Jacinta Lagos, an award-winning birth photographer, doula, filmmaker, and creator of the powerful new documentary, Allowed to Birth: The Journey of a Global Midwife.

Born and raised in Argentina, Jacinta grew up believing cesarean birth was simply "how babies were born." After immigrating to the United States and discovering the world of birth photography, she witnessed both the beauty of physiological birth and the realities of obstetric violence. Armed with a single camera, relentless determination, and a passion for storytelling, she set out to create a documentary that challenges the stories we've been told about birth.

Centered around the extraordinary work of global midwife Kristine Lauria, Allowed to Birth weaves together voices from around the world to explore the tension between physiology and policy, autonomy and authority, fear and trust.

Birth belongs to women. Stories preserve wisdom. And sometimes all it takes to change hearts and minds is one person willing to press record.

About Jacinta Lagos:

Jacinta is an Argentinian 40 year old, a mom of 3. She's married to the guy who got a job offer in the USA and decided to move in 2017. She has had a camera in hand since ever. Video and film has always been a passion of her, since she was a little girl. Back in Argentina, she had a successful business in the wedding videography industry, and when she moved to the states with 2 little kids, she decided to stop giving away all of her weekends to attend weddings. 

That was when she found out that birth documenting was a thing: in Argentina, that would be completely unheard of.

She started doing birth videography and photography in 2019, got her doula training in 2020 and has attended 200 births since. She has won many awards, she's been published and is considered one of the best birth documentarians in the world. She finds birth work to be her true calling in this life.

In 2024 started working on her first documentary feature film ""Allowed to birth: the journey of a global midwife"", which will come out at the end of the summer.

Website: allowedtobirth.com / jacintalagos.com

Instagram: @allowedtobirth / @jacintalagosbirthservices

Discussed in This Episode

Argentina's Cesarean Culture

The surprising origin story behind the documentary Allowed to Birth

The significance of the word "allowed" in maternity care

Birth Around the World: Perspectives beyond American maternity care.

The difference between hospital policy and patient rights

Kristine Lauria's impact as a teacher and global midwife

An award-winning documentary with one camera and determination

The Hidden Message About Female Obstetricians

Why documenting birth can become a powerful form of advocacy

Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care 

This show is supported by

• LMNT | Got to drinklmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any order
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• Restorative Roots | Go to restorativeroots.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to get $20 off
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