EBB 227 – Amplifying the Need for Intersectional Birth Support for QTBIPOC Birthing People with Xian Brooks of the Dandy Doula
Release Date: 06/08/2022
EBB 309 - Evidence on Doulas
Evidence Based Birth®
What is a doula, and what are the different types of doulas? How many people use doulas during childbirth, and what does a doula actually do? Are there any randomized, controlled trials on doula support? What are the benefits and risks of having a doula, if any? And if the evidence shows that doulas improve health outcomes… then why are some hospitals around the world unsupportive of labor companions? And how can you find a doula if you’re interested in having one at your birth? Today’s podcast episode with Dr. Dekker and Sara Ailshire, MA, is chock full of research...
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EBB 308 - The Intersection of Environmental Justice and Midwifery Care with Dr. Tanya Khemet Taiwo
Evidence Based Birth®
Curious which toxins should be most avoided for people of reproductive age and their children? In this episode, Dr. Tanya Khemet Taiwo, LM, CPM, MPH, PhD unravels the intricate connection between environmental exposures and their profound impact on pregnancy and birth outcomes. We will explore the hidden risks associated with heavy metals such as mercury, cadmium, and arsenic. You'll learn about the research on how environmental exposures contribute to issues like reduced birth weight, miscarriage, stillbirth, congenital anomalies, and neurodevelopmental delays. Plus, Dr. Taiwo teaches about...
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EBB 307 - Unexplained Infertility, Endometriosis, and a Birth Center Birth Story with Ellora La Shier, EBB Childbirth Class Graduate
Evidence Based Birth®
In this episode, Ellora La Shier, graduate of the EBB Childbirth Class, shares about her struggle with six years of unexplained infertility and how it impacted her eventual birth story. Listen in as Ellora describes the frustration of unexplained infertility, suffering through years of increasingly painful periods, and the relief of finally receiving a diagnosis of endometriosis. Despite facing numerous challenges and undergoing various treatments, including intrauterine insemination (IUI), Ellora remained determined and resilient. Finally, after years, Ellora underwent surgery to...
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EBB 306 - Culturally Sensitive Doula Training with Divya Deswal and Neha Misra of the Doula Collective in India
Evidence Based Birth®
As we wrap up the celebration of World Doula Week, explore the transformative journey of pregnancy and childbirth in the Indian context with Divya Deswal and Neha Misra, founders of The Doula Collective©️. In this interview, Divya and Neha shed light on the unique challenges and triumphs faced by expectant families in India. You'll learn how The Doula Collective©️, with its culturally sensitive and trauma-informed approach, is reshaping the landscape of birth support! Also... have you ever heard of a year-long doula training program? Divya and Neha share the intricacies of their...
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EBB 305 - A High-Risk Pregnancy and Miraculous Birth with Krista and John DeYoung, EBB Childbirth Class Graduates
Evidence Based Birth®
You're going to love this family-centered birth story with Dr. Dekker's brother John DeYoung and his wife Krista DeYoung! On today's episode, Krista and John (who are graduates of the EBB Childbirth Class with EBB Instructor Chanté Perryman) get vulnerable and open up about their complex pregnancy and son Eli's miraculous birth story. In addition to facing a pregnancy with a prior diagnosis of Crohn's disease, they also had to cope with lockdowns during the pandemic, genetic concerns including an initial diagnosis of triploidy, a HUGE and abnormally low-functioning placenta, potential...
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EBB 304 - Q & A on PPD/Pitocin, Delayed Cord Clamping, Nubain, and Placental Encapsulation
Evidence Based Birth®
Welcome to a special Q &A episode of the Evidence Based Birth® Podcast! Today I address some of your burning questions on key childbirth topics! In this episode, I share evidence on the (unproven) relationship between synthetic oxytocin (Pitocin) administration and postpartum depression, the complexities of delayed cord clamping and the power dynamics around requesting delayed cord clamping, the use of Nubain (an IV opioid) for pain relief during labor and its potential impact on babies, and the latest insights into consuming the placenta—whether it's dehydrated, freeze-dried, or...
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EBB 303 - Advocating for Bodily Autonomy in Pregnancy and Birth with Mama Doctor Jones, OB/GYN
Evidence Based Birth®
In this episode, we chat with obstetrician Dr. Danielle Jones, aka Mama Doctor Jones, about challenging norms in pregnancy and childbirth. Dr. Jones passionately advocates for patient autonomy as we dive into the resistance to eating and drinking from the anesthesia community, debunk myths on this hot topic, and call on healthcare professionals to prioritize evidence-based practices. We also discuss the challenges nurses and obstetricians face in changing hospital policies, especially when confronted by powerful figures resistant to evidence-based approaches. Dr. Jones urges professionals to...
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EBB 302 - Solo Delivery: Navigating Birth During Spouse's Military Deployment with Kellie McKinnon, EBB Childbirth Class Graduate
Evidence Based Birth®
Delve into a powerful and emotional conversation with the incredible Kellie McKinnon, a military spouse, San Diego-based personal trainer, and graduate of the Evidence Based Birth®️ Childbirth Class! In this episode, Kellie shares her unique and challenging journey through pregnancy while her partner was deployed. We explore the emotional and logistical aspects of facing pregnancy and childbirth without the physical presence of a partner. Discover the importance of a doula, the role of childbirth education, and the unexpected challenges within the military healthcare system. If...
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EBB 301 - A Crash Course in Pregnancy and Parental Leave Rights in the U.S. with Daphne Delvaux, Esq. of The Mamattorney
Evidence Based Birth®
In this episode, I had the pleasure of chatting with Daphne Delvaux, Esq., widely known as The Mamattorney. As an award-winning trial attorney and founder of Delvaux Law, Daphne is a passionate advocate for women's rights at work, particularly focusing on motherhood discrimination cases. In this conversation, we dive into the complexities of workplace trauma, reasonable accommodations, and the crucial understanding of employment rights during pregnancy and postpartum. Daphne shares her expertise on the vulnerabilities mothers face in the workplace, shedding light on issues like forced...
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EBB 300 - Evidence on Waterbirth
Evidence Based Birth®
Is waterbirth safe? Are there any randomized, controlled trials on this subject? What are the benefits and risks of waterbirth? And if the evidence shows that waterbirth is a safe and beneficial form of childbirth… then why do so many hospitals “ban” this practice? And how can you access a waterbirth if that is something you are interested in? Today’s podcast episode is chock full of research from our peer-reviewed Evidence Based Birth® Signature Article: The Evidence on Waterbirth. To learn more, download a free one-page handout, and view all the research references, go to...
info_outlineXian Brooks (he/him) is a public health professional from Louisville, Kentucky, where he is a community-based birth doula and a Master of Science in Nursing student. Xian completed his Bachelor's of Science in Public Health Education at North Carolina Central University and his Master's of Public Health in Community and Behavioral Health at the University of Colorado. Over time, Xian has accumulated a lot of experience in queer, trans, non-binary, and gender non-conforming reproductive health education. Xian's training has equipped him to understand the root causes of perinatal death rates among Black individuals, especially how race, gender, sexual orientation, and class are not mutually exclusive when it comes to health disparities. Xian's lived experience recognizes that health disparities are more than just numbers on a page. Xian is currently working towards becoming a nurse-midwife because representation in healthcare is extremely important to Xian. He firmly believes it is necessary to overcome negative health outcomes and revolutionize healthcare.
We talk about what inspired Xian to dive into the work of community and behavioral health as well as his journey as a nurse-midwife. We also discuss what intersectional birth work looks like and the importance to amplify the need to create safe perinatal spaces for queer, trans, and BIPOC birthing bodies.
Content warning: We mention transphobia, misgendering, deadnaming, racism, police violence, and birth trauma.
RESOURCES:
Learn more about Xian Brooks and The Dandy Doula here. Follow The Dandy Doula on Facebook and Instagram.
Hoyert DL. Maternal mortality rates in the United States, 2019. NCHS Health E-Stats. 2021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15620/cdc:103855.
Hunter, L., McMahon, E., Graves, B., Wooten, A., Kriebs, J., Pickett, E., Tanner, T., Garcia, R., Apatov, N., Burkman, R., Hodges, K., & Bright, C. (2019). (rep.). 2019 Demographic Report (p. 1). Linthicum, Maryland: American Midwifery Certification Board.
Loewenberg Weisband, Y., Klebanoff, M., Gallo, M. F., Shoben, A., & Norris, A. H. (2018). Birth outcomes of women using a midwife versus women using a physician for prenatal care. Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health, 63(4), 399–409. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmwh.12750
Taffe MA, Gilpin NW. Racial inequity in grant funding from the US National Institutes of Health. Elife. 2021;10:e65697. Published 2021 Jan 18. doi:10.7554/eLife.65697.
Tikkanen, R., Gunja, M. Z., FitzGerald, M., & Zephyrin, L. (2020). Maternal mortality and maternity care in the United States compared to 10 other developed countries. Issue briefs, Commonwealth Fund.
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