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From the beginning, Gabrielle and her fiance knew with the birth of their son; they were going to do things differently this time around. They hired a doula, hired a midwife, and began preparing for their homebirth. Yet seven months into their pregnancy, they were hit with the news that their midwife wouldn't be able to support them, and they had to go back to the drawing board. They visited different hospitals until they found one that felt right and enrolled in a nine-week intensive birth class. In this class, not only did they learn about childbirth but how to control their care, work with sand speak with their care providers to ensure that all decisions were based on and from informed consent. The lessons learned from this class would be vital in their advocacy and care during and after their son's birth.

Her son was born, but not breathing - care providers eventually revived him, but due to the length of time he was without oxygen, they were unsure if he would make it through the night. Gabrielle made that doctor eat his words, pray with her and her family, and demanded that no stone go unturned in her son's care. Her experience highlights the dark parts of birth, the parts we hope never happen, and yet it brings forth what can happen when you have the pieces to be empowered and use them fully.

55 | Vaginal Birth After Laparoscopic Myomectomy - Mabel Bashorun

July is Fibroid Awareness Month - studies show that Black women suffer from fibroids 2-3 times more than white women and tend to experience fibroids at a younger age and often more severely. With those numbers, Black women are also 2 to 3 times more likely to undergo surgery to manage their fibroids. With such a common occurrence, few women are open about their experience, know about treatment options, or what options they have after having a myomectomy.

At 26 years old, Mabel found out that she had fibroids, which she would never have expected. Researching and working with her care provider, shebdecided the best option for her would be to get her fibroids removed through surgery. Knowing that she and her husband would want to expand their family, she decided to move forward with laparoscopic myomectomy. A minimally invasive procedure to remove fibroids, but also provides a better chance for having vaginal births.

Whether it be abdominal or laparoscopic, most myomectomy candidates are not offered a trial of labor. When she found out she was pregnant, Mabel was aware of the odds, but standing firm in her wants and needs, she went through a dozen no's before meeting a doctor who was willing to step out of his comfort zone and support her. This episode covers a myriad of topics; diastasis recti, pelvic floor health, fibroids, blood transfusions, hemorrhaging, drawing boundaries with family, but most importantly, advocating for ourselves as Mabel puts it "having the nerve" to stand up and demand what we want.

54 | Birthing at Home - Legaci Allong

Legaci always wanted to have an unassisted home birth but had refrained from moving forward during her previous pregnancies to help her husband be more comfortable and at ease during labor and delivery. She understood his apprehension as she states, “Most women don’t know how capable they are… He didn’t yet know what I was actually capable of.” They began preparing their home by creating a checklist of items and prepared their minds by watching “free birth” videos. Legaci continued to work with a midwife for general prenatal care while making decisions that didn’t include some of the usual standard procedures or practices. She made a point to note that she didn’t recommend an unassisted homebirth for everyone as there are factors to consider regarding health, safety, and an understanding of one’s self. Knowledge of self and sharing who she was and her personal beliefs with her provider early on created space for her to follow her instincts. Legaci shared how accomplished she felt the moment her son was delivered. Her sons were able to witness her birth, their baby brother into her arms. She wants to encourage women to know how strong they are, feel safe during birth, and maintain control of what they can.

53 | Discovering the Power Within - Shannon Bennett & Sharea Jenkins

We know the statistics for black maternal and infant health. We understand the risks of bringing forth life within black bodies, and the narrative is heavy. As we strive for a change, it's also imperative to have balance, and joy is a part of the resistance. Shannon's experience is full of love, community care, and joy!

As birth workers, we were ecstatic that Shannon would be sharing her experience with her Doula Sharea. When prepping for her birth, Shannon listened to lots of birth stories. Prepping in this way showed her there were many ways birth could happen and the importance of laboring at home as long as possible. Even with a plan, there would be a point of necessary surrender and the value in doula support, specifically from a black doula. Having that be a theme of many of the stories, she listened to Shannon, sought out a black doula in her community, and found Sharea. Upon meeting Sharea it was an immediate connection, and she added her to her birth team on the spot. With the support of her birth team, her husband, her prep through research and curiosity, Shannon looks back at her birth and speaks without hesitation that it truly showed her, “there is nothing I can’t do!”

52 | Birthing Love - Coach Cass

Learning all they could to help plan for their child's birth was very important for Cass and her husband. Yet they felt that when their questions and concerns were brought to their care provider, they were either ignored or dismissed. Her provider's attitude toward her wanting to explore traditional birthing methods against the usual hospital protocols proved to be a deciding factor in the shift of her care. Making a tough decision, at 33 weeks, Cass and her husband transferred their care to a midwife. Their plan shifted to a birthing center that allowed her to create an environment and team that met the needs of her birth vision. Cass focused on how important it was to sit with her midwife, go through her transferred records, how much it meant to her to be heard, and have her time-honored. Join us and listen in for an empowering story of controlling what you can, educating yourself, and building your birth dream team.

51 | When Your Birth Doesn't Stick to the Plan - Cassandre Dunbar

While she knew she shouldn't make comparisons, around 37 weeks while pregnant with her second son, Cassandre began questioning what to expect. Around this time with her first, she was already showing signs for his arrival. An earlier incident in the pregnancy had caused some uneasiness, a feeling that didn't fade, and by 39 weeks at her regularly scheduled apt, she made sure to advocate strongly that every test be ran to ensure everything was ok. Results yielded that nothing directly was concerning, and showing no signs of being in labor Cassandre went home. Little did she know that in a couple of hours, they would be headed to the hospital via ambulance, and upon arrival birthing her son in one push - but there were some complications. He was not breathing, and due to not knowing how long he had been without oxygen and other symptoms, he was placed in a medically induced coma for three days to preserve brain function. It was a wild ride of anticipation of would this work, but he was able to recover and come home with his family. Cassandre describes their experience as a miracle. While the early journey of postpartum was an adjustment, it welded many lessons for their family, all rooted in leaning into their intuitions and the unexpected. Cassandre's wish is that all who listen to her story, don't see it as a scary experience but a source to remind you always to trust yourself.

Cassandre is also the creator and host of the podcast Be Well Sis, a podcast centered around wellness for black women. When speaking about wellness, black women tend to be erased from those conversations. Be Well, Sis, black women, their voices, and experiences are centered. To connect in community with Cassandre's head over to her website or follow her via social media (@bewellsis_podcast)

50 | Birthing Our Ancestors - Barakah Sahaiel

This is a story about loss - miscarriage & abortion.

Barakah Sahaiel is a multi-faceted artist and birth worker who shared her personal experiences with pregnancy. She had a public passing of her fetus that she kept a secret for two years - personal shame kept her from sharing until she started Birthing Our Ancestors with her best friend. Sharing her stories of abortion and miscarriage (spontaneous and elective abortions) and finding new language to describe her experiences helped her release and begin to heal. Barakah was able to reframe her mindset and release herself from the shame that some mothers who have miscarried continue to carry with them.

Birthing Our Ancestors was born and became Barakah’s healing space. They invited women and men to engage in group therapy and conversation surrounding pregnancy loss. The sessions include a meal, group therapy, open dialogue, and an art project that supports womb trauma. Birthing Our Ancestors celebrates the connection between the spiritual and physical world of birthing both life and death.

49 | Wise African Woman - Moji Yaii

Moji is originally from Benin, West Africa, with childhood and adult living experiences in the United States and Benin. Living in her family home and having knowledge of family homebirth. Moji never felt fully assimilated into the culture in Florida and due to circumstances with her then partner returned to her hometown. Moji found a new midwife and began planning for her homebirth at her family home. All would fall into place and during her birth Moji connected with her labor support, which she handpicked for specific reasons to be present. She stayed mobile and utilized her tub to relax and bring her baby earthside.

Childbirth has helped Moji know herself, trust her body, and be comfortable with who she is. This has prompted Moji to return to Benin and learn more about the mother's postpartum care from within her family’s traditions. She is actively working to decolonize birth with her Wise African Woman Retreat. The Wise African Woman Retreat offers women and their families space to study, environment to explore, and community with whom to gather, learn, play, and expand knowledge.

48 | My Black Fatherhood - 2020

In collaboration with Heather Gallagher (photojournalist Heather Gallagher photographer), we're highlighting and amplifying the voices of black fathers in our community through our series My Black Fatherhood. In this episode, the voices you hear will be Heathers, holding space as host and the voices of black fathers sharing, a little bit of who they are, what their father figures have meant to them, and how they show up as fathers. These voices are a gift, and we are truly grateful and honored to share them with you all.

47 | Beautiful Me - Ashley Chea

After her second birth and feeling like her care provider didn't respect it, she knew she wanted to approach her third differently. She labored at home for as long as possible. When it was time for her to go to the hospital, she made it clear that she wanted space for her and her husband, Chea to labor together. He was a rock for her, understanding the ebb and flow of the process. Encouraging her when she needed it, providing comfort, and was entirely in sync with her needs. Ashley describes it as "the most beautiful experience" being supported by Chea and able to do whatever she wanted to feel comfortable.

Ashley has always used her platform as a way of uplifting women, especially black women, focusing and highlighting how our everyday lives of being in our black body and experiences are something that should be celebrated. Ashley created the Beautiful Beautiful Me book and campaign as she noticed her eldest daughter wanted to look like her. While embracing that she also wanted her daughter to celebrate her appearance. Ashley is vocal in that she discusses with their children that they are multicultural. Through that highlighting the beauty of all sides of them. That even in their blackness as a reflection from their mother, their experience of being black and holding space in this world is different than hers. And as Ashley so eloquently states in this interview that teaching our children to love themselves first and fully makes it much easier for them to do the same for others. In her book, her work through Moms in Color and, most importantly, her daily life, her daughters get to see women of color working together, empowering each other, and loving each other. A true representation of our beauty and joy!

46 | A Healing Unmedicated Hospital Birth - Tonya Rapley

An essential intention of Tonya's life is the ability to live freely. This intention is how she prepared for her birth. Knowing she wanted her husband to have an active role in her support. They utilized the Bradley Birth method of childbirth education, as it as a focus on an unmedicated approach using partners as birthing coaches. Having financial freedom allowed her to build a birth team that matched her and her husband's vision. Tonya not only had a black OBGYN but also supported in care from her black midwife. Combining both traditional medical practices with the traditional midwifery care, provided her with the security that nothing be left unturned.

This combination of care would turn out to be exactly the right setup. When Tonya began labor, her OBGYN informed her that he was in the bay area celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday with his family. Meaning there was a strong possibility he would not be present for her birth. Even with his absence, Tonya, her husband, and midwife were able to walk into the hospital with confidence. Especially since the hospital and nurses were familiar with her midwife. Not only familiar with her presence, but in how she approached her interactions to ensure her families were thoroughly cared for. Tonya attributes her midwife's active role in assisting her in having a successful hospital birth. For her, that teamwork allowed "My birth team to advocate for me the way I would if I wasn't in such a vulnerable space." As black-birthing people, we are continually receiving negative messages about our births and their outcomes, especially when we choose to birth in hospitals. Tonya's birth story is a testament that we can have happy, healthy, and healing births.

45 | A Blessing Amidst Covid-19 - Karabo Rankapole

Karabo joins us from South Africa to share her story of courage amid a changing world. She gave birth on April 6th, 2020, during the COVID-19 restrictions, which changed their birth plan so abruptly and drastically that it would alter all of her best-made plans.

When Karabo arrived at the hospital with her parents and awaiting her partner’s arrival. The door attendants simply stated, “This is where your journey ends, and hers begins.” They took her bags into the hospital, and while in labor, she separated from her loved ones to take on the task of giving birth to strangers in an unfamiliar space. She would later learn that her partner would be able to visit for one hour per day, but the visitation time would conflict with his work hours and the city’s newly implemented curfew to help reduce COVID-19 exposure. Every step further, she took into the hospital required a shift in her mind and spirit. She would come out of her labor delivery as a new being with tremendous strength, and her postpartum recovery continued to bring about change.

44 | Birthed From the Heart - Tara Clifton

Tara found out she was pregnant during her sophomore year of college and immediately was met with shame. Coming from a family that wasn't fond of her experience and attending a predominantly white Christian college, she spent most of her pregnancy in isolation, not talking about it and shutting herself into her dorm room.The dismissal of her journey also showed up during the birth of her daughter. Her doctor and nurses ignored her wishes and were forceful in their approach, resulting in Tara's explaining a traumatic birth experience.

Feeling a sense of loss from who she was before her baby, both physically and how she could live her life, Tara is clear that she suffered from postpartum depression. After an incident, Tara knew a change needed to happen. In a Facebook mother's group, she began sharing her story, finding that she wasn't alone in her experience and that others connected with her. She shared more, hoping that by doing so, others wouldn't go through the same thing, but she also found healing in sharing.

We leave every episode with lessons, and Tara's were;

"Don't allow your truth to be silenced because it makes other people uncomfortable." - Tara Clifton
The importance and value of community birth workers with similar lived experiences working under a lens of reproductive justice.

As we navigate the COVID-19 pandemic and the tighter lens of racism, the lessons learned from Tara's are even more important!

43 | Saul's Light - Kimberly Novod

This is a story about loss - In memory of Saul

With no early indication, in 2014, Kimberly and Aaron Novod's son, Saul, was born prematurely at twenty-eight weeks and six days. He was whisked to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Initially, they thought he was going to do well and would be bringing their baby home. Yet, baby Saul passed after twenty days in the NICU due to a brain bleed. As a way to process through their grief and work on healing, Kimberly and her husband Aaron created Saul's Light. During their time of need, their community surrounded them in love and support, which was an integral part of their healing process. Thus, making it their mission to provide the same outpouring to all NICU and bereaved families. A vital part of the support provided to families is through mobilizing people, organizations, and resources directly from their community.

In the sharing of her birth story, Kimberly makes it clear and points that we cannot ignore the disparities that black and brown babies are overrepresented in the NICU and the graveyard. When parents are present for their babies and present in their care, they have better outcomes. Saul's Light allows for families to have that, responsive to the whole experience of NICU and also addressing infant mortality. It is a communal embrace, reminding families that their community cares about them, and they're not alone!

42 | When Home Birth Moves to Hospital - Dasia Gant

Dasia Gant was proudly serving in the military as her family was starting to grow. Dasia’s expectations of pregnancy challenged her as she was once a stellar athlete who had thought she would continue to be active and work out. But pregnancy took a toll on her body that she was not ready for, although watching herself grow was still a beautiful time for her family.

While a homebirth were her plans, shifts during her labor required a transfer to the hospital. Upon arrival, she began to feel like she was disconnecting and handing over the reins of her birth to the hospital staff. She requested an epidural to help relax her body and allow the physiologic process of birth to continue. The anesthesiologist started to insert the needle in her back, and she began to feel a hot and tingly sensation going down her back. This would go on six-eight times before her epidural was placed correctly. The experience would mark the shift in her labor that would have lasting physical and mental repercussions for Dasia. Her story is one of resilience, strength, and determination that we easily connect with those who choose to serve.

41 | Inner Strength - Kayla Lucas

Kayla Lucas shared her experiences with both of her sons, being diagnosed with hyperemesis, which made pregnancy physically challenging as she worked to stay healthy and maintain good nutrition and having un-planned inductions. While neither experience was what she expected, she describes them as helping her dig within herself to find a voice to advocate for herself, her strength and determination. Aspects she hopes to encourage others to use in their own birthing experiences.

Postpartum depression would mire her experience as a mother in the months after her birth. She sought support through therapy and was able to come out of it after becoming pregnant again. Kayla's grandmother helped her by acknowledging what her granddaughter was going through. She opened her home to her for respite during the day and watched her son during therapy sessions. Her family gave her time, space, and resources for a time to herself to help relieve anxiety. Kayla wants women to connect with themselves to build self-trust before pregnancy to help them be self-advocates in their care. Find your voice, speak up, and be heard.

40 | Paving a New Way: Against the Grain - Codie Elaine Oliver

Codie describes her pregnancies and births as a full-circle experience. With their first child Codie and Tommy had planned to birth in a birth center, a turn of events would have them shifting to have a home birth, supported by midwife Heather Schwartz and student midwife Kim Durdin. As we know, birth plans change, and Codie went from a homebirth to a transfer to a hospital with an epidural and a c-section.

While she was ecstatic to have a healthy baby and be a mother, a thought that did linger in the back of her mind was that those who said this would be her story were right. When she found out, she was pregnant the second time, and with twins, there was a mix of excitement but also fear that she wouldn't be able to have a VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean). From the beginning, she was intentional about her support and ultimately built an empowering birth team, with care providers who supported her in trusting and believing herself to do that.

38 & 39 | Reimagining the Village - Tayo Mbande & Toni Taylor

The saying goes, "it takes a village to raise a child" - hearing Tayo and her mother share Tayo's birth experience not only affirms this but reveals it takes a village to birth a mother.

Tayo knew for her third pregnancy and birth; she was going to need to facilitate her experience with intense intention. From her previous births, birthing at a hospital was not an option, so with the support of her mother and husband, she prepared to have a family homebirth, absent of a midwife. Yet, this pregnancy was opposite from her others, and there was a point where she thought her homebirth wouldn't come to fruition. Tayo relied heavily on her mother for support throughout her earlier births. This time around, her mother pushed for Tayo and her husband to create a stronger bond they could depend on and believe in each other as a support unit.

Reimagining her village, she let herself to be fully loved and cared for, throughout the pregnancy, her birth, and at the beginning of her postpartum and still currently. Everyone showing up for her makes her show up for herself.

Tayo and Toni have a beautiful bond; they have now created a space to support and uplift the families in their community in that same sacred love. The Chicago Birth Collective is the village, a collective of birth workers, healers, and wellness practitioners serving and healing Black families across Chicago.

37 | Bringer of Light - Anique & Ali Russell

The theme of this year's Black Maternal Health Week is, Centering Black Mamas: The Right to Live and Thrive - we feel that Anique and Ali's birth story aligns beautifully. When they found out they were pregnant, Anique and Ali wanted this birth experience to be different. They became intentional about their preparation. Researching birth outcomes for black women, being clear on Anique's health, receiving support from a black care provider, and support from a black doula. That intentionality provided them the tools and confidence to find power in their voices and their family's story.

"Our daughter's name means Bringer of Light. During my second pregnancy, I gained peace with my birthing process. I learned so much information regarding black maternal health, what it means to have a doula, my body, and a wonderful breastfeeding journey thus far! I feel I have a light that I am ready to pass on to other mama's!!" - Anique

36 | The Legacy of our Stories- Lavita Stokes

Do you know your birth story - do you know what your parent's experience was like bringing you forth into the world? For many, conversations about our own births occur once we are having our children, possibly much later than that. This episode was special in that our host's Laurel's mother, Lavita, shared her four birth stories. For Lavita, she expresses that all four of her pregnancies were healthy and straightforward and that, for the most part, her births were the same. Each of her labors was 6 hours long and each different in their regard.

Recounting her own birth stories and experiencing birth as a grandmother with her daughter Laurel, brought to the forefront the generational shifts that birth can provide. Knowledge of how our families experience pregnancy and birth strengthens generational bonds—a picture of how the world has changed around birth and how our families have changed as well.

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