(added 04-15-2008)
so a dear and lovely sister friend of mine has a wonderful website called dar a luz focusing on holistic health and healing for pregnant women of color. sasa is a nurse, doula and world mama residing in philly, pennsylvania where coloredhoney now misses her much. i'm like ok you live in philly. ever run into jill scott's melodies or questlove's drumsticks?....
Birth Centers
They can either be in a hospital under hospital policy or the more autonomous birth center described below.
The African Birthing Collective in Senegal, West Africa is a group of midwives (sage femmes) breaking through outdated practices while incorporating the existing culture of sustainability that has allowed many of the babies of Senegal to be born.
Americans could save $13 billion to $20 billion annually in health care costs by developing a network of midwifery care providers, demedicalizing childbirth, and encouraging breastfeeding (Frank A. Oski, M.D., professor and director, Department of Pediatrics, John Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore).
Maria Elena is a native New Yorker who currently works in the reproductive justice movement. She remembers being an advocate when she was as young as nine, advocating for family and friends in the public benefits system. Her earlier frustrations with friends and family and her involvement in sexual health and reproductive rights in college led her to pursue a Master of Social Work degree. She loves children's books, bachata music and mango flavored anything (but not the actual fruit).