Obstetric violence is a new term that describes the treatment women have been subjected to during their birth experiences for centuries. Childbirth educator and birth doula, Miriam Welch, is here to shed some light on this troubling topic.
Miriam Welch is a birth doula and a childbirth educator who serves women and families in the Youngstown Ohio area. She is an advocate for women’s health and offers prenatal and postpartum support along with childbirth education classes.
In this episode, we talk about how the paternalistic medical culture affects women and childbirth, what obstetric violence looks like, the disempowering messages sent to women by the medical community, why women are opting for free birth, and so much more!
Mentioned in this episode:
- Why Miriam is so passionate about being a doula and childbirth education
- The history of paternalistic medicine and its influence on childbirth
- How the paternalistic medical system prevents midwives from utilizing traditional midwifery skills
- What is obstetric violence?
- Why obstetric violence should be taken so seriously
- The disempowering messages around childbirth spread by the medical community
- How the natural birth movement was started
- Why women are choosing free birth
- Miriam’s response to women who are afraid of unassisted birth
- Why Miriam believes that every role from doctor to doula has its place in the birthing process
- The benefits of childbirth education classes
- Why each woman should consider her individual circumstances when choosing the right birthing process for her
- The changes Miriam advocates for in the medical and midwifery communities
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