Posts Tagged Birth

Prison guards escort an inmate held in the Administrative Segregation unit to her appointment with the prison's OB/GYN.
By caroline.catlin • 7 years ago

Prison That Forces Inmates to Give Birth in Shackles Being Sued

Last week, a former inmate of Milwaukee County filed a lawsuit alleging that multiple pregnant people were forced to give birth in shackles while being held there. This comes on the heels of another lawsuit against the jail in December of 2016, when a newborn baby died shortly after birth. Feministing has covered this issue for years, yet little has changed – our justice system is still actively abusing inmates and claiming it’s for our protection.

Last week, a former inmate of Milwaukee County filed a lawsuit alleging that multiple pregnant people were forced to give birth in shackles while being held there. This comes on ...
By Juliana Britto Schwartz • 10 years ago

Photo of the Day: Raising Children in Prison

This shot is part of a beautiful photo essay from Deepa Fernandes (reporting) and Mae Ryan (photography) at Southern California Public Radio explores the lives of some women in prison, in particular the lucky few who get to help raise their children while incarcerated.

This shot is part of a beautiful photo essay from Deepa Fernandes (reporting) and Mae Ryan (photography) at Southern California Public Radio explores the lives of some women in prison, in particular ...
By Jos Truitt • 11 years ago

Overheard in public: a positive trans birth story

I was lounging in Boston’s Public Garden last week when two families with infants and young children sat down next to me. They were white and presumably cis, straight couples (confirmed by their conversation). While the kids watched the ducklings, the parents started telling birth stories – they were close enough and talking loud enough that I couldn’t help hearing every word.

One of the mom’s started telling the story of a friend named Alex. Alex is transgender, she explained, and the doctors said they were going to be a boy before they were born, but they were assigned female. Mom then explained that Alex doesn’t identify as male or female, which is part of why they use that name. ...

I was lounging in Boston’s Public Garden last week when two families with infants and young children sat down next to me. They were white and presumably cis, straight couples (confirmed by their conversation). While the ...
By Anna • 12 years ago

The Feministing Five: Ina May Gaskin

As promised, this week’s Feministing Five is with the legendary Ina May Gaskin. Ina May is the famed “midwife of modern midwifery” and has revolutionized the way the world views this ancient practice since the emergence of her seminal book “Spiritual Midwifery.” This past month, Ina May was awarded the Alternative Nobel Peace Prize in Sweden called The Right Livelihood Award, which “honours and supports those offering practical and exemplary answers to the most urgent challenges facing us today.” And indeed, Ina May does. A pioneer in the natural birth movement, Ina May firmly places control back into women’s hands from what she calls “male-centered, misogynistic birthing processes” which views women’s bodies as defective designs and ...
As promised, this week’s Feministing Five is with the legendary Ina May Gaskin. Ina May is the famed “midwife of modern midwifery” and has revolutionized the way the world views this ancient practice since the emergence ...
By Courtney • 12 years ago

Quick hit: the medical revolution in sub-Saharan Africa

There’s an important article about expanded access to health care in Sierra Leone in today New York Times. An excerpt:

Sierra Leone is at the vanguard of a revolution — heavily subsidized for now by international donors — that appears to be substantially lessening health dangers here in one of the riskiest countries in the world for pregnant women and small children.

Country after country in sub-Saharan Africa has waived medical fees in recent years, particularly for women and children, and while experts acknowledge that many more people are getting care, they caution that it is still too early to declare that the efforts have measurably improved health on the continent.

My question: what happens when the international donors lose interest?

There’s an important article about expanded access to health care in Sierra Leone in today New York Times. An excerpt:

Sierra Leone is at the vanguard of a revolution — heavily subsidized for now by international donors ...
By Courtney • 12 years ago

No Woman, No Cry

As Mother’s Day approaches, it’s critical to think about the ways in which birth experiences are still so varied, and often so dangerous, for women around the world. Christy Turlington Burns has just created a great primer on the issue, which has been screened at various locations through out the U.S., but will premier on OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network on Saturday May 7th 2011, at 9:30 pm (ET/PT). Here’s the trailer:

I had the pleasure of seeing it on Monday night at the Paley Center for Media, along with a Q&A with Christy, the amazing Pat Mitchell, and a panel of experts in the field. The film was graceful and simple in its execution–an hour of stories from women in ...

As Mother’s Day approaches, it’s critical to think about the ways in which birth experiences are still so varied, and often so dangerous, for women around the world. Christy Turlington Burns has just created a great primer ...

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