HEAR US! CAMPAIGN

EMPOWERING YOUR VOICE

 

STORYTELLERS VIDEOS:

Our Voices, Our Births - Hear Us!: Detroit Mothers Speak

The Hear Us! Campaign includes a series of short videos featuring local mothers sharing their birth stories.  Women hearing the stories of other mothers’ birth journeys helps them know they are not alone and that they have choices.  It helps women to know that they have a right to a respectful, joyful birth journey.  The Hear Us! Campaign helps mothers advocate for themselves and others to create the necessary change to improve maternal and infant health and advance equity and respectful care with their healthcare providers.

Our Storytellers

Our Storytellers identified major themes including not being heard, not feeling respected, the importance of having support ... the benefits of having a Doula or midwife, mental health issues and postpartum depression, not having their birth plans honored, the use of Pitocin. C-Sections versus vaginal births after C-Sections, homelessness and isolation.

The videos can be used with professional healthcare training, OBG and medical grand rounds, community gatherings and church meetings, etc. Any opportunity to share these women's journey about what they experienced and what they want to experience will raise the awareness for the need for change.

These are the major issues we heard in their stories:

  • Not being heard

  • Having a birthing plan but not being respected ... not acknowledged

  • The benefits of having a Doula or Midwife Isolation ... not having contact

  • Mental Health and Postpartum depression

  • Not being supported

  • Pressured to have a C-section ... pressured to have a second C-section

  • The use of Pitocin

  • Premature Birth

  • Homelessness, unemployment ... issues that affect women in their daily lives and not considered in their doctor visits

Listen to our Storytellers as they share their birth journeys:

Questions to ask after viewing:

  1. What impact do you hope the Hear Us! Campaign will have on the Detroit community? 

  2. How would these videos help women improve their birthing experience?

  3. How could the videos be used to improve maternal healthcare?

  4. Why should people watch the videos?

  5. How can people support or learn more about this cause?

TOOL KIT:

EMPOWERING YOUR VOICE - Things Black and Brown Women Need to Know To Improve their BIRTH EXPERIENCE

Your birth journey should be joyous.  Here are a few tips to help you prepare and advocate for a safe, equitable and respectful experience to welcome and enjoy your baby.

Before Getting Pregnant

Preconception health focuses on taking steps before getting pregnant to maximize your health and the health of a baby in the future. Although the tips outlined here by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) are beneficial for all people,  Black and Brown women are at higher risk of serious outcomes and advance planning of pregnancy may reduce that risk and ensure a better outcome.

Learn More

During Pregnancy

Pregnancy is an exciting time, but it can also be stressful. Knowing that you are doing all you can to stay healthy during pregnancy and give your baby a healthy start in life will help you to have peace of mind.  Click on this Centers for Disease Control (CDC) link to learn about … 

  • Steps You Can Take Toward a Healthy Pregnancy

  • How Genetics and Family History Affect Pregnancy

  • Other Concerns During Pregnancy

  • Other Things to Think About Before the Baby Arrives

Learn More

Create a Birth Plan

Your hospital will provide a birth plan document for you. A birth plan is a written outline of what you would like to happen during labor and delivery. This plan lets your obstetrician–gynecologist (ob-gyn) know your wishes for your labor and delivery. A birth plan is a great starting point, but you should be prepared for changes as the situation dictates.

Get a Midwife or a Doula

What is a Midwife?

A midwife is a trained health care professional who provides obstetric and gynecological services to birthing women before, during and after delivery. They are trained to assist in holistic birthing processes, such as non-medicated births or natural births from home as well as help women give birth without medical interventions, such as inductions and pain treatments.  

How to find a midwife?

You can find a midwife through your healthcare provider, hospital or birthing center.

What is a Doula?

A Doula is a certified non-clinical support person trained to provide emotional, physical and informational support before, during and after birth.  Women report that having a Doula greatly improved their birth journey and experience.  Learn more about Doulas here … What Is a Doula? (webmd.com).

How to find a Doula?
You can find a Doula who serves pregnant women in the Greater Detroit area through the Black Mothers Breastfeeding Association (BMBFA).  https://blackmothersbreastfeeding.org/for-mothers-and-families/

You can also find a Doula through the Michigan State Doula Registry at the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services (MDHHS).  They also offer information about Medicaid payments for Doula services. MDHHS Doula Registry (michigan.gov)

Doula services are now covered by Medicaid in Michigan.  To enroll in Medicaid, go to MyBridges (for Medicaid enrollment) MI Bridges (michigan.gov)

Know these Urgent Maternal Warning Signs

After Baby Arrives

Learn More

Birthing Rights

If you are not pleased with your care, ask to speak with management where you are receiving care, you may also file a complaint with the state by calling the Health Facility Complaints Hotline toll-free at (800) 882-6006 or completing and submitting the Bureau of Healthcare Services/CMS complaint form on the internet at https://www.Michigan.gov.

Other Birthing Rights Resources:

Social and Emotional Support - Get connected with our Birthing Partners:
It is very important to have social support throughout your perinatal journey. Social and emotional support improves your health and wellness during and after your birth journey and allows for improved outcomes.

Other Pregnancy Journey Resources:  

Mich Dept of Health & Human Services - Division of Maternal & Infant Health (DMIH)
“The Division of Maternal & Infant Health (DMIH) is home to an array of public health programs, initiatives and interventions aimed at improving the health and well-being of women, infants, families and communities.”

Maternal & Infant Health (michigan.gov)

March of Dimes - Resources and materials for your pregnancy journey
https://www.marchofdimes.org/find-support

STORYBOARDS:

Hear Us! Campaign Storytellers shared their lived birth experiences and their stories were captured as a visual representations called Storyboards. These Storyboards can be printed as handouts or posters to be used as educational tools.