Ep. 79: The Role of Doulas in Promoting Racial Justice in Reproductive Health

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EQ: What role can doulas play in promoting racial justice in reproductive healthcare?

Guest: Vanessa Bussell is the owner of Butterfly Birth. “She is a Student-Midwife, Doula, Community Health Worker, Health Minister, HypnoBirthing® Childbirth Educator and breastfeeding peer counselor in Tacoma,WA. Vanessa mainly works with underrepresented communities.”

The birth experience is something many of us experience first hand or in supporting someone we love. We’ve discussed some of the topics surrounding motherhoods, advocacy and justice in previous episodes: “Perspective on Childbirth, Motherhood, & Advocacy"with Tobbi Tommaney and "Being a Boob Defender" with Leah Ford.

In this episode, Vanessa shares her story of how she was called to be a doula, the creation of Butterfly Birth, anti-doula bias rampant in hospitals, how to advocate for your birth plan and what it’s like being a black doula. She explains the impact of systems of white supremacy and racism that create birth trauma. To educate yourself, check out the links and resources below.

Related Links:

Vanessa’s blog “Ordinary Brown Girl”

Flor Cruz @Badassmotherbirther

DONA International: Doulas and COVID-19

National Black Doulas Association

The Guardian America has an infant mortality Crisis

Champagne & Real Pain:

🥂 Black Women Birthing Justice, Birthing Beautiful Communities

🥂 Birth for the People

👎🏻Doctors and medical professionals who don’t listen

👎🏻We don't’ have to understand something to respect it

Do Your Fudging Homework:

Annie: History of midwifery - educate yourself about the medicalization of birth and the effort to activate historical knowledge about birthing practices.

Hope: Go check out the organizations supporting Black moms/communities & donate. Great list here at Birth Justice Allies; hire Vanessa as your doula OR support her work by donating to her education journey.

Vanessa: Watch The American Dream and The Business of Being Born

Follow us on Twitter @IWL_Podcast or Facebook: Interchangeable White Ladies Podcast

Don’t forget to pick up your copy of The Body is Not an Apology for the #readlessbasic book club