#225 — Birth is broken in America. It’s rooted in patriarchy, white supremacy, and a managed care system that pushes profits over people. This medical model provides substandard care that persists because it’s always been done that way—not because it’s rooted in evidence. In fact, plenty of evidence suggests that the managed care model causes widespread problems that affects every aspect of our society today.
Under this medical model, birth has become accepted as trauma, with as much as 30-40% of people who give birth reporting mistreatment or negative experiences. If we want to improve the outcomes of birthing people and families, we must unpack how and why our current system is failing us.
Allison Yarrow, award-winning journalist, speaker, and author, wants to change that narrative with the help of her latest book, “Birth Control: The Insidious Power of Men Over Motherhood.” There is so much power in a group of people who have been touched by birth. Humanity would not exist without the process of birth, when our bodies are at their strongest.
Allison’s goal is to open up conversations between people who have given birth, inviting us to share our stories and feel validated in them—no matter what they are.
Allison joined host Sarah K Peck on this episode of the Startup Parent Podcast to talk about why birthing is broken under our current healthcare system, and what we can do better in the future. They discuss:
The episode is an invitation to unpack the intricacies of birth experiences and the existing systems that influence them so that we can rewrite the narratives around motherhood. Instead of trauma and disempowerment, we can embrace the power and vulnerability of the birth and transform it into an empowered, informed, and agency-driven experience.
SHOW NOTES
Full show notes at http://startupparent.com/227
Stories Paint the Picture of Possibility
Our Sixth Gear - The Hidden Power Within
Feelings Matter - Experience Greater Emotional Dexterity
The Power of Creativity and Destruction: Inviting New Futures
Envision a New World of Work
Great Planning Requires Flexibility, Not Perfection
How To Escape “Good Girl” Brainwashing — (Lisa Carmen Wang)
Match Your Energy with Your Season of Life
When Will I Get My Body Back? Motherhood As Awakening (Amanda Montei)
Work-Life FIT Matters More Than Work-Life "Balance"
What If You're A Night Owl? Sleep as a Parent and a CEO — Shama Hyder
"I Did Early Motherhood on Credit Cards" — Danielle LaPorte
Ali Shapiro: Health and Wellness Advice Is Failing You. Here’s Why.
We're Not Supposed to Parent Alone
Unicornuate Uterus, Surrogacy, and Triblings—While Building A Fashion Empire (Sarah LaFleur)
Building Your Village as a Mother (Beth Berry)
Three Words That Make All The Difference
“Grieving an Avalanche of Emotions” — A Professional Ice Climber Shares How Motherhood Irrevocably Changed Her Career (Majka Burhardt)
Performing Motherhood: Mommy Bloggers, Momfluencers, and Modern Mothering (Sara Petersen)
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