Speaker: Elisabeth (Lizi) Jones
Facilitator: Caitlin Goodwin
Indigenous peoples and others living in Alaska and the circumpolar north are geographically remote and face climate conditions that can be extreme. They live in close connection to their environment and have developed characteristics of hardiness and resilience in the face of global pressures such as climate change and colonialism. Long-standing cultural traditions influence birth practices and expectations and are valuable to maintaining a shared sense of connection and caring for one another in these remote communities. Temporary relocation for childbirth has deleterious social effects and there is considerable support for traditional communal birthing in combination with modern techniques and technology. This presentation will describe a selection of Alaska Native and circumpolar childbirth traditions and outcomes, as well as the importance of birth in cultural continuity. Consideration will be given to the preservation of traditions and reflection on one’s own cultural humility and sensitivity, the value of incorporating ancient ways of knowing into modern medical practice, and the importance of promoting sovereignty and reclamation of birth by indigenous midwives worldwide. This presentation draws from a student assignment called “Celebrating Diversity in Childbirth” and is the 8th Annual Georgetown University Midwifery Student Café at the VIDM.
Recording: https://youtu.be/F6hXGnr4pP4
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: Yasmin Rose
Facilitator: Caroline Cherotich Bii
This lecture will walk through the journey of the cord blood from the moment a baby is born, what purpose it serves and why it is paramount babies receive the full amount of blood. The cord blood not only increases the volume of the blood, but is instrumental in setting up the lungs properly. We will look at the difference between fetus circulation and newborn circulation, the difference between waterborn babies and land born babies, and understand why 1 minute cord-clamping is not sufficient. The aim is to achieve optimal cord clamping for every birth.
Recording: https://youtu.be/wVhJ9z3UEsA
Speaker: Amy Goh, Dia Kapoor, and Anna Nguyen
Facilitator: Olajumoke Ojeleye
Asians and Asian Americans (Asians) have the second highest rate of caesarean birth in the U.S. Asians have the lowest rate of out-of-hospital birth and are low utilizers of midwifery care. This presentation examines cesarean birth amongst Asians who have birthed at U.S. institutions participating in the AABC’s Perinatal Data Registry (PDR).
Methods: Data from the PDR from 2007-2020 was utilized. Logistical regression was completed to determine the odds of cesarean birth for nulliparous and multiparous Asians in medically low-risk and elective hospitals categories.
Results: 2,983 Asian birthing people were sampled. Multiparous birthing people had 1.5 greater odds of caesarean birth compared to nulliparous birthing people (OR = 1.54; 95% CI, 1.19 – 2.03; p .01). The elective hospitalization group had higher adjusted odds of caesarean births compared to the low-risk and total population (OR = 1.54; 95% CI, 1.23 -1.93; p; .01). Nulliparous people in the elective hospitalization category had a rate of caesarean birth 1.5 times higher than the total (OR = 1.26; 95% CI, 1.09 -1.46; p .01) and 1.36 times higher than the low-risk sample (OR = 1.36; 95% CI, 1.13 -1.63; p .01).
Conclusion: This study highlights inequities in multiparous and nulliparous cesarean birth among medically low-risk Asians. Further research is needed in disaggregation of perinatal outcomes and on reasons for low utilization of midwifery care and out-of-hospital births amongst U.S. Asians.
Recording: https://youtu.be/jc1ZxhkUvrc
