“You Do What You Have To Do For The Babies”: The Pregnancy Experiences of Native American Women (original) (raw)
Related papers
2017
Indigenous women's experiences during pregnancy, birth and the early months of parenthood are important to understand their strengths, gaps, needs, priorities and barriers in order to address maternal and child health disparities. Despite clear evidence on how social determinants of health influence health, there is limited research that includes the perspectives and experiences of Indigenous women. The purpose of my research was to explore Indigenous women's maternity experiences. An interdisciplinary theoretical perspective that includes decolonized and Indigenous methodology, social determinants of health theory, critical medical anthropology, and feminist scholarship informs my research. I conducted an analysis of Indigenous women's (N=410) responses to the Canadian Maternity Experiences Survey (PHAC 2009), followed by ethnographic research with ten Indigenous mothers in the Okanagan Valley, BC. Individual in-depth interviews and participant-observations were analyze...
Foreword in Indigenous Experiences of Pregnancy and Birth
Demeter Press, 2017
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2018
BACKGROUND: The marginalization of Indigenous women in Canada has resulted in adverse pregnancy and infant health outcomes. While the epidemiological research focuses on statistical evidence, it fails to address the context and underlying causes, including social determinants of health. Despite clear evidence on how social determinants influence health, there is limited research on Indigenous women’s perspectives and experiences. Indigenous women’s narratives during pregnancy, birth and the early months of parenthood are critical to understand the underlying causes and proposed solutions. This research demonstrates how Indigenous women’s maternity experiences are embedded within their historical, social and cultural experiences, thus explaining the importance of addressing contexts related to social determinants of health. METHODS: Through an Indigenous and decolonized lens, maternity narratives from ten in-depth interviews were conducted with Indigenous birth mothers in British Co...
On Pregnancy Journey and Early Parenting: Young Indigenous Mothers in Context
European journal of theoretical and applied sciences, 2024
The objective of this study was to explore and understand the experiences of young Indigenous mothers during their pregnancy and early parenting. Using qualitative descriptive phenomenology, the study was conducted among 14 purposefully chosen Indigenous young mothers aged 14-17 years old and caring for at least one child who is two years of age. There were seven participants for the focus group discussion and seven for the in-depth interview. The descriptive phenomenological method developed by Colaizzi was used in the research study to analyze data. The study's findings showed that the challenges experienced by the participants were used to process the data. The three main themes of the study are as follows: The Winding River of Motherhood, Prayer as a Universal Solvent, and Navigating Life's Waters. The means of coping with the challenges the participants experienced were Faith's Resilient Beacon, and Pillars of Unwavering Support. Finally, the insights they shared with their fellow Indigenous mothers and society in general were the themes: The Art of Making Wise Choices, The Scholar's Beacon, and Echoes of the Looking Glass. It entails that the families, government, and other concerned agencies aggressively promote and offer educational opportunities, livelihood programs, and healthcare services for young Indigenous mothers as a powerful advocacy to positively impact their life paths.
International Journal of Indigenous Health, 2024
Indigenous women and birthing parents in Canada disproportionately face mistreatment in their maternal health care expe-Indigenous maternal health riences due to systemic anti-Indigenous racism, ongoing harmful Midwifery and doula care impacts of settler colonialism, and power differentials inherent in Canadian settler colonialism many health care relationships. Indigenous midwives and doulas Reclamation are important leaders in resisting these conditions and reclaim-Culturally safe care ing traditional Indigenous birth knowledge and practices. Ulti-Anti-racism mately, they work to uphold Indigenous self-determination and Truth and Reconciliation Com-sovereignty. Grounded in an understanding of historical and curmission rent challenges regarding Indigenous maternal health, this qualitative study explored how best to situate oneself as a settler researcher and maternal health practitioner to support Indigenous maternal health in a culturally safe, anti-racist manner. In this article, key insights are shared from semi-structured interviews conducted with five prominent Indigenous scholars, midwives and community leaders. These consultants emphasized the central importance of intentional relationships in advancing the reclamation of traditional birth practices and providing culturally safe care, along with the indispensability of Indigenous midwives and doulas in these processes. Consultants also stressed the critical need for increased numbers of, and accessibility to, Indigenous practitioners in communities across the country. Settler practitioners are urged to understand the historical and contemporary impacts of settler colonialism, and the significance of building culturally safe, anti-racist relationships with their Indigenous colleagues and clients.
Bridging the Gaps: Reducing Barriers for Mi'kmaq Women and Families During Childbirth
Journal of the Association …, 2009
Many barriers exist in health care that limit and or prevent Aboriginal women from receiving culturally competent care during childbirth. Social, political, and economic factors exclude Aboriginal women, such as Mi'kmaq women from receiving the same privileges as other women in society. Safe and effective childbirth care requires caring and competent health care providers. These providers need to understand health from the clients' perspectives. Lack of knowledge and respect on clients' views of health only perpetuates misunderstanding and creates barriers to health. Afat I. Meleis (1996) maintains that providing culturally competent care should not be viewed as a luxury but rather an essential component of health care (1). This paper is based on a recent qualitative study that was conducted in a First Nations community in Nova Scotia. The purpose of the study was to provide new knowledge and gain greater understanding about Mi'kmaq women's childbirth experiences, which occur in a large tertiary care center outside their rural Nova Scotian Community. This study explored their perceptions of culturally appropriate care during childbirth. Four themes were identified that described their experiences of giving birth in a non-Aboriginal health care setting. They included unpreparedness for childbirth, professional relations as sites for invalidation, access to health care, and support during birthing. Discussion included issues around effectiveness of care, marginalization, and the meaning of childbirth. Continued collaboration and commitment from stakeholders including governments, health professionals, administrators, academics, and communities are required to address and improve health inequalities for Mi'kmaq women and families. Many barriers exist in health care that limit and or prevent Aboriginal women, such as Mi'kmaq women, from receiving culturally competent care during childbirth. Mi'kmaq women like many minority women want the best possible health care for themselves and their families, yet they face barriers such as ac
Midwives and Obstetrician-Gynecologists Collaborating for Native American Women’s Health
Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of North America, 2012
Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs) and Obstetrician-gynecologists (OBGs) have a long and successful history of collaboration in serving Native American women. Their roles are complementary: CNMs provide holistic, patient-centered care and OBGs provide specialty consultative services for complicated medical problems and/or surgical intervention. CNMs have a long history of practice within the Indian Health Service (IHS) and Tribal systems of care. Native American women are more likely than any other ethnic group in the United States to be attended at child birth by CNMs, providers who are Source: University of New Mexico. Disclosures: None. Funding: None.
Frontiers in Women’s Health, 2018
Indigenous women are increasingly returning to culturally based birthing practices to assert their sovereignty over their bodies and their birthing experience generally. The impact of colonization on birthing experiences for First Nations women in Canada has been profound and extends into generations of families. First Nations women across Canada have traditionally birthed in their communities surrounded by families and community, observing many traditions around pregnancy and birthing including placenta burying and belly button ceremonies. These traditions and this circle of care and support resulted in resiliency, strength and a connection to the land and family. In Manitoba, Indigenous women are becoming trained and engaged in supporting their fellow Indigenous relatives and community members as Indigenous doulas or birth workers. This paper describes the experiences of the first cohort of Indigenous doulas trained in Winnipeg, Manitoba by the Manitoba Indigenous Doula Initiative (MIDI), also known as Wiijii'idiwag Ikwewag, and describes the specific contributions and impacts of Indigenous doulas who support Indigenous women during pregnancy and birth. Through qualitative interviews, our participants described various understandings of their work, purpose and their impacts on the women and families they support. Four recurring themes which emerged across the interviews included: prior negative birthing experiences, clashes with mainstream health and social services, the understanding of doulas as advocates, and empowerment and disempowerment. These themes all spoke to ongoing challenges Indigenous women continue to face during their pregnancies and births in mainstream healthcare systems, as well as highlighting the key forms of support that doulas can provide to ensure the self-determination and well-being of the women they work with.
aboriginal policy studies, 2015
It is not only remote Aboriginal communities in Canada that have poorer maternalinfant health status than Canadian averages; residents of First Nation communities located close to large urban centres also experience this health status gap. Alexander, Alexis, Enoch, and Paul First Nations are located within an hour of healthcare services in greater Edmonton. The narratives of 75 predominantly Cree and Stoney women from these communities were gathered through seven talking circles and five semi-structured interviews. The participants described their experiences of loss and separation as pregnancy care and childbirth moved out of the community and into the hospital over the last two generations. This shift was not only a geographic relocation; it also disconnected the childbirth experience from elders, family and community, traditional teachings, and spiritual meaning. Conversely, the participants' hospital experiences were characterized by a limited sense of cultural safety. Participants highlighted the urgent need to reintegrate culturally based community support and health perspectives into the childbirth experience. The implementation of such a culturally integrated healthcare model in all Aboriginal communities-remote, rural, suburban, and urban-may be the key finally to closing the gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal maternal and infant health status in Canada.
Social Determinants of Indigenous Health
The Australian Journal of Anthropology, 2009
Background: The marginalization of Indigenous women in Canada has resulted in adverse pregnancy and infant health outcomes. While the epidemiological research focuses on statistical evidence, it fails to address the context and underlying causes, including social determinants of health. Despite clear evidence of how social determinants influence health, there is limited research on Indigenous women's perspectives and experiences. Indigenous women's narratives during pregnancy, birth and the early months of parenthood are critical to understand the underlying causes and proposed solutions. This research demonstrates how Indigenous women's maternity experiences are embedded within their historical, social and cultural experiences, thus explaining the importance of addressing contexts related to social determinants of health. Methods: Through an Indigenous and decolonized lens, maternity narratives from ten indepth interviews were conducted with Indigenous birth mothers in British Columbia, Canada. Thematic content analysis findings contextualize Indigenous maternity experiences within proximal, intermediate and distal determinants of health. Results: The proximal determinants include barriers to education, employment, income, food (in)security and a lack of safe and affordable housing and homelessness due to urban migration and violent relationships. Intermediate experiences included barriers to accessing maternity healthcare, including geographic barriers and experiences of racism. Distal determinants including traumatic narratives related to immediate and intergenerational impacts of colonialism, including the Indian residential school system and foster care, which has impacted mental health and addictions. Conclusion: This research contributes to expanding research on culturally safe and improved maternal-child health, healthcare and maternity research, as well as highlighting the need to address and alleviate adverse social determinants.