Labor of Love: Vulnerable Women & Maternity

Catalog description

From a race equity and trauma informed perspective, this elective is designed to: Introduce students to the unique challenges faced by pregnant women who are victims of domestic violence and/or sexual abuse and impart the skills and knowledge needed in order to best support and advocate for them during and after their pregnancy and labor. Students will receive doula training (a doula is someone who provides physical, emotional, and informational support to the mother before, during, and just after birth) Once doula training is complete, there will opportunities to support pregnant women during their pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period (i.e., serving as their doula) for students who choose to participate in the second semester of the elective. If they desire, students also have the opportunity to shadow Dr. Mathews during her Friday morning clinic at St. Mary's once they have received official approval for shadowing from OCA.