A Record Worth Keeping
In 2022, I gave birth to my son after a healthy pregnancy and a natural four-hour labor. What should have been a sacred moment quickly became an experience of dismissal, coercion, and surveillance. After my OB released me from care, my midwife failed to provide support at 40 weeks and 6 days, leaving me to deliver in a rural hospital unprepared to support an informed Melanated mother pursuing a natural birth. Within hours, my choices were reframed in hospital records, my newborn was subjected to procedures I did not consent to, and when I chose to leave against medical advice, hospital staff involved CPS. Twenty minutes after returning home, CPS appeared at my door, beginning a cycle of intervention that would follow me long after birth.
This was not care. It was control.
And this experience is not unique. Too many Melanated mothers encounter systems that dismiss their voices, misinterpret informed choices, and turn advocacy into suspicion. I share this experience to document what happened, examine the systems involved, and make visible what can happen when a mother's autonomy is treated as a threat.
This is my story. A visual case study of my experience navigating midwifery care, a hospital, and CPS, and the systems that became part of my birth experience. Through language, logistics, and legalities, I document what happened, what I learned, and what became visible to me through the process.
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Language
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Logistics
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Legalities
Document your experience of institutional harm. Share what you want remembered and preserved.
Birth Work in Color
Every birth is a threshold. Long before the physical journey begins, there is a quiet, profound calling that leads a person to hold space for new life. Birth work is not merely a task, a role, or an everyday job. It is a sacred service, a deep devotion, and a spiritual practice that bridges generations.
Crafted as a daily reminder and a gentle badge of honor, our "Birth Work is Spiritual Work" graphic tee honors the sacred weight of the labor you support. Designed for doulas, midwives, birth keepers, and holistic care providers, this soft everyday tee carries a grounded reminder of the sacred space you protect every single day.
Printed on the premium Bella + Canvas 3001, this lightweight unisex shirt blends buttery-soft, ring-spun cotton with tailored durability. It is comfortable enough for long, unpredictable hours on call and durable enough for daily life.
• 100% combed and ring-spun cotton (Heather colors contain polyester)
• Fabric weight: 4.2 oz./yd.² (142 g/m²)
• Pre-shrunk fabric
• Side-seamed construction
• Shoulder-to-shoulder taping
• Blank product sourced from Nicaragua, Mexico, Honduras, or the US
Disclaimer: The fabric is slightly sheer and may appear see-through, especially in lighter colors or under certain lighting conditions.
This product is made especially for you as soon as you place an order, which is why it takes us a bit longer to deliver it to you. Making products on demand instead of in bulk helps reduce overproduction, so thank you for making thoughtful purchasing decisions!
Every birth is a threshold. Long before the physical journey begins, there is a quiet, profound calling that leads a person to hold space for new life. Birth work is not merely a task, a role, or an everyday job. It is a sacred service, a deep devotion, and a spiritual practice that bridges generations.
Crafted as a daily reminder and a gentle badge of honor, our "Birth Work is Spiritual Work" graphic tee honors the sacred weight of the labor you support. Designed for doulas, midwives, birth keepers, and holistic care providers, this soft everyday tee carries a grounded reminder of the sacred space you protect every single day.
Printed on the premium Bella + Canvas 3001, this lightweight unisex shirt blends buttery-soft, ring-spun cotton with tailored durability. It is comfortable enough for long, unpredictable hours on call and durable enough for daily life.
• 100% combed and ring-spun cotton (Heather colors contain polyester)
• Fabric weight: 4.2 oz./yd.² (142 g/m²)
• Pre-shrunk fabric
• Side-seamed construction
• Shoulder-to-shoulder taping
• Blank product sourced from Nicaragua, Mexico, Honduras, or the US
Disclaimer: The fabric is slightly sheer and may appear see-through, especially in lighter colors or under certain lighting conditions.
This product is made especially for you as soon as you place an order, which is why it takes us a bit longer to deliver it to you. Making products on demand instead of in bulk helps reduce overproduction, so thank you for making thoughtful purchasing decisions!