Birth Centers offer comfort and care

 

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 center, where she can discuss the to-be mother's options and wishes for her pregnancy and labor experience. You can donate to Gonzales' cause here.

https://www.babygaga.com/15-pregnancy-and-birthing-traditions-in-the-aboriginal-culture/#:~:text=There%20are%20several%20beautiful%20traditions%20that%20Navajo%20women,is%20very%20concerned%20about%20the%20baby%27s%20soft%20spot. Accessed May 25,2021