Midwife Rebels

17/11/2023

09/11/2020

At the University of Pittsburgh, new medical students recited an alternative oath, drawing on current events and recent political turmoil to highlight the societal responsibilities of doctors.

07/11/2020

Die im Vergleich zu anderen reichen Ländern hohe Müttersterblichkeit der USA ist eine Schande für die größte Nation der Welt, auch wegen der Ungleichheit zwischen Weißen und Schwarzen: Afro-Amerikanerinnen sterben dreimal häufiger während ihrer Schwangerschaft als weiße US-Bürgerinnen, in ...

12/10/2020

I get asked from time to time to give concrete examples of systemic racism in maternity care. Here's one that came across my desk today.
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I've been looking at one of the Anti-D leaflets handed out in the UK.
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Not only is it full of pictures of white people, but it says that. "About 85% of people have the RhD Factor, and the other 15% do not."
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I have been researching this area for more than 20 years, so I can tell you that that figure is only true for people of European descent.
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In fact, one per cent of people of Asian descent, eight percent of people of African descent and 15 percent of people of European descent are rhesus negative.
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The fact that we give out information leaflets containing data and pictures which only represent and relate to white people is systemic racism.
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Photo by Emmanuel Phaeton on Unsplash
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03/10/2020

As the issue is raised in parliament, two women are campaigning for change within the medical community

04/09/2020

25/08/2020

11/08/2020

Our healthcare system should see Black women as humans, not stereotypes or objects that don’t need love and care.

19/06/2020

Dive into the research on racial disparities and racism in maternity care through the eyes of Black researchers and birthing people.

12/06/2020

The situation in the United States highlights the extreme injustices experienced by individuals, including the fact that black women are 3-4 times more likely to experience a pregnancy-related death than white women, regardless of education, income, or other socioeconomic factors.

, in partnership with Black Mamas Matter Alliance and American College of Nurse-Midwives, published the below article in February to underscore the realities of black maternal mortality in America.

and we call on our network to continue sharing messages of solidarity with our sisters in the United States and their ongoing efforts to achieve systematic change.

http://ow.ly/wzhG50zY606

05/06/2020

Repost from Mama Glow
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Mama Glow - BLACK LIVES MATTER. The movement for black lives is about preserving BLACK LIFE. It’s about understanding that there are real systemic barriers to the safety and preservation of black life. It’s about dismantling a system that is unfit to serve black and brown birthing people.
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In the U.S., maternal mortality and morbidity disproportionately affect Black women at a rate four to five times greater than white women. In New York City, Black women are 8 to 12 times more likely than white women to die as a result of pregnancy and birth-related causes (although it should be noted that not only Black women are affected by poor maternal health outcomes—more American women are dying of pregnancy-related complications than in any other developed country in the world). _
We should all be furious that Black women are dying from preventable pregnancy-related causes. We should see other people aside from black women speaking out about this. Until this issue is front and center as a human rights issue, as a feminist issue- it will only be seen as a black issue. This is a problem for all of us.
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This is about preserving black life before it’s lost. Please don’t wait for lives to be lost before your activism starts. You can invest in, support and uplift folks who are doing the work to address this issue.
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ACTIONS:
1. Sponsor a Doula of color in Doula training
2. Sponsor and support a midwifery student
3. Support black and brown birthworkers and healers by hiring them for their services at their rate.
4. Donate to a scholarship fund at a doula organization run by black folks
5. Hire black birth educators to speak in institutions
6. Pay black birth workers to contribute their wisdom/writing for your platforms
7. Allocate financial support for black and brown birthing people who would like a doula.
8. Pay for virtual doula services
9. Follow diverse accounts centering black and brown stories, voices and buy and support their offerings.
10. Read, listen to podcasts, learn but act on that learning.
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We are black-owned. There is more you can do. Share below.
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