We know life is precious so how do we protect it?
I’m not a parent, however, it pains me to know that black mothers are being discriminated against during childbirth and it’s seen as trivial, yet again. Candice Braithwaite in her blog (black) People or Plastic breaks it down really well.
Is it possible to plan a better, safer birth for black women? I found out it is but to do this women have to take responsibility from the outset, you have to do you research, educate yourself and ask for help. When women are giving birth they are at their most vulnerable therefore, it is ultra important that you have an advocate by your bedside during the birth who will not panic. The days of the father holding your hand has gone. Women needs someone who can support physically, mentally, emotionally during the birth, is well trained, knows the system and will not take any old rubbish from doctors as you and your baby are their at the top of their list. This key person is the Doula. “What, I hear you ask, is a doula? A doula is someone who gives women and their families, continuous support during her pregnancy, during the birth of her child(ren) and afterwards. This is within the mother’s home and wherever she chooses to birth.” (nyumbanikwamama.co.uk). If you think about the amount of time, money and resources we put into planing a wedding, the hen night, a holiday, a new home, a baby shower; it makes sense to approach the birth of a child in the same way. That means researching what type of Doula you will need, budgeting for the cost of a Doula; just as you plan and budget for the baby room, buggy, nappies, car seat etc. I believe that we can reduce the deaths of black mother’s and their babies via the Doula, and to be fair you don’t even have to use a black Doula but if you want your voice to be and your baby’s needs to be addressed then you’ll click on the links, read more, set a budget, get yourself a black Doula. If you know someone whose expecting then forget the baby shower, do a collection and give your sister, cousin, friend a Doula as a gift, especially if it’s their first child or if they have lost a child. It's time we helped ourselves and each other. Self-help is a wonderful and powerful tool towards growing our independence, it's not cheap but it's amazing how much pride and confidence a little self-help can give you. Let's start spending our money on the things that truly matter. Useful Links https://nyumbanikwamama.co.uk/ Birthworkers of colour https://abueladoulas.co.uk/ https://doula.org.uk/ Comments are closed.
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