health
Native birth workers are guiding Alaskan mothers through pregnancy once again: ‘I felt really supported and honored’
Indigenous doulas are creating support networks for mothers who are at the highest risk of pregnancy-related death
TL;DR
- Alaska Native women face higher risks of pregnancy-related mortality, preterm birth, and gestational diabetes.
- The Alaska Native Birthworkers Community (ANBC) provides culturally centered support for pregnant and postpartum Alaska Native women.
- ANBC offers services including prenatal care, labor support, postpartum care, and support for loss, drawing on Indigenous knowledge and practices.
- Participants in ANBC workshops learn about prenatal plant medicine and herbal remedies rooted in Indigenous traditions.
- The organization aims to counteract the historical marginalization of Indigenous birth practices and reconnect mothers with their cultural heritage.
- Many rural Alaskan mothers must travel long distances to give birth, facing financial, logistical, and emotional hardships.
- ANBC utilizes a 'three sisters' model focusing on free services, training Indigenous birth workers, and advocating for systemic change in maternal health.
- The resurgence of Indigenous birth work is seen as a way to reclaim sovereignty and improve health outcomes for Native Alaskan families.