Many studies and reports have revealed the inadequate state of maternal healthcare in America, particularly in Massachusetts. A study conducted by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health found that rates of severe maternal health complications had nearly doubled between 2011 and 2020, with Black women experiencing the highest rates of these complications. Former Governor Charlie Baker established the Special Commission on Racial Inequities in Maternal Health to investigate these numbers and issue recommendations. Nashira Baril, founder of Neighborhood Birth Center, discussed the role of midwifery in maternal healthcare and explained why she founded Boston’s first community birth center. She highlighted that midwifery treats pregnancy as natural and normal and called for a shift away from the highly medicalized model of healthcare. Baril also discussed the challenges of opening and sustaining birth centers due to restrictive state regulations. She shared her experience in financing and designing a sustainable Business model for the birth center, emphasizing the need for midwives to thrive. The conversation highlighted the potential impact of investing in community midwifery and the healing that can come from providing safe, comfortable, and personalized care to birthing individuals.
Read More Health News
