BirthWork
Everyone walking this planet is born from someone — yet we rarely celebrate the people and the work of bringing new life into this world. In the face of persistent inequities and threats leading to the Black maternal health crisis and other critical injustices in perinatal health, community-led solutions, policies, and movements are paving pathways toward better birth outcomes. In this podcast, we’ll dig into the work happening today by tremendous individuals to ensure generations of thriving and striving communities. You'll hear directly from leaders, organizers, and birthworkers as they share what it takes to confront structural and systemic barriers to health and wellbeing and celebrate the transformation of birth for individuals, families, communities, states, and our nation. Together, we will reimagine what birth experiences can be.
BirthWork
Rising Above: Maternal Health and Doula Resilience in Jackson's Water Crisis
In this episode of BirthWork, Candice Simon speaks with Tara Shaw to explore the unique challenges of maternal care in Mississippi, particularly in the context of the ongoing water crisis in Jackson. Tara highlights the state of Jackson's water system, which has been a long-standing issue exacerbated by a lack of infrastructure. She shares the struggles faced by mothers who are forced to find solutions for daily necessities like drinking, bathing, and feeding their children. Tara shares her journey as a doula and supporting doulas, offering candid insights into the barriers Black mothers face, from challenges to obtaining clean water to systemic inequities in healthcare access. Through her own lived experience, Tara reveals the realities of advocating for mothers in a state with maternal care deserts and environmental hazards, while emphasizing the resilience and strength of the communities she serves.
Join us as Tara discusses the broader implications of the water crisis on maternal health, how local groups are stepping up to provide solutions, and the vital importance of community-based birthwork, advocacy, and the collective power in shaping policy changes that benefit families. From practical stories of doula work to the systemic issues that demand attention, this episode dives deep into what it means to care for mothers and pregnant people amid environmental crisis.
- Candice Simon, MPH is a Program Manager for Workforce Development & Capacity Building at AMCHP
- Tara Shaw was formerly a Program Manager for the Jackson Safer Childbirth Experience
- Follow us @BetterBirthOutcomes on Instagram and don’t forget to like this episode!
- Learn more about the Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs (AMCHP) at our website.