#1 The More You Know... August 2023 Edition

#1 The More You Know...

The better Birth Justice advocate you can be. Here's CVD's monthly list of terms to help you improve your knowledge of terms used in our birthing community.

What is a Full Spectrum Doula? A Full Spectrum Doula is a trained professional who provides emotional, physical, and informational support to individuals and families throughout the pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum experience. Full Spectrum Doulas offer a wide range of services, from childbirth education and birth planning to lactation support and postpartum care.

Full Spectrum Doulas also provide support for reproductive health and rights, including abortion and miscarriage support. They work to honor and support the individual choices and needs of their clients and strive to create a safe and empowering experience for all.

Full Spectrum Doulas can play a crucial role in reducing Black Maternal Mortality rates by providing culturally sensitive and comprehensive care to pregnant, birthing people. This includes addressing their fears and concerns and ensuring they have access to the necessary resources and support throughout their pregnancy and postpartum period.

By bridging the gap between healthcare providers and communities of color, Doulas, in general, can advocate for their clients and ensure that Black birthing people receive personalized care and support for safe and healthy pregnancies and births.

Title IX - ti·tle nine - /ˈtīd(ə)l nīn/ A federal civil rights law.

• Title IX is essential to Birth Justice because it helps to ensure that pregnant and parenting students have equal access to educational opportunities and resources. By prohibiting sex discrimination in federally funded educational programs, Title IX ensures that schools and universities cannot discriminate against students based on their pregnancy or parenting status. This includes providing accommodations for pregnant and parenting students, such as excused absences for prenatal appointments and access to lactation rooms.

In addition, Title IX helps to protect pregnant and parenting students from harassment and discrimination, including discrimination based on their decision to continue their pregnancy or become a parent. Overall, Title IX plays an important role in promoting equity and justice for pregnant and parenting students in educational settings.

2. Dilation - di·la·tion - /dīˈlāSH(ə)n,dəˈlāSH(ə)n/ noun

• The action or condition of becoming or being made wider, larger, or more open. The enlarging of the cervix to ten centimeters.

3. Contraction - con·trac·tion - /kənˈtrakSH(ə)n/ noun

• Rhythmic tightening of the uterus, usually causing the cervix to dilate and allow the passage of the baby. In labor, contractions get stronger, closer together, and longer. (https://bmcpregnancychildbirth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12884-016-0857-4)

4. Cisgender - cis·gen·der - /sisˈjendər/ adjective

• Denoting or relating to a person whose gender identity corresponds with the sex registered for them at birth; not transgender.

5. Transgender - trans·gen·der - /ˌtranzˈjendər,ˌtran(t)sˈjendər/ adjective

• Denoting or relating to a person whose gender identity does not correspond with the sex assigned to them at birth.