by Amanda DiMeo A few years ago, I spent most days during a chilly New England fall at a syringe exchange, working as a researcher studying harm reduction programs in Massachusetts. Each syringe exchange program had a cozy back office, which is...
Dialogues: The Impact of Police Violence on Black Mothers
Five summers ago, Diamond Reynolds was in the car with her partner Philando Castile as they drove home from the grocery store. Diamond’s four-year-old daughter was in the back seat.
eDoula: a conversation with Dr. Bettina Paek
Last month, I had the opportunity to have a conversation with Dr. Bettina Paek, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist and CEO of eDoula, an app that combines labor support content and increased access to tele doulas to support birthing people and...
Working Parents During a Pandemic: A Call to Action for High Quality Childcare and Paid Leave Policies
By: Yara Altaher When COVID-19 stay-at-home orders began in late March, I was about to start a new job while finishing my graduate degree and thought it would be just a few weeks before going into the office to meet my new co-workers. I imagine many...
Dialogues: Losing Health Insurance after Giving Birth
At 19 years old, Chardonnay Reed learned she was pregnant and would need to sign up for health insurance--fast. Texas has a system to ensure people in her position are covered. But the process of signing up wasn’t easy by any means. With help from...
Building Better Birth Stories: a conversation with Hilary Simpson
In late August, I spoke with Hilary Simpson, a nurse working in maternal health in Reno, Nevada, to learn about her impactful project: Building Better Birth Stories. Her project underscores the importance of documenting childbirth narratives to...
Caring for Patients with Limited English Proficiency: The Perspective of a Bangladeshi Asylee Studying in the U.S.
By Sirajum Sandhi My head was buried in integrals during high school calculus class when I felt my cell phone vibrate in my back pocket. I glanced to find the words Social Worker flash across the screen, setting my heart pounding in my ears. I...
Dialogues: Rallying a Community to Address Racism in Maternity Care at the Height of the Pandemic
Today we are launching Expecting More: Dialogues, a series of video conversations that feature deeply personal experiences with some of the most profound challenges Americans face when starting or growing a family. These stories are a catalyst for...
Childbirth education and shared decision making: a conversation with Dr. Jennifer Vanderlaan
In June, Sirajum, Expecting More’s intern, and I had the opportunity to interview Dr. Jennifer Vanderlaan, a PhD trained nurse practitioner and midwife who currently serves as the chair of the Lamaze International Research Workgroup. Our...