Xian Brooks (he/him) is a public health professional from Louisville, Kentucky, where he is a community-based birth doula and a Master of Science in Nursing student. Xian completed his Bachelor's of Science in Public Health Education at North Carolina Central University and his Master's of Public Health in Community and Behavioral Health at the University of Colorado. Over time, Xian has accumulated a lot of experience in queer, trans, non-binary, and gender non-conforming reproductive health education. Xian's training has equipped him to understand the root causes of perinatal death rates among Black individuals, especially how race, gender, sexual orientation, and class are not mutually exclusive when it comes to health disparities. Xian's lived experience recognizes that health disparities are more than just numbers on a page. Xian is currently working towards becoming a nurse-midwife because representation in healthcare is extremely important to Xian. He firmly believes it is necessary to overcome negative health outcomes and revolutionize healthcare.
We talk about what inspired Xian to dive into the work of community and behavioral health as well as his journey as a nurse-midwife. We also discuss what intersectional birth work looks like and the importance to amplify the need to create safe perinatal spaces for queer, trans, and BIPOC birthing bodies.
Content warning: We mention transphobia, misgendering, deadnaming, racism, police violence, and birth trauma.
RESOURCES:
Learn more about Xian Brooks and The Dandy Doula here. Follow The Dandy Doula on Facebook and Instagram.
Hoyert DL. Maternal mortality rates in the United States, 2019. NCHS Health E-Stats. 2021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15620/cdc:103855.
Hunter, L., McMahon, E., Graves, B., Wooten, A., Kriebs, J., Pickett, E., Tanner, T., Garcia, R., Apatov, N., Burkman, R., Hodges, K., & Bright, C. (2019). (rep.). 2019 Demographic Report (p. 1). Linthicum, Maryland: American Midwifery Certification Board.
Loewenberg Weisband, Y., Klebanoff, M., Gallo, M. F., Shoben, A., & Norris, A. H. (2018). Birth outcomes of women using a midwife versus women using a physician for prenatal care. Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health, 63(4), 399–409. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmwh.12750
Taffe MA, Gilpin NW. Racial inequity in grant funding from the US National Institutes of Health. Elife. 2021;10:e65697. Published 2021 Jan 18. doi:10.7554/eLife.65697.
Tikkanen, R., Gunja, M. Z., FitzGerald, M., & Zephyrin, L. (2020). Maternal mortality and maternity care in the United States compared to 10 other developed countries. Issue briefs, Commonwealth Fund.
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EBB 280 - Bringing Equity to Lactation Imagery with Nekisha Killings, IBCLC and Founder of the Melanated Mammary Atlas®
EBB 279 - A Surprise Advanced Maternal Age Pregnancy and Unplanned Home Birth with Dr. Maria Rosselson and Nimrod Gutman, EBB Childbirth Class Graduates
EBB 278: Creating an Innovative, Afrocentric Model of Prenatal Care with Hakima Payne, Founder and Executive Director of Uzazi Village
EBB 277 - Evidence on Induction vs. Waiting for Labor with Term PROM
REPLAY - EBB 194: Nutrition and Real Food in Pregnancy with Lily Nichols, RDN
EBB 276: Challenging the Myths of the "Perfect Mother" and "Perfect Birth" with Avital Norman Nathman, Author, Editor, and Activist
EBB 275: A PROM, GBS, and Birth Center Transfer Story with EBB Childbirth Class Graduate, Emily Helgerson
EBB 274: Honoring the Mothers of Gynecology with Michelle Browder— Artist, Activist, and Creator of the Anarcha, Lucy, and Betsey Monument
EBB 273 - Evidence on Nitrous Oxide for Pain Management During Labor
EBB 272 - Navigating Assisted Reproduction & Full Spectrum Childbirth Support with EBB Childbirth Class Graduate, Jessica King
EBB 271 - Bringing a Whole Family Approach to Birth and Postpartum Doula Work with Brandi Jordan, Founder of The Cradle Company
EBB 270 - Intersectionality and Representation in Birth Work with Cheyenne Varner, Doula and Founder of The Educated Birth
EBB 269 - Mini Q & A on Early Newborn Discharge from the Hospital, Vacuum Delivery, and More!
EBB 268 - Debunk the Myths of Premature Rupture of Membranes, GBS, & Waterbirth with EBB Founder, Dr. Rebecca Dekker
Replay - EBB 155 - Pelvic Floor Health in Pregnancy and Postpartum with Dr. Juan Michelle Martin
EBB 267 - Debunking Myths about Fundal Massage with Barbie Christianson, RN
EBB 266 - Advocating for your Newborn during an Unexpected NICU Stay with EBB Childbirth Class Graduates Priscilla and Nathan Layman
EBB 265 - Evidence on Anti-Racism in Health Care and Birth Work
EBB 264 - Top 3 Tips for Exercise in Pregnancy with Gina and Roxanne of Mamaste Fit
EBB 263 - Birthing Liberation with author, CEO, educator, full spectrum doula, and Black Luxury expert, Sabia Wade
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