Unpacking the Historical and Epigenetic Context of Black Maternal Health with Olivyah Bowens
Free Birth Society
Emilee Saldaya
3.7 • 1.5K Ratings
🗓️ 16 April 2021
⏱️ 80 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In honor of Black Maternal Health Week, we have doula- turned -Radical Birth Keeper, Olivyah Bowens, from Baltimore, Maryland on the show today.
Olivyah is a mother of two, a perinatal community health worker, a holistic birth educator, and a graduate of Free Birth Society’s Radical Birth Keeper School.
After learning about the atrocious maternal mortality rate of Black women in the United States, Olivyah committed herself to understanding why Black women were dying.
Olivyah walks us through the intersection of racism and healthcare, and how it directly, and obviously, negatively impacts Black women and their families.
Olivyah will also provide historical context of racism in OB/GYN and how that links to institutional racism in health care today.
Join us in an important conversation around epigenetics, implicit bias, the importance of women seeing themselves reflected in their birth team, and to learn about the far- too -often subhuman treatment of Black women and their babies, in the system.
Olivyah also shares how freebirth is a potential solution to opt out of the system for many Black women today.
Connect with Olivyah on IG & FB: @herholisticpath
Work with Olivyah & attend her workshops: https://www.herholisticpath.com/course
Listen to Olivyah’s podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Nw6Y40klYn83XxhLAurQF
Resources:
Black Women's Health Imperative
Unnatural Causes with Dr. Michael Lu
OBGYN Whistleblower Episode: https://www.freebirthsociety.com/blogs/the-free-birth-podcast/the-ob-gyn-whistleblower
The Radical Birth Keeper School starts again September 1st, 2021. You won’t want to miss it: https://www.freebirthsocietycourses.com/radicalbirthkeeper
Craving your village? Join Free Birth Society’s Private Membership: https://www.freebirthsociety.com/pages/private-membership
Check out more of Free Birth Society’s courses and offerings!
https://www.freebirthsocietycourses.com
Get The Complete Guide to Freebirth: A sweeping, all-inclusive childbirth education course, designed to prepare pregnant mothers and families for the most powerful independent birth experience possible: https://www.freebirthsocietycourses.com/cgtf
Are you wanting to take responsibility for your life? Work with Emilee: https://www.freebirthsociety.com/collections/coaching
Want more? Birthing Truth: A Collection of Freebirth Stories:
https://www.freebirthsociety.com/blogs/birthing-truth-a-collection-of-freebirth-stories
Our Gift to You: Gorgeous pregnancy affirmations straight to your inbox:
https://www.freebirthsocietycourses.com/opt-in-pregnancy-affirmations-gift
Disclaimer: Free Birth Society, LLC of North Carolina shares personal and educational stories and experiences related to freebirth and holistic care. This content is not medical advice, and we are not a licensed midwifery practice. Testimonials reflect individual experiences; results may vary. For services or scheduling, contact info@freebirthsociety.com. See full disclaimer at freebirthsociety.com/youtubeterms
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | In to the wild I'm going into the wild I am |
| 0:11.4 | It's been a wild freedom child since I left my roots back home |
| 0:19.0 | Into the wild I'm going into the wild I am |
| 0:24.6 | It's been a wild freedom child since I left my roots back home |
| 0:30.6 | Welcome to the Free Birth Society podcast |
| 0:33.6 | This is a radical space for women who are ready to celebrate their autonomous choices in birth, motherhood and beyond |
| 0:40.6 | Together, we'll learn about wild birth through personal narrative, we'll explore the politics of birth |
| 0:46.6 | And we'll analyze everything that relates to our lives as women from a feminist perspective |
| 0:51.6 | Here's your host Emily Thaldan |
| 1:22.6 | In honor of Black Maternal Health Week, we have Dula turned radical birth keeper Olivia Bowens from Baltimore, Maryland on the show today |
| 1:33.6 | Olivia is a holistic birth educator and today she's going to walk us through the intersection of racism and health care and how it directly and obviously negatively impacts black women and their families |
| 1:45.6 | Olivia will also provide historical context of racism in OBGYN and how that links to institutional racism and health care today |
| 1:55.6 | Join us in an important conversation around epigenetics, implicit bias, the importance of women seeing themselves reflected in their birth team |
| 2:05.6 | And to learn about the far too often sub-human treatment of black women and their babies in the system |
| 2:12.6 | Olivia also shares how free birth is a potential solution for many black women today |
| 2:30.6 | Welcome, hi |
| 2:34.6 | I'm glad you're here, I'm glad we're doing this |
| 2:38.6 | Yeah, we are here to have a really big, important, much needed discussion for an important week |
| 2:46.6 | This week that we will be publishing this is going to be the or is the Black Maternal Health Week |
| 2:51.6 | And so I thought this would be a perfect time to bring you on and begin to unpack some of this conversation that I think a lot of people might see like memes of online |
| 3:02.6 | But I want to have a deeper discussion with my guest today, Olivia Bowens from her holistic path |
| 3:08.6 | So that people have more context and a more in-depth understanding of why black maternal health matters and yeah, why we're here to talk about it |
... |
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