The Exposing the Silence Project

“Well, at least you have a healthy baby!” is one of the most common phrases a mother who went through a traumatic birth experiences hears. While the friend or family member may mean well and simply be trying to show optimism, he or she is often isolating the deep pain the mother may be going through. As part of my research on maternal health, I came across the photography and advocacy project Exposing the Silence: Documenting Birth Trauma and the Strength of Women across America. The project brings to light a little noticed group of women– women who experienced past sexual abuse that can be triggered during a traumatic birth; others forced into unwanted procedures; or women who felt ignored or demeaned by their care providers during birth. The purpose of the project is not in any way to try to advocate for one type of birth or type of care provider over another and it is by no means an attack on all workers in the field of maternity care. Rather, it is an opportunity to provide an outlet for women who had a birth that caused them physical and emotional pain months, years, and even decades after the fact. I interviewed the creators of the project in order to understand their mission and learned how this disruptive project is filling a vital void.
Lindsay Askins is a mother of two, doula and photographer at www.spotofserendipity.com. Cristen Pascucci is a mother of one, birth activist through her work as Vice President of ImprovingBirth.org, and founder of her own site, B...

Source: Disruptive Women in Health Care - September 25, 2018 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: dw at disruptivewomen.net Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: blogs