Birth Stories in Color

Uriah and her partner Nate found themselves dealing with all the complexities that parenthood can throw at you pretty early in their journey. About a month after starting their relationship, they found out they were expecting. Also, Nate was finishing medical school in Isreal, thus requiring prep for Uriah to travel late in her pregnancy, the need to find a new care provider in Isreal, while also creating a strong community to support them.

In this situation, it was even more critical that Uriah was trusting and listening to her needs, both physically and emotionally. In listening to her share her experience, Uriah could truly give a whole seminar on what that entails. An aspect of her mental health that struck us was her process of letting go of who she was before the birth of her daughter. As she put it, "I had a funeral for my old self." This was important in allowing her to connect into who she would be after her daughters birth.

This introspection continued into her postpartum as she entered back into the space of intimacy and sex — not only for her relationship with her partner but also herself. Taking the time to rediscover what her body looked like, could do and enjoyed. It was refreshing to speak candidly with Uriah about how vital communication and vulnerability were in stepping back into that healing.

Sponsors:

Unspoken Stories | A March of Dimes Podcast

Honest stories of pregnancy, parenthood and loss are too often left unshared. We are here to tell the real stories. Join mom, actress and advocate, Tatyana Ali to hear real stories about the joys and humor of parenting to the heartbreak and loneliness of miscarriage and loss in a new podcast from March of Dimes. Each episode features a parent’s honest story about the realities of starting a family. It only takes hearing one story like your own to know you are not alone. To join the conversation, go to UnspokenStories.org and MarchofDimes.org. Follow them on Instagram and Facebook @MarchofDimes.

The views, information, or opinions expressed during the Unspoken Stories series are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of Birth Stories in Color.

*Episode Contains Explicit Language/Content*

For many of our guests, sharing their story on this platform is the first time they have processed out their experience. Sharing the parts of their story that they may have kept tucked away or didn't even realize had an impact on them. As we listen to Dr. Stephanie Mitchell CNM, MSN, DNP, reflect on her inaugural birth, we see how her birth set the tone for who she would be as a care provider.

Her own experiences of parenthood and working within the healthcare system highlighted the opportunity for change when we respect the connections made through storytelling. Dr. Mitchell supports her patients with the intent of guiding them to resources and information. As she put it, "not letting my office day define the information that I give." When we think about the care and our relationship with our care provider, we envision someone like Dr. Mitchell. Someone willing to go outside of the box. Finding the balance of mixing their own lived experience, training, and our lived experience within our care. That at the end of our time together, we know we were heard and seen!

If you are int he Providence, Rhode Island area and looking for a care provider we highly encourage you to connect with Dr. Mitchell. For everyone else you can find her on social media at @doctor_midwife.

Sponsors:

Unspoken Stories | A March of Dimes Podcast

Honest stories of pregnancy, parenthood and loss are too often left unshared. We are here to tell the real stories. Join mom, actress and advocate, Tatyana Ali to hear real stories about the joys and humor of parenting to the heartbreak and loneliness of miscarriage and loss in a new podcast from March of Dimes. Each episode features a parent’s honest story about the realities of starting a family. It only takes hearing one story like your own to know you are not alone. To join the conversation, go to UnspokenStories.org and MarchofDimes.org. Follow them on Instagram and Facebook @MarchofDimes.

The views, information, or opinions expressed during the Unspoken Stories series are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of Birth Stories in Color.

When Natalya and her husband began the process of expanding their family, they imagined it would be the same story of many of their friends. After a year of trying to conceive, they went to a doctor hoping to get answers as to why it was taking so long. After numerous tests and scans, Natalya and her husband were left with the diagnosis of "unexplained infertility."

That diagnosis led them down a path of navigating a fertility clinic and the process of Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) LINK, a form of fertility treatment. Unfortunately, this process was unsuccessful and after many attempts and feeling discouraged from her doctor. Natalya knew she had to advocate for herself. She and her husband found a new fertility clinic and got a second opinion about how to move forward. The doctor recommended trying the process of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), and they were able to conceive after the first round of treatments.

It is essential that we discuss and celebrate the variations of creating our families. By sharing her story, Natalya is hoping it highlights the journey of IVF and establishes a support resource for others who may be going through the same thing.

Sponsors:

Unspoken Stories | A March of Dimes Podcast

Honest stories of pregnancy, parenthood and loss are too often left unshared. We are here to tell the real stories. Join mom, actress and advocate, Tatyana Ali to hear real stories about the joys and humor of parenting to the heartbreak and loneliness of miscarriage and loss in a new podcast from March of Dimes. Each episode features a parent’s honest story about the realities of starting a family. It only takes hearing one story like your own to know you are not alone. To join the conversation, go to UnspokenStories.org and MarchofDimes.org. Follow them on Instagram and Facebook @MarchofDimes.

Disclaimer : the views, information, or opinions expressed during the Unspoken Stories series are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of Birth Stories in Color.

HunterDae describes themselves as a black, queer, non-binary, fat proud parent. This is who they are, and these identities are important to their existence and interactions with the world around them.

The history of their relationship with their identities made it essential for HunterDae to be very informed with their body so that they could support the transitions to come. They were very intentional in understanding the surges in their body, the hormone shifting and charting that was necessary for helping support their body in becoming pregnant.

When HunterDae became pregnant with their twins, it was a spiritual awakening. They realized they had received double the blessing and were now carrying three hearts. What their care provide saw was an individual that was checking off all the boxes for a high-risk pregnancy. This narrative continued into HunterDae's birth story.

As you listen to their story, you realize how imperative it is that when we are caring for individuals through their parenthood journeys that we acknowledge their lived experience. Care cannot be a one size fits all, and it has to come from a place of understanding the whole person.

HunterDae's name is a tribute to their children. As a way to honor the bond they share, HunterDae took their middle names. In their work now they help support families to feel present in their pregnancies. Using that to teach them to enrich and nourish themselves through it. If you would like to connect with HunterDae, you can find them at https://comfortacrossthespectrum.com/.

A Call to Action from HunterDae:

They encourage you to support Community Doula in NY in the fight for Equity by contacting your assembly and senate to stress amendments be made to bills A00364B and S-03344-B). These two bills would create a state certification for doulas and narrow the definition of “certified doula” to only those certified by NY State. Not only do these bill undermine the work of many community based doula it also excludes the voices, work and communities that need the support the most. If help identifying who to contact, you can connect here. To contact Governor Cuoumo at fax: 518-474-1513 or directly here). You can learn more about A00364B here and S-03344-B here.

Resources:

Ancient Song Doula Services | doula collective

Q/TPOC Birthwerq Project | creating more access to reproductive education for two-spirit/ed, transgender and queer people of color

QTPOChomecoming |

Black Youth 100 | member-based organization of Black youth activists

Center for Anti-Violence Education | develops and implements violence prevention programs

Childbirth Education Association of Metropolitan NY | nonprofit organization of childbirth professionals and consumer advocates

NYC Doula Collective | collective of birth workers serving the New York City area

Postpartum Support International | provide current information, resources, education, advocate for further research and legislation to support perinatal mental health

Chinelle Rojas, a birth photographer/videographer, explained that her job is not about the crotch shot. Instead, the focus is on documenting the little moments that her clients may not remember after the birth of their child.

She knew from the birth of her three children that she wanted something to look back at. To be able to reflect on her birth experiences and also be able to share with her children. Chinelle loved photography and birth. Taking that into consideration, she wanted to be able to offer other families the opportunity to commemorate their birth experiences. She shot her first birth in 2011, and from there the rest is history.

Chinelle soon realized that there was a lack of diversity of both photographers of color and those represented within the imagery. She created Melanated Birth to bring awareness to women of color of the options available to them through the imagery of birth. Using it not only as a medium for families to document their birth stories but also as a way for future birth photographers of color and allies to learn about the importance of documenting birth in this way.

For Chinelle, it is essential that photographers who are capturing these moments for families of color have an understanding of the history of our community. In her efforts of research, she discovered that there were not visual accounts that she could find of birth during slavery. In her photography series "Unto Us, a Slave is Born," she took what she could find on the subject and created her own interpretation to honor that experience of our ancestors.

"This imagery is important to ME because it sheds light to what has been left in the dark. Not only were we fierce birthers, we were fierce mothers. Not only did we mother our own, but we mothered "massa's" children, too. We passed on, from generation to generation, the art of midwifery before midwives even had a name."

If you are a birth worker of color or a birth worker ally and want to become a member of The Melanated Birth directory head to the website.

To view Chinelle's "Unto Us a Slave is Born" photo series, a perspective on birth during slavery, click the link here.

Olivyah Bowens two pregnancies and births were very different. With her first child, her circumstances didn't allow for her to prepare or truly connect to her pregnancy. Understanding the impact that it had on her birth, as she found out she was pregnant with her second child Olivyah became a sponge, soaking up all the information she could find. She expressed that the gathering of information was transformative for her, even leading her to become a doula.

It was wonderful to explore with Olivyah some aspects of parenthood preparation that sometimes go without focus. The mission behind her support of families and what she shares is the role of the mind-body connection. We currently live in a space where medical culture isn't valuing the power this connection possesses — realizing that it is essential that we discuss the role food and nutrition play in our pregnancy, birth and postpartum. That the most crucial preparation we do for birth starts in the mind, accepting and releasing the fear that we incapable of sitting in our strength.

Her Holistic Path began when Olivyah started posting intentionally on Instagram as a way to document her journey of holistic freedom. It has now shifted into a shared community space for other women doing the same!

In honor of Mother's Day, Olivayh will be highlighting the issue of Mommy Shaming. Using this to challenge us to help put an end to mommy shaming and create a space where we can share our journeys without being attacked or attacking others. Through May, she is discussing different aspects of motherhood and posing questions encouraging the community to answer.

If you would like to connect Olivyah, gather support or join the #noshame challenge head to Her Holistic Path for all the information.

Resources:

Her Holistic Path | Instagram account

Inclusive-tee | #noshame challenge t-shirt

In honor of Black Maternal Health Week we had the opportunity to interview CEO and co-founder Jessica Roach, MPH about the mission and work of Restoring Our Own Through Transformation (ROOTT).

For Jessica this work began from the experiences she had birthing her children. Through them discovering her internal power but also that of the black community. The work of ROOTT is to remind families of where their history is and where they come from. Understanding that they have all they need in creating their stories and their families.

This interview we delve deep into what taking back our reproductive choice and care can indeed look like — the work it takes to sit in our communities truth and power.

We must always go back to the root! - Jessica Roach, MPH

To connect with, support and find our more about the work of ROOTT, head to their website.

We are grateful for sponsors of this episode and other ROOTT activities this week. We would also like to acknowledge the Black Mamas Matter Alliance and all the Kindred Partners and collaborators for dedication to Black Mamas and families.

Black Maternal Health Week - Hosted by ROOTT & Partners

Friday, April 12th 6:30 pm - Birth Stories in Color 'Ubuntu' (Birth Story Circle)

Saturday, April 13th 11:30 am - ROOTT Village Circle: Inaugural Family Gathering

Sunday, April 14th 1:00 pm - ROOTT Perinatal Yoga (all stages)

Wednesday, April 17th 10:30 am - 'Getting to the ROOTT' Community Discussion (Guest Speaker: Joia Crear-Perry, MD)

Wednesday, April 17th 6:00 pm - An Evening with ROOTT at The Pelican Room (Special Guest: Joia Crear-Perry, MD /Performance by Liquid Crystal Project with Dre Peace)

Sponsors:

Black Mamas Matter Alliance | black women-led cross-sectoral alliance

Replenish | spa services

NARAL Pro-Choice America | reproductive rights organization

Commonsense Childbirth | comprehensive prenatal and postpartum care

Kirwan Institute | institute for the study of race and ethnicity - The Ohio State University

New Voices for Reproductive Justice | reproductive justice organization

CelebrateOne | greater Columbus Infant mortality task force component

Resources:

National Birth Equity Collaborative | reproductive justice organization

Birthing Beautiful Communities | reproductive justice collective

Afiya Center | reproductive justice organization

Mamatoto Village | reproductive justice collective

Sistersong | reproductive justice collective

Ancientsong | international doula certifying organization

Abide was born from a simple idea, a birth center in the hood. South Dallas has the highest infant mortality, maternal mortality, low birth weight, and preterm birth statistics. While they are centered in the South Dallas community, Abide serves women from all over Dallas with doula support, midwifery care, childbirth education, and material resources. Their focus being women and families of color.

What sets Abide apart from other facilities in their area is their focus of care centered in culture humility and addressing systematic racism. All those who volunteer, work or have any contact with families through Abide will find that culture humility/competence and implicit bias is embedded in their training — ensuring that care is easily accessible, holistic, evidence-based and free from judgment. Beyond these facets, co-founders Cessilye and Bethany are the foundation of upholding these standards, requiring each other and their community to have uncomfortable conversations to make the change.

A gem that Cessilye left us to sit with, think on, and process is that "As long as whiteness is the standard, black women will continue to die." Listening to this episode, you can feel the power in the mission of Abide and know that the work they are doing is shifting that narrative for their community!

If you are in the Dallas area or want to support their work click the link, Abide. To learn more about Cessilye and Bethany you can connect with them via their social media pages , @cessilyersmith and @bethanystrickermidwifery.

Resources:

West Sound Birth Services - Laura Kuhs | midwifery and massage support

Jennie Joseph | British trained midwife, founder and executive director of Commonsense Childbirth Inc. and the creator of The JJ Way

The JJ Way | a patient-centered model of care

Perinatal Task Force | a program component of Commonsense Childbirth Inc.

When Lauren found herself pregnant and began sharing the news, one of her art teachers asked her "Do you know about birth?" That question sparked Lauren and her husband to ask themselves what did they know and feel about birth. From there they began the quest of understanding what birth could be like for them. Taking into consideration their new knowledge and their hopes for their family they decided homebirth for their children was best.

As birthworkers, we try to emphasize the importance of early bonding with our children. One way we encourage this is through nursing. It was a great learning experience to listen as Lauren shared how her nursing journey with her daughter helped her to heal from past traumas and especially during her postpartum. In times when she was struggling she would reflect and sit in that space with her daughter using that time to anchor herself from what she was feeling. While we emphasize how nursing can be vital for our children it can also be just as pivotal for the birthing person(s).

Beyond nursing, another avenue that Lauren has used to process and heal is through her art. Soon after the birth of her first child, Lauren began supporting families as a birth/postpartum doula. Inspired by the births of her close friends, she felt moved to get back to her art. Using it as a vessel of storytelling and reflection for them. Lauren has always loved art, but now she’s found a new love for her craft as she's painting black women in the way she has always wanted to paint them!

Being a doula has helped her to understand her own experiences. Currently, she and her doula partner Chanel are supporting families in the Baltimore area. if you would like to learn more about them and their work head over to Empowering Your Birth to connect.

Laurens advice to us all is to do more art. Visual accounts of birth are just as important as oral accounts. We are excited to see her art added to other birth experiences. To learn more about her work and purchase head to Ren the Doula.