An Everyday Miracle
CHILDBIRTH EDUCATION
Birth Justice
I want to empower my community by preventing discrimination against the people most likely to experience systemic or individualized maltreatment within maternal care: BIPOC, the LGBTQ+ community, and trauma survivors. I do this by:
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Educating myself continually
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Finding and sharing resources to help care providers reverse negative trends
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Making tools available to help birthing people advocate for themselves
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Providing scholarships for birth classes
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If you don’t see something on my list that you think should be there, contact me.
Resources
Your Rights and Issues
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Learn what the Universal Declaration of Human Rights protects you from. Although the UDHR isn’t itself legally binding, it’s the foundation of International Human Rights Law, Treaties, National and Local laws, that are.
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“Know Your Rights” course by Birth Monopoly offers a resource for finding lawyers who are familiar with birth rights violations.
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The Rights of Childbearing Women, from Childbirth Connection.
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Human Rights in Childbirth is another great resource for learning about birthing people’s rights.
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The White Ribbon Alliance works to amplify voices globally, to push for policy change benefiting birthing people.
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Evidence Based Birth® is a great resource for research on a variety of pregnancy and birth related topics, so that you can better weigh the risks and benefits for your specific situation. Accessing current research can empower you to speak out when you feel pressured or coerced to do something you don’t want to during pregnancy or birth, or to advocate for your rights when you request help that is being denied to you.
Racial Justice in Childbirth
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Evidence Based Birth® is an AMAZING resource for Birth Justice podcasts, webinars, books etc related to the topic of racism in maternal care.
LGBTQ+ Birthing Resources
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Maia Midwifery is a great resource for everything from Fertility to Parenting Support Groups.
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Family Equality shares information on family building, as well as opportunities for advocacy and policy change.
Trauma Survivors
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When Survivors Give Birth book by Penny Simkin
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Survivor Moms’ Companion website
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Survivor Moms: Women’s Stories of Birthing, Mothering and Healing after Sexual Abuse book by Mickey Sperlich
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Resilient Birth is an organization that provides workshops and trauma informed training for providers and parents.
Provider Accontability
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Improving Birth has a toolkit to help you report violations.
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Birth Monopoly can help you locate a lawyer.
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Report Patient Safety Events The Joint Commission takes into account patient complaints when it accredits and certifies hospitals.
TN Specific Organizations
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Homeland Heart Collective is committed to improving birth outcomes for families of color in Nashville.
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Sunnyside Up Youth Pregnancy Services provides pregnancy support and new parent education to youth ages 13 to 21 with in-person labor and postpartum support to local residents of Nashville, TN and virtual classes nationwide.
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Tennessee Breastfeeding Coalition offers resources and support to local breastfeeding families.
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TN Initiative for Perinatal Quality Care promotes system changes by providers to increase use of evidence based clinical practices and eliminate disparities in access, treatment and outcomes of mothers and their infants.