
Title: Arte de la Partería Indígena: Resistencias, desafíos y continuidades
Speaker: Tania Pariona Tarqui
Facilitator: Paloma Terra
Los objetivos de este mapeo son: identificar organizaciones de parteras indígenas, además de delinear la situación en la que se encuentran y las experiencias que se han generado cada país, acorde a su contexto histórico y aspectos legales. Finalmente, indicar las buenas prácticas, recomendaciones y retos señalados por las organizaciones de parteras de cada país.
Uno de los elementos relevantes del mapeo, es las diferencias que existen entre el ejercicio de la partería y la relación con el Estado, esto de acuerdo al nivel organizativo alcanzado por los grupos de parteras y los avances legales en el reconocimiento de la misma. Por ejemplo, algunas parteras en sus países presentan un estado de sobrevivencia por el poco o nulo reconocimiento de los pueblos originarios y la partería indígena, en otros casos por su nivel de organización hay parteras indígenas que en sus países exigen autonomía al Estado.
Sin embargo, en todos los países se dan prácticas de control, desprestigio y criminalización. Esto realza la importancia de fortalecer las organizaciones de parteras y de los pueblos originarios para la construcción de propuestas desde los sistemas de salud indígenas y la articulación horizontal con los Estados.
Como parte de sus recomendaciones se destaca la necesidad de fortalecer el tejido organizativo entre las parteras tanto a nivel nacional como en la región, el politizar la lucha por el respeto a las parteras y todas las mujeres como sujetos de derechos para que puedan tomar decisiones informadas sobre su cuerpo, su maternidad y la atención del parto desde su propia tradición y la necesidad del cuidado de las abuelas parteras que viven en situaciones vulnerables como garante de la continuidad generacional para el cuidado de las mujeres y comunidades de los pueblos indígenas.
Recording: https://youtu.be/zuIlj3va4E4

Speaker: Susana Ku
Facilitator: Paola Wilkin
We are a growing transnational collective consisting of members from the Global South and North, including midwives, doulas, scholars, educators, and mothers calling for an expansion of midwifery research to include what we coin “Critical Midwifery Studies”. We envision a Critical Midwifery Studies that uses three principles: 1.engagement and collaboration with rapidly developing fields within critical theory, 2.midwifery-led, 3. self-critical (developing ways to implement critical theory into practice). Systemic injustice is a threat to sexual, reproductive, maternal, and newborn health, hence the application of the art and science of midwifery. The effects of this injustice are reflected in the high maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality rates in formerly colonized countries of the Global South, in marginalized communities of the Global North, and in underprivileged classes around the world. We aim for an open discussion about midwifery research, education, practice, policy, and regulations, that are largely White and Western-centric, using positivistic and universalist principles of biomedical research. Although we recognize the global struggle for legitimacy that midwives face as they work to make their models of care more accessible, this coincides with pressure to engage with dominant and dominating paradigms, using language and approaches that are valued by regimes of power.
Our presentation will include a summary of our experience launching the first bilingual summer school for Critical Midwifery Studies held on July 2022, with delegates around the world. We will explain how our collective planned this activity including principles of equity and accessibility https://tinyurl.com/yc55dbw6.
Recording: https://youtu.be/TKrSfdmC9nM

Speakers: Giyawati Yulilania Okinarum, Venny Vidayanti and Sri Hasta Mulyani
Facilitator: Rizka Setyani
Yogyakarta is a popular tourist destination in Indonesia, but lactation rooms in public facilities in tourist areas are currently difficult or nonexistent. The lack of lactation rooms and facilities will affect breastfeeding activities for mothers who spend their daily lives in public places. Researchers propose a solution in the form of an innovative portable public breastfeeding room. Its goal is to assess user satisfaction with the newly developed public lactation room facilities. The descriptive-analytic method is used in this study. A questionnaire is distributed to determine user satisfaction. Then proceed with the selection of participants based on the results of the questionnaire distribution. Purposive sampling of 122 respondents who were breastfeeding mothers according to the established criteria was used in this study. The color and design of the lactation room received the highest mean satisfaction score (4.92), while ventilation received the lowest (1.66). The Ruang Sehati Lactation Room is an innovation that was created in response to the needs of users, specifically tourists who are breastfeeding mothers in Yogyakarta City’s tourist area. This innovation is also a pilot that can be shown nationally, presenting an image of Jogja City as a mother- and child-friendly tourist destination.
Recording: https://youtu.be/1WLiv8AkX34

Speaker: Brenda Araujo Salas
Facilitator: Paloma Terra
A partir de las ilustraciones elaboradas por Yaquemilsa Matiashi Vicente, una joven madre del pueblo Matsigenka, perteneciente a la amazonía peruana, describiremos las prácticas tradicionales en salud materna que aún se mantienen vigentes en las comunidades más alejadas de la vida moderna. Se describirán las concepciones y prácticas culturales durante la primera menstruación, los cuidados en el embarazo, la atención del parto por parte de la familia y parteras, y los cuidados en el posparto.
Conocer gráficamente las prácticas en salud materna a través de la mirada de una mujer del mismo pueblo, nos permite visualizar detalles significativos que se dan en la los cuidados de las mujeres gestantes y los recién nacidos. La importancia de este material es educativa y en favor de una mejora en la atención del parto para fundar la comprensión y el respeto a las costumbres y participación de las parteras y especialistas tradicionales de salud, ya que, actualmente, gran parte de las comunidades amazónicas tienen acceso a establecimientos de salud, pero estos ofrecen servicios sin pertinencia cultural. Por otro lado, el material también permite el reconocimiento de la importancia de los conocimientos de las mujeres Matsigenka en los niños, niñas y adolescentes.
English:
From the illustrations elaborated by Yaquemilsa Matiashi Vicente, a young mother of the Matsigenka people, belonging to the Peruvian Amazon, we will describe the traditional practices in maternal health that are still in force in the communities farthest away from modern life. We will describe the cultural conceptions and practices during the first menstruation, pregnancy care, childbirth care by the family and midwives, and postpartum care.
The graphic presentation of maternal health practices through the eyes of a woman from the same village allows us to visualize significant details in the care of pregnant women and newborns. The importance of this material is educational and in favor of an improvement in childbirth care, in order to establish understanding and respect for the customs and participation of midwives and traditional health specialists, since, at present, most Amazonian communities have access to health facilities, but these offer services without cultural relevance. On the other hand, the material also allows the recognition of the importance of Matsigenka women’s knowledge in children and adolescents.
Recording: https://youtu.be/voZyHiTevvw

Speaker: Maria Velo Higueros
Facilitator: Stella Katuku
Abstract:
Purpose: Freebirth or unassisted birth is currently defined as the deliberate choice to give birth without a regulated healthcare professional in countries where maternity care is available and easily accessible. Empirical evidence on this practice is limited and has mostly focused on understanding women’s motivations to freebirth as a matter of individual choice. Previous traumatic experiences, alongside rejection of medicalised models of care and trust in the birth process have been identified as factors influencing women’s choice. Yet, there is limited evidence on how women experience maternity care in the pregnancy leading to freebirth and the impact this care has on their choice. Methods: A qualitative evidence synthesis was conducted to explore women’s perceptions of maternity care provision and their experiences of care when choosing to freebirth. 22 publications between 2008 and 2023 and from ten different high-income countries were included. Thematic synthesis, underpinned by a feminist standpoint, was used to analyse the data. Results: Freebirth was rarely women’s primary choice. Faced with restrictive policies, inequitable access, and unequal power relationships with care providers, women used peer support and engaged in extensive research to develop their self-care agency. Becoming midwives to themselves generated a sense of personal transformation and empowerment. Conclusion: When healthcare services fail to provide unrestricted, equal and free access to a wide range of maternity care options, women’s choice to freebirth becomes a matter of reproductive justice. Self-care in the form of freebirth helped women to achieve a safer birth experience and to protect their reproductive self-determination
Recording: https://youtu.be/N4-EZr3j4bw

Speaker: Tracy Donegan
Facilitator: Portia Khanyile Shanduka
Abstract:
In recent years, the integration of light therapy into healthcare has emerged as a groundbreaking innovation. This novel approach, also known as photobiomodulation (PBM,Red Light Therapy, LLLT) harnesses the therapeutic potential of specific wavelengths of light (Red, Blue and Near Infrared) to accelerate wound healing, reduce the risk of infections and enhance overall well-being for mothers. The benefits of light therapy in postpartum care are multifaceted. PBM has been shown to alleviate acute pain by activating TGF-B1 and TRPV 1 in the cells promoting a more comfortable recovery without medication. The non-invasive, quick acting, harmless nature of light therapy makes it an important option for mothers seeking alternative methods to manage pain without relying solely on pharmaceutical interventions. Light therapy stimulates cellular repair and regeneration, expediting the healing of perineal tissues/cesarean incision, reducing inflammation and supports faster healing. This accelerates recovery from labor and birth contributing to a quicker return to normal functionality and comfort. PBM increases cellular energy (ATP) through the mitrochondria in our cells therefore reducing postpartum depletion. This abstract briefly explores the transformative potential of light therapy in postpartum care, emphasizing its holistic approach to recovery.
Recording: https://youtu.be/8K29SqDP4uc

