Maternal Health Awareness Day - Holding Ground on Maternal Health: From Survival to Thrival
Release Date: 01/23/2026
Orgasmic Birth
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Orgasmic Birth Story Ep 170 Description: "Embodiment only happens if you have a body, so if you have a physical shell, and that physical shell is showing you signs. That physical shell can be sore, it can be tender, it can ache, it can also feel good and nurtured and soft and warm." —Lisa Strohdach What if the secret to a more joyful birth and life isn’t about pushing harder, but about tuning in, letting go, and giving yourself permission to feel good? If you’ve ever felt disconnected from your body or doubted that pleasure belongs in pregnancy and parenting, you’re not...
info_outlineWhat if maternal health goals expanded beyond “alive and healthy”? In honor of Maternal Health Awareness Day, Debra Pascali-Bonaro invites us to imagine a world where pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care are not only safe but also deeply respectful, emotionally whole, and infused with comfort and pleasure.
In this moving solo episode, Debra shares her personal connection to the origins of Maternal Health Awareness Day—beginning in her home state of New Jersey—and explores how far the movement has come, and how far we still must go. With maternal mortality rates rising across the U.S. and nearly 80% of pregnancy-related deaths proven preventable, Debra calls us to collective action: to hold ground, raise our voices, and reclaim maternal health as a human right.
From advocacy and policy to embodied care and global collaboration, this episode invites you to consider: what does it mean to move from surviving to thriving with safety, love, and pleasure?
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- The origins of Maternal Health Awareness Day and its urgent mission.
- Why systemic inequities—not personal failures—drive maternal mortality rates.
- How safety, equity, and pleasure are biologically connected in birth.
- The protective power of respect, love, and support during birth and postpartum.
- Practical advocacy steps for expectant parents, birth workers, and allies.
Mentioned in this episode:
- International MotherBaby Childbirth Organization @internationalmotherbabychi3946
- International Childbirth Initiative (ICI) @internationalchildbirthini2273
- FIGO (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics)
- ICM (International Confederation of Midwives) @WorldMidwives
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
- Eat Pray Doula Advanced Retreats www.eatpraydoula.com
- Pleasurable Birth Essentials https://www.orgasmicbirth.com/pleasurable-birth-essentials
Resources & Next Steps:
Learn more and access free resources at https://www.orgasmicbirth.com/black-maternal-health-birth-equity-resources
Share how you’re holding ground on maternal health using #OrgasmicBirth and tag @orgasmicbirth on social media.
Review and follow the show—we’d love to hear how this episode inspired you!
Connect with Debra!
Website: https://www.orgasmicbirth.com
Instagram: / orgasmicbirth
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YouTube / orgasmicbirth1
Tik Tok / orgasmicbirth
LinkedIn: / debra-pascali-bonaro-1093471
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