Decolonize Childbirth- Race & Obstetric Violence

Giving birth is some life altering shit. It can be a transcendental, mind warping, ecstatic, or painful experience. The child that you house on the inside of you is exiting your womb. Women should be able to give birth in safe spaces that respect and honor their intuition and power. Unfortunately, our medical practices and representations of birth have transformed the birthing process. Birth in America is over medicalized and rooted in fear and obstetric violence.

32.7% of all births in the United States are C-sections despite the fact that 1) c-sections increase risks for mothers and infants and 2) the World Health Organization argues that the C-section rate should be 5-10%. The territories are hardly doing better. The c-section rate in the U.S. Virgin Islands was 29.3% in 2013 and Puerto Rico’s rate during the same year was 48.4%. These territorial rates have declined over recent years and it is important that they…