Jamaa Birth Village means family in the African language of Swahili. Come and go with me, on the humble beginnings and birthing of a village.
It was Thursday January 7th, 2016. It was dawn, a sweet berry filled aroma wafted through the first floor of my home, dew drenched air seeped through the small opening of the window, with the sun beginning to hover over the window seal. I was elated, hadn’t slept much the night before, and so eager to finally welcome women from my community into my loving home, to have Black woman led and culturally centered Midwifery care.
My boys filed down from their bedrooms upstairs, backpacks in tow, and not really knowing that their mama was up to! I sent them off to school, with my dog Angel and I watching over them as they crossed the street to begin their days. I took a deep gulp of fresh air before walking back in and laying out pamphlets on my small dining room table.
The Midwife supervisor of the day arrived, and next thing you know, the sun was fully up, I had a sign on my backdoor to welcome our new clients, and excitingly, I saw the first car pull into the back parking lot. My heart jumped for joy, and visions of Africa flooded my memory. I just knew that Black pregnant women in my community, one day, would be alright.
Our work was featured in the Saint Louis American in March 2016:
“A lack of birthing options in North St. Louis County, negative experiences during previous labor and deliveries, as well as the desire to bring new life into the world the natural way is making some healthy women with low-risk pregnancies choose birthing centers or opt for home births.” > keep reading
https://www.stlamerican.com/your_health_matters/health_news/going-natural-the-empowered-birth/article_3cd4e262-f135-11e5-9950-3f9dcea66c57.html
