Free educational luncheon: The role of the birth worker in ensuring safer childbirths

Over the past decade, maternal mortality rates in the U.S. have been steadily rising, especially among women of color. The birthing community, which includes midwives, doulas, childbirth educators, obstetricians and labor & delivery nurses, play an important role in the maternity care system because they closely support and educate woman throughout the pregnancy and childbirth process. This educational event speaks to the issues of maternal mortality in the U.S. and how the birthing community can help to improve maternity care and the birthing process. The event will include a screening of a documentary funded by the Tatia Oden French Memorial Foundation titled “Tatia’s Story: From Life to Death in 10 Hours,” which tells the story of Tatia Oden French, who died 10 hours after having her labor induced with a drug contraindicated for that purpose called Cytotec (misoprostol). Attendees will also hear from maternal health experts and leaders in the birthing community regarding the issues of racial disparities in maternal mortality, the importance of being fully informed, and the dangers of using Cytotec for labor induction. Speakers and panelists to include: Brynn Rubinstein, MPH, Senior Manager, Transforming Maternity Care, Pacific Business Group on Health (PBGH); Nan Strauss, JD, Director of Policy & Research, Choices in Childbirth; Maddy Oden, Executive Director of the Tatia Oden French Memorial Foundation; Jennie Joseph, LM, CPM, Executive Director of Commonsense Childbirth; Claudia Booker, CPM, M.Ed, JD, Birthing Hands Midwifery and Birth Services; and Tina Johnson, CNM, MS, FACNM, Interim Director of Midwifery Practice, Education and Global Outreach of American College of Nurse-Midwives