EBB 308 - The Intersection of Environmental Justice and Midwifery Care with Dr. Tanya Khemet Taiwo

Evidence Based Birth®

Curious which toxins should be most avoided for people of reproductive age and their children? In this episode, Dr. Tanya Khemet Taiwo, LM, CPM, MPH, PhD unravels the intricate connection between environmental exposures and their profound impact on pregnancy and birth outcomes. We will explore the hidden risks associated with heavy metals such as mercury, cadmium, and arsenic.

You'll learn about the research on how environmental exposures contribute to issues like reduced birth weight, miscarriage, stillbirth, congenital anomalies, and neurodevelopmental delays. Plus, Dr. Taiwo teaches about the unequal distribution of these exposures across populations, what parents can do to test their environments for unwanted elements, and how midwives can be part of the solution for environmental justice.

Content Note: Listener discretion is advised. This episode includes a stark discussion of common environmental exposures, social factors, and their impact on pregnancy and infant health outcomes. Toward the end of the episode [from 37:12 to 41:08], there is a brief discussion of traumatic historical events (including the Holocaust and chattel slavery) and their subsequent impact on environmental toxins.

Resources:

• Learn more about the Environmental Working Group
  • Download EWG's Healthy Living app here.
• Check your cosmetics with the California Breat Cancer Prevention Partners
• Check out The Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments (ANHE)

Read Some of Dr. Taiwo's Work:

• The Giving Voice to Mothers study: inequity and mistreatment during pregnancy and childbirth in the United States
• Maternal Prenatal Stress and Child Neurodevelopment
• Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder and Reproductive Justice: Examining Unmet Needs for Mental Health and Social Services in a National Cohort

EBB Resources:

• Watch the video of this podcast episode on the EBB YouTube channel here!
• Join the EBB Pro Membership and get access to contact hours, a doula mentorship, live trainings, and a PDF Library with exclusive handouts (including a 2-page handout on breech) by joining here.
• Learn advocacy techniques through the EBB Childbirth Class.

Follow Evidence Based Birth:

• Facebook
• Instagram
• X