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CHOICES IN CHILDBIRTH

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ESSENTIAL CONVERSATIONS
FOR PREGNANCY, BIRTH, AND BEYOND

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WHAT COULD MAKE IT ALL DIFFERENT?

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ANALUZ: Let's inhale love and support.

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[DEEP INHALE AND EXHALE]

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Let's exhale tiredness and stress.

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IT CAN BE HARD FOR PEOPLE
WHO DON'T SPEAK ENGLISH

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TO GET GOOD CARE AND INFORMATION.

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ANALUZ: My name is Analuz Torres,
I am a doula,

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and I work, mainly,
serving the Latin community

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and indigenous women.

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One thing that I do
when I work with my clients

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is explain how this whole system works,
from start to finish,

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and what to expect.

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I explain what a cesarean is,
what an epidural is.

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I also encourage them
to advocate for themselves,

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so they can say,
"No, I don't want that."

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So they know people will listen to them.

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SUPPORT IN YOUR OWN LANGUAGE

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CAN HELP YOU GET THE CARE YOU WANT.

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ANALUZ: There are many barriers
to navigating the medical system,

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especially for immigrant
and indigenous communities, right?

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YESENIA:
If the staff don't speak their language,

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communication between them
is very difficult,

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and sometimes there isn't anyone
who can interpret for them.

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Sometimes, what is normal for one person

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is not right for another culture.

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How can someone know
if it's right or not?

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YESENIA: Yes, there are also
lots of free resources,

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but, because they're not available
in their language,

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they sometimes say, "No, no. I'm fine."
But they don't understand.

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VALENTINA:
Yes, a large barrier is not knowing

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where the connections are
in their community,

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not knowing where they can find support.

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ANALUZ:
If someone is looking for resources,

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I would begin with the WIC department.

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Doulas are in contact
with the WIC department

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because they know a lot
of pregnant women use the program.

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And also the department that provides
their health insurance.

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Ask their doctor or midwife,
or their healthcare provider.

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They are good places to start
in order to find those resources.

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EVEN WITH THESE CHALLENGES, IT IS
POSSIBLE TO FEEL SAFE AND SUPPORTED.

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VALENTINA: I know I got there

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a long time after you arrived
at the hospital.

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Tell me how it went.

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INÉS: When we arrived,

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it was about 7:30 p.m.

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I did need help
because I didn't know what to do.

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I needed someone to explain
the process to me.

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So, I told Rocío.

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VALENTINA: She is the head
of the maternity ward.

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INÉS: Ah, OK.

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She was interpreting for us
at that moment,

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and I asked her if there was anyone
who could help me, who could...

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Someone I could turn to for help, right?

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She said,
"Yes, I can recommend someone."

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I am so happy that I was able
to be there for you.

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INÉS: When you arrived,
I felt more confident

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because I had someone there with me
who had experience.

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VALENTINA: If you have someone that
understands your language, your culture,

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it makes a difference.

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Yes, language was
the most important thing.

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When they gave us the documents

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that we had to sign for the epidural,

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I didn't understand the consequences,

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and they were in English.

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-So, thanks to you, you said...
- VALENTINA: Aw!

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"Hey, don't you have this in Spanish?"

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And they said, "Oh, yes."

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So, I was like, "Oh, thank you, Tina!"

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[UPBEAT INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC]

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If I had to imagine a perfect world
for a client to give birth in,

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it would be one
where they speak their language

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and understand their culture.

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The hospital would be able
to provide services in their language.

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If that were not possible,
they would have the appropriate staff

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who could help with that.

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YOU CAN FIND PEOPLE TO SUPPORT
AND GUIDE YOU IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

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What words of encouragement or advice

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would we give to someone who is pregnant

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or about to give birth?

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YESENIA: Find out
what resources are available

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and, in particular,
those which are free for the community.

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Be prepared and ask questions

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so that everything goes well
on the day of birth.

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I agree. Create that community
if they don't have much support.

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VALENTINA: Mm-hmm.

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Know that there are many people
in the community

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who want to support people that need it,

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so go and find it

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because they will find
that support, for sure.

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Sometimes all you have to do
is go and ask.

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VALENTINA: You can begin when you
have your first doctor's appointment.

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That is the first place
where you can look for resources.

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ANALUZ: I always tell my clients, "Ask.

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Just ask. Don't be afraid to ask.

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If you don't ask, you don't get.
What's the worst they can say? No?

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OK, well, ask again."

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And you'll find something.

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And if that person
doesn't have that resource

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but they have a passion
for helping people, they'll find it.

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[SOFT INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC]

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Human beings have done it over and over,

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so you can do it.

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-You can do it.
-Your grandma, your grandma's grandma...

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Yes.

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[SOFT INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC CONTINUES]

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Let's inhale peace.

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[DEEP INHALE]

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Let's exhale... everything negative
that's hurting us.

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FOR MORE RESOURCES ON NAVIGATING
THE MATERNITY CARE SYSTEM

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AND FINDING THE SUPPORT YOU NEED,

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VISIT EVERYMOTHERCOUNTS.ORG/
CHOICESINCHILDBIRTH

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BROUGHT TO YOU BY
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