Portland observer., September 21, 2011, 2011 special coverage issue, Page 7, Image 7

September 21. 2011
Minority & Small Business Week
Page 7
On Mission for Birth Justice
c o n t i n u e d f r o m page 3
pact o f this.”
Because the impact o f our envi­
to prevent medical and societal
ronm ent on the health o f m other
causes of infant mortality by learn­
and babies is not talked about
ing skills from a multicultural, his­
enough within our society, this is
torical and traditional perspective.
where doulas can help, said M on­
Monroe explained there are sev­
roe. “Doulas can understand and
eral reasons why women, black
sym pathize, as a black woman,
women in particular, benefit from
what the m other is going through
their company.
while living in a neighborhood
“For one, the medical model in
often com prom ised.”
Oregon doesn’t have enough di­
M onroe explained the num ber
verse health care professionals,”
o f doulas is on the rise through­
she said. “And there are higher
out the country. “W hat is unique
maternal mortality rates amongst
about the ICTC model is that it has
minority women.”
a public health com ponent, and it
More black and Hispanic women
uses a legacy o f the A frican-
are dying after having babies, she
Am erican m idw ives in the 20th
said.
Century, who were leaders in their
A lot of women within society are
com m unities, providing services
unaware of the alternatives to the
to reduce m aternal and infant
westernized model of birth, which
m ortality,” she said.
often looks for a problem, she said.
This model is a holistic, compre­
“They think they have to lie in a
hensive model, which includes the
hospital bed and be a passive pa­
whole family while caring for the
tient, as opposed to the owner of
mother during pregnancy, birth and
their body and their own destiny
after birth, she said. “This is impor­
and direct their own birth experi­
tant when we compare the mortality
ence,” she said. “But women know
rates cross culturally.”
instinctively what they need, and
Monroe said she invites anyone
by having a doula, it really empow­
to take their training. “Our philoso­
ers women.”
phy benefits everyone,” she said.
■
photo by M indy C ooper /T he P ortland O bserver
One reason there is such a high ....
A",son Elliott, Elba Mo,ses, Emnet Getahun and Rosy Valle participate in a Doula Birthing Companion “The program attracts professional
rate of maternal mortality can be
workshop at the International Center for Traditional Childbirth in northeast Portland. The session women who want to give back to the
attributed to the rate of cesarean
provides personal support to women and families throughout their pregnancy and childbirth experience. community they are in by being a
sections performed on women in
partner to the families.”
labor, she said.
“Women need to know birth is
not pathological, not an illness—
it’s normal,” she said. “And by hav­
ing a doula, you reduce your risk for
having a c-section.”
According to M onroe, infant j
mortality within African-American
communities throughout the coun­
try has remained two and half times
Whether you're living in a
higher than the national average per
decade, which she said, are caused
farmhouse, a bungalow or an
by more than medical factors, but
societal factors as well.
apartment, your path to reducing your
“If we are going to talk about
energy costs is
at
improving birth outcomes and popu­
lation, then we have to look at the
energytrust.org/free. Get started with
social factors that are contributing
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to the high infant mortality rate,”
said Monroe. “And having profes­
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sionally trained doulas can provide
the compassion and understanding
to help a women and her family.”
M onroe believes birth justice
is a byproduct of social justice.
This is new. This is now. This is free.
“Every black m other is im pacted
when there is any violence within
Log onto energytrust.org/free or call
the com m unity,” she said. “A
1.866.368.7878.
m other’s environm ent can be so
stressful it can endanger both her
own health and the health of her
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b ab y .”
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W hen you are pregnant, the
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should be peaceful and support­
ive, she said. “We know statisti­
cally and scientifically, social de­
of Oregon
term inants affect birth outcom es,
especially for black women. We
d o n ’t talk enough about the im-
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