This season we continue our exploration of holding space through the complicated parts of perinatal care. Unfortunately, it is very complicated, and often harmful & dangerous, to navigate our birthcare system as someone who does not present as cis-gender and heterosexual. Deeply ingrained prejudices and biases impact care in ways felt on interpersonal and systemic levels.
Our guest this week, Jen Molina of United in Birth is here to explain how and why she has centered her practice around caring for trans, non-binary, gender non-conforming, and queer people so often stigmatized in reproductive care spaces.
Jennifer Molina, Full Spectrum Birthworker 
Maggie Runyon, MSN, RNC-OB
Jennifer (she/her) is a full spectrum birthworker and infant feeding and lactation specialist. Her birthwork centers those who have been intentionally alienated from the medical industrial complex, Black, Indigenous and other people of color, Queer & Trans families, Solo parents and Spanish speakers. Jennifer is also a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, Guatemala 2014-2016, which is where she developed a love for birthwork. There she hosted pregnancy support groups, workshops, and conducted postpartum visits. Additionally, she developed a health education training of trainers program for nurses, health educators, and social workers to improve facilitation skills and learn to deliver health information in a fun, accessible way. When she’s not reminding her clients who’s boss (they are), you can find her snuggled up with her two cats, Brooklyn and Pablo or scribbling poetry in her journal. You can follow Jen’s work on instagram at @JemOfADoula and @UnitedInBirth
We have created a birthcare system that is often so rigid and exclusive that it precludes folks from recognizing their full selves as they seek care. We need to actively cultivate practices that seek to dismantle oppressive beliefs and structures that prohibit equitable care. At the same time, we have to recognize where we are, what our biases are, and how well equipped we are to support gender diverse folks during birth so that we can refer birthing people to the right supports so that we do not cause harm.
In this episode we explore:
~holding space and re-defining the role of an “expert” in birthcare
~white saviorism in birthwork
~barriers to accessibility of services-financial, cultural, and others
~navigating the challenges of a healthcare system that defaults to “cis-het-white” as the standard
~awareness of our positionality as we offer to support folks
~persona of inclusivity that results in actual harm to trans, and other gender-diverse folks
~trauma-informed care as a framework for creating more inclusive care-practices that are person-centered
~queer reproductive justice from king yaa
To connect more with Jennifer’s work:
Catch her on Instagram to follow up with what is happening with United in Birth
Further support and resources for providing care for trans, non-binary, and queer birthing people include:
king yaa
Love Over Fear Wellness
Kayden X. Coleman
Moss the Doula
Family Equality Council
Birth Advocacy Doula Training
Birth Revolution
Check out this episode’s full transcript or tune in wherever you enjoy podcasts.
We’d love to hear from you; join our community group to discuss!
Music from https://filmmusic.io
“Gonna Start” by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)
License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)