Ep. 44: Musician Genesis Owusu; Pandemic Birthing w/ Maiysha Campbell Kramer & Milli Hill; Pregnant: Visible and Invisible Disabilities; Vertical Birth w/ AMUPAKIN in Ecuador

US-based Maiysha Campbell Kramer and UK-Based Milli Hill join Alix and Chrystal in discussion to uncover their respective practices and activism in working towards positive, supportive pregnancy experiences for all women.

Certified doula and childbirth educator, Maiysha Campbell Kramer has been supporting expectant and new mothers in preparation for birth and postpartum care for over twenty years. She focuses on holistic family support and speaks of her own contrasting experiences as a doula, placing emphasis on care for women of colour, and how her work has changed in the face of the pandemic.

Author and founder of the global organisation, The Positive Birth Movement, Milli Hill has been an advocate for safer and supportive births, challenging the epidemic of negativity and fear that surrounds modern birth. Author of books including the bestselling Positive Birth Book and Give Birth like a Feminist, a key focus of Milli’s writing and work has been centred around women’s rights in childbirth and fostering inclusive spaces for expectant mothers including her global network of over 400 groups. She sheds light on what led her to found the Positive Birth Movement, how societal and health systems contribute to inequality, and what concrete change needs to happen.

To start off our discussion on visible and invisible disabilities during pregnancy, we hear from Tania Akbarali, a freelancer, entrepreneur and stay at home mother of two based in Nairobi, Kenya. She shares her experiences of pregnancy while living with severe anxiety. Tania covers the medical support she received, how her anxiety shaped her experiences of pregnancy and tips on how other expectant mothers can cope with anxiety, especially during the pandemic.

Dr.Erin Andrews

Dr. Erin Andrews, a rehabilitation psychologist, congenital triple amputee and mother of two based in Austin, Texas, speaks on her experiences giving birth as a disabled woman. She shares thoughts on barriers hindering disabled women, her writing on disability as a cultural issue and the work she’s doing as part of the Disabled Parenting project. As a medical professional, Erin’s personal experiences and work as a clinical psychologist have informed her advocacy and research.

Having recently been diagnosed with autism at the age of 33, YouTuber Samantha Stein, currently pregnant with her second child, discusses being autistic while pregnant. Samantha chats about what led her to seek out a diagnosis, and how it changed her way of life, and the coexistence between neurodivergence and disability. Based in the Netherlands, Samantha shares how living with autism has been treated and supported by the government and medical community.

We speak with Ofelia, Olga and Maria, Kichwa midwives from the Association of Kichwa Midwives of Upper Napo (AMUPAKIN) about Ecuadorian indigenous birthing practices including vertical birthing which have become a recognised practice within the Ecuadorian medical system. Specialising in ‘natural’, vertical births using traditional tools and techniques, including plants and chants, the midwives also provide a range of holistic health services for women and men. Devoted to passing on their ancestral knowledge to future generations through workshops and a 24/7 clinic serving patients in need, the work of AMUPAKIN is mother centric in order to achieve healthy birth experiences. Alongside a discussion and translation help from Dr. Nina Moeller, a long time associate at AMUPAKIN and professor of Political Ecology and People’s knowledge at Coventry University, we speak with midwives Ofelia Salazar, Olga Chongo and Maria Tapuy, to hear about their mission to raise awareness about vertical birthing practices, and how they’re going about this amidst the current social and political situation.

Ghanian-Australian singer, songwriter and artist Genesis Owusu tells us about his upcoming debut album, Smiling with No Teeth. Highly creative and intentional, Genesis’ sound is uniquely influenced by a wide range of musical genres from hiphop, jazz, pop and RnB. Unafraid to explore issues such as depression and race growing up in the Australia's capital of Canberra, Genesis’ practice blends sounds, style and creative energy into a multilayered intense musical experience.

Music Used in this podcast: Genesis Owusu’s track listing via OURNESS record label

Gold Chains

Vultures

The Other Black Dog

Wit’ Da Team

I Don’t Need You

Stance Guest Editor Alix Wilton-Regan starring in A Nightmare Wakes

Front Page Image Credit:

Genesis Owusu