Our mission is to confront maternal health inequities by advancing the availability, affordability, and accessibility of multilingual health information and community-based, peer-to-peer support throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
We envision a world where women and birthing people are empowered and supported to successfully navigate the healthcare system and make informed decisions for themselves and their families.
Health Inequities
Migrant women in western European countries have double the risk of dying during or after pregnancy compared with host women, with a higher risk of dying from direct rather than indirect causes, which suggests a possible link with obstetric care.
There are also disparities in the type of experience birthing people have in the delivery room, which can have long-term consequences on both mental and physical health. For example, in Germany, perceived discrimination is related to a higher risk of preterm birth among Turkish immigrant women.
Evidence-Based Solutions
Our programs are designed around the research of public health experts and lived experiences of community members alike which consistently reinforces the need for culturally-congruent care that involves migrants and their communities in health system planning and development as well as facilitating interaction between patients and practitioners through skilled interpreters and health system navigators.
Maternity Peer Supporters (sometimes referred to as “doulas”) are an evidence-based solution that help alleviate some of the risk factors that contribute to poor maternal & child health outcomes. Doula-supported women are four times less likely to have a low birth weight baby , two times less likely to experience a birth complication involving themselves or their baby, and even experience near-universal breastfeeding initiation.
Systems Thinking. People-Centered.
Disparities of healthcare in world-class medical facilities are failures that cannot be tackled without acknowledging and addressing their intersectional systemic and institutional drivers. Not only do we need to deconstruct those drivers, but we also want to mitigate their harm immediately.
Research & Advocacy
Disparities in maternal outcomes and traumatic birth experiences in world-class medical facilities are unacceptable systemic and institutional failures. We are aiming to create new paradigms around maternal health that ensure transparency, accountability, and respectful care in the delivery room.
Referral Directory
We are growing a network of partners aligned with the common goal of facilitating an empowering birth environment and full spectrum of care before and after. These partners are committed to making support for families accessible, affordable, and equitable.
Maternity Peer Support
Maternity Peer Support in the form of long-term, personalized, and culturally congruent support throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum is one step towards mitigating health disparities and improving experiences of navigating the maternal healthcare system.
A Note About the Terminology Used on our Site
Empowered Birth Movement is an intersectional feminist organization and we recognize and respect that not everyone who gives birth identifies as a woman or a mother. We aim to use gender-inclusive language that places trans, non-binary, and gender-fluid parents alongside cis women in their capacity to become pregnant, give birth, and feed their children.