Birth Happens Midwifery in the Santa Cruz Mountains

http://www.neonatology.org/pdf/midwifery.history.pdf

https://doulatrainingsinternational.com/brief-history-black-midwifery-us/ Black women’s accomplishments and contributions to midwifery are often overlooked. Their birth work stems from practices and traditions that date back to pre-colonization. In their African communities, midwives were more than birth workers and would do so much more than just catch babies. They were also known as spiritual healers. They acted as family counselors, breastfeeding consultants, postpartum doulas, nutritionists, family planning counselors – they were advocates and provided resources and care for their people. This rich tradition was passed down, from healer to healer and practiced even during slavery. They would not only attend the births of black women, but were often present and attended white women’s births. Today, due to systematic racism in the United States, the number of black midwives is low. However it is important to discuss the history and accomplishments black midwives have brought to bir...

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/05/world-midwife-shortage-rep   31 May 202 1 Victoria Masterson Senior Writer, Formative Content This article is part of the  The Jobs Reset Summit The world faces a shortage of 900,000 midwives, a new report says. Fully investing in midwives by 2035 would save 4.3 million lives per year. As well as attending births, midwives provide a range of antenatal and postnatal care. Women account for 93% of midwives and 89% of nurses. Gender inequality is among the drivers of this midwife shortage.. An acute shortage of midwives is leading to a “terrible toll” in the form of preventable deaths, according to a new report. Across the globe, 900,000 midwives are needed by 2035 to save an estimated 4.3 million lives a year,  The State of the World’s Midwifery 2021  report finds. Produced by partners including the  United Nations Population Fund  (UNFPA) – the UN’s sexual and reproductive health agency – the  World Health Organiza...

  Women worked together Early women settlers came together to quilt, cook and catch babies. Migrating from many countries and cultures, they introduced a variety of traditions in the birthing room.   In Santa Cruz a few physicians who attended births in homes introduced the use of forceps, pain medications, and surgical procedures during the birthing process.   When Santa Cruz settler, Georgina Kirby had her baby in 1853, she used a new pain control gas called chloroform. The Journal of Georgiana Bruce Kirby Feb.13 th  1853 “We are in a state of partial anxiety about doctors and nurses, those her of the former class being bunglers, giving calomel to a confined woman and losing healthy patients frequently, and most of the latter being filled more or less with old women’s superstitions as regards the treatment of new-born babies. May 15 th  1853 K. gone down to the Pajaro to make more certain of the nurse for me…” May 31 st  1853 “The good nurse cannot leave ...

  The First Native American Birth Center In 2015 midwife Nicole Gonzales began planning for the first Native American Birthing Center in the United States, to be built in New Mexico. While some Navajo women have felt unable to incorporate their cultural birthing practices into hospitals (or were denied permission to incorporate these practices), Gonzales wants to change this through the Birth Center. Gonzales told the  Huffington Post , "At the birth center, you won’t have to ask anybody for permission". Instead, Gonzales intends to ask women about their traditions and allow them to easily incorporate them. For example: drumming, burning sage, and having multiple attendants are not always allowed in hospital rooms. Gonzales also told  Indian Country Today  that many Aboriginal women don't realize they have choices in their pregnancy and arrive to hospitals or medical care without a plan. To remedy this she hopes to provide early consultation at her birthing...