In this powerful episode, Ruby shares her story of birth trauma, medical dismissal, and her daughter Rumi’s diagnosis of HIE (hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy). Ruby walks us through being sent home multiple times while in labor, giving birth to a baby who was not breathing, surviving a life-threatening postpartum hemorrhage, and navigating the NICU and devastating uncertainty that followed. This conversation also names the role of racism and bias in women’s health, especially toward Indigenous and other marginalized parents, and how being ignored, minimized, and not believed can have life-altering consequences for both parent and baby.

In this episode, we talk about:

🤰 A pregnancy that seemed normal, until everything changed during labor and delivery
🚫 Being sent home multiple times despite leaking fluid and regular contractions
🩺 Developing an infection (chorioamnionitis) and running a fever during labor
🗣️ Repeated concerns from Ruby and her family about needing a C-section, and not being listened to
✊ How medical dismissal and loss of autonomy can be rooted in systemic bias and racism
🩸 A severe postpartum hemorrhage, retained placenta, D&C, and a life-saving Bakri balloon
🏥 A NICU stay and transfer to a children’s hospital
🧠 A diagnosis of HIE (hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy) and evidence of brain injury on MRI
❄️ Cooling therapy, seizure management, and the terrifying early days of uncertainty
⏰ The “wait and see” reality of the first year after an HIE diagnosis
👣 Milestones, therapy, and later learning her child has mild hemiplegic cerebral palsy
🌱 What healing looks like years later—and learning to live alongside trauma
📚 Obsessively reading medical records, searching for answers, and trying to make sense of what happened
🔥 Why racism and biased care in obstetrics are not abstract—and how they impact real families and real outcomes

Why this episode matters:

✨ Racism in healthcare is real—and it affects who is believed, who is protected, and who receives timely care
✨ Indigenous, Black, and Brown parents are more likely to experience dismissal, delayed care, and worse outcomes
✨ Birth trauma is not just personal—it’s also systemic
✨ HIE and NICU journeys are filled with uncertainty, grief, and fear—but also resilience and love
✨ You deserve to be listened to, respected, and taken seriously in your care

This episode is a call to witness, to believe birthing people—especially Indigenous and other marginalized parents—and to name how bias in medicine can change lives. Ruby’s story is about trauma, survival, motherhood, and the urgent need for more just, respectful, and equitable maternity care. 🤍

For more birth trauma content and a community full of love and support, head to my Instagram at @thebirthtrauma_mama.

Learn more about the support and services I offer through The Birth Trauma Mama Therapy & Support Services.

Disclaimer - The views and opinions expressed by guests on The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the official stance, views, or positions of The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast. The content shared is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional or medical advice and/or endorsement.