A Midwife Approach to Birth Equity
Birth equity is “the assurance of the conditions of optimal births for all people with a willingness to address racial and social inequalities in a sustained effort” according to Joia Crear-Perry, MD with the National Birth Equity Collaborative(1). Sadly birth equity is something the United States struggles to uphold, leading to higher rates of maternal mortality compared to many other developed nations (2).
In this episode, I discuss the differences in birth equity and outcomes when the care of a midwife is utilized or when midwifery standards are implemented in the pre and post partum care plan. My guest Sandie Lawrence has utilized midwifery care in her own birth process in addition to being a birth equity and midwife care advocate for many years. She sits on the Commission for the Accreditation of Birth Centers. Throughout our interview she mentions several resources and organizations that focus on birth equity and midwifery standards. Links to these organization’s websites and other sites with more detailed information are provided below. If you have any questions related to the content covered in this episode please use the contact form on the website or email Doc MB at docmb@healthy-humor.com.
The Commission for the Accreditation of Birth Centers
American Association of Birth Centers
Oklahoma Birth Equity Initiative