Category: Podcast

This week we are honoring the end of International Doula Month.  We have a panel of doulas on to discuss their experiences of providing care through a pandemic: Chante Perryman, Cat LaPlante, and Rachel Carbonneau.

We’re talking about work:life balance, virtual doula services and other ways to pivot during this time, and how we grow from here into a truly collaborative care environment.

Despite all that has changed in the birth landscape over the last few months, babies are still being born and parents still need support. Here are some of our favorite articles highlighting the important role doulas have played during the pandemic: The Guardian and NPR.

ANNOUNCEMENT:
We have been so disappointed to see how the pandemic has caused many families to feel isolated during birth, and we want to take a stand for increased support. We are so excited to share our Virtual Doula Fund with you all! Please check out this important cause: donate if you’re able, share with those who may benefit from it, and help us improve and expand care through this pandemic.

Full transcript here

Music from https://filmmusic.io
“Gonna Start” by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)
License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

This week we are diving deep on how nurses can improve birth for all those in their care with special guests Torie Pugh & Mandy Irby, The Birth Nurse. We are talking about the education that is needed, how to find resources to empower your practice, and the critical issues you can tune into to be a change leader within obstetrical nursing.

Here are resources for continuing your own education:

Trauma Informed Obstetrical Care from the Birth & Trauma Support Center
Evidence Based Birth has tons of great classes, several CEU options, and also a free e-book now through May 9th
A Lifetime in Quarantine from The Black Doula
Childbirth Rights course from Birth Monopoly

Full transcript here.

Music from https://filmmusic.io
“Gonna Start” by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)
License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

This week in honor of National Infertility Awareness Week, we have special guests Dr Torie Comeaux Plowden and Jessie Bernstein, LMT on to talk about caring for people along the fertility journey.  We discuss stigma, access to care, cultural considerations, impacts within communities of color, supporting legislative efforts, and limits of care in the time of COVID-19.

We want to recognize everyone out there who’s struggling right now with fertility hiccups and their fertility journey.  We see you, we hear you and we’re here for you.  

Resources mentioned on the show:
RESOLVE provides support and advocacy
Tinina Q. Cade Foundation provides emotional and financial support
American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) with staff and patient education portals
Fertility for Colored Girls provides awareness and hope for women and families of color as they navigate their fertility journey
The White Dress Project particularly educates about fibroids
Insurance coverage options by state is available through RESOLVE

Full transcript here.

Music from https://filmmusic.io
“Gonna Start” by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)
License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

This week Pansay (Doula), Angela (CNM), and Maggie (RNC-OB) discuss COVID-19’s impact on our birth practices. We are talking about remote doula support, how this crisis is impacting mental health for birth professionals and consumers, control during birth, and how we care for each other.  We are also calling attention to Black Maternal Health Week and calling out racial disparities in care and our collective responsibility for addressing them.

Resources about COVID-19’s impact on communities of color, particularly brown and black people: racial health disparities during coronavirus, dying at alarming rates, societal inequalities, case rates from Milwaukee and Michigan as of 4/4, and information about how Black Mamas can Thrive.

Organizations devoted to ending racial disparities in perinatal care:
National Birth Equity Collaborative
Black Mamas Matter Alliance
Mamatoto Village
National Black Doulas Association
National Association to Advance Black Birth

Resources covering how COVID-19 is impacting pregnancy: no reason to abandon pregnant people & possible permanent changes in care.

Addressing mental health concerns: for healthcare professionals & a guide for anyone dealing with COVID-19.

Full transcript here.

Music from https://filmmusic.io
“Gonna Start” by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)
License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

This week Ray Rachin, CPM, Abby Dennis, MD, and Maggie Runyon, RNC-OB were able to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on their professional practices, and particularly how it is impacting birth setting choice and creating deeper divides between care professionals in each setting. We acknowledge that homebirth has great safety for low-risk pregancies in well-integrated health systems, and we want to ensure those positive experiences and outcomes are preserved by continuing to have appropriate candidates pursuing homebirth. In the midst of so much unknown, we call upon birth professionals and consumers alike to be upfront about their concerns and questions with each other so that care can meet needs as much as possible.

Here are some resources you may find helpful in learning more about COVID-19, and birth setting choice:
We know we still have much to learn about COVID, which is why we ask for patience and grace as guidelines change to accommodate new knowledge.
Thoughtful guidelines and recommendations for care of birthing parents and babies from the March of Dimes.
Round-up of frequently asked questions and concerns from pregnant people about impact of COVID-19
Balancing home vs hospital options during COVID-19.

Here are some links to research about home birth safety: international study of 500,000 intended home births, and impact of well-integrated healthcare systems

Full transcript here.

Music from https://filmmusic.io
“Gonna Start” by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)
License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

This week we’re discussing the most recent U.S. Maternal Mortality Rates.

Link to statistics about maternal mortality in the US and globally:

National Vital Statistics Report
Global maternal mortality report from WHO
In-depth, yet easy to digest article about trends
List of countries by maternal mortality rate; for comparison

Here are several resources we mentioned this episode:

National Birth Equity Collaborative
March of Dimes
ACOG’s Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health

Newly proposed legislation to address US’s rising rates addressed here.

We would great appreciate your comments with what other organizations you know are making strides on this front, and any particular resources you have to share.

Full transcript here.

Music from https://filmmusic.io
“Gonna Start” by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)
License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

This week we are talking about bias in birth. We dive into the ways we see our practices impacted by bias, and share personal stories of overcoming our own biases and working to create more inclusive communities for birth workers.

Full transcript here.

Music from https://filmmusic.io
“Gonna Start” by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)
License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Excited to share more about the role of the nurse in birth care today. We get more in-depth information from Maggie Runyon about her role as a nurse and what lead her to pursue nursing and create Your BIRTH Partners. You’ll get to know some more of the concerns facing nurses and what we hope for the future of this role.

Resources:
For more information about some of the organizations discussed in this episode, please check out the American Nurses Association and AWHONN. If you are interested in becoming a nurse, check out this info from the ANA. For a deeper glimpse into the day-to-day highs and lows of being a birth nurse, read this beautiful blog post.

Full transcript here.

Music from https://filmmusic.io
“Gonna Start” by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)
License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

This week we’re discussing the important roles of doulas with our own Pansay Tayo, doula and owner of Sacred Butterfly Births. We will discuss different ways that doulas are able to provide support during the birth continuum, and why they can play such a pivotal role in having an empowered birth. We will also identify some of the challenges facing this role, and misconceptions they would like to correct.

For more information about doulas, please check out this article from the American Pregnancy Association that explains some of the benefits and research that validates this role. You can also find a doula to support you on DoulaMatch.

Full transcript here.

Music from https://filmmusic.io
“Gonna Start” by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)
License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)