Racism in Maternity Care - An Open Discussion

The first step in healing the abusive culture that our maternity industry allows and perpetuates is to deconstruct what actually happens in the prenatal care clinic room as well as the labor and delivery suites.  

Racism shows up in many forms - abuse an neglect of birthing families is only the tip of the iceberg.

We will facilitate an open discussion during this event, moving toward solutions.  

Let's talk about our own experiences and then label the racist behaviors.  

1) What does it look like?

2) How to identify underlying racism in a practitioner or system

3) Tips for the "in-the-moment" scenarios

     - Address it, Call it What it is

     - Overcome obstacle / misinformation / behavior

     - Demand Care Change

Once we define the bevaiors we can start to brainstorm some solutions: 

What can a pregnant persons response to racism be?  

How can providers be educated on the impact their words and actions are having on the psyche of their patients?  

Will change come from discussion alone?

Is there a hierarchy of policy change that needs to take place?

What does that look like?

Equipping of consumers?

Alternatives might be what?

Broadening education might include what?

After the Fact:

     - Documentation is so important!  Don't forget what happened

     - Family will be too busy / trauma paralyzes

     - How to report: who, where, tone of complaint, etc.

We look forward to really focusing on racism in maternity care, as this is the beginning of dismepowering the evil practices that are harming birthing people and their infants.  Starting the discussion is only the first step.  Please join us as we begin here.  Together.

If the time alotted is not enough to truly dig into this subject matter (and we are suspecting it may not be), we will definitely plan out another date and time to continue the work.  At this time, our Director is hoping to create a series on Racism and the Varieties of Abuse in Maternity Care and this discussion will definitely help give voice to the direction of that series.  We look forward to seeing you there!