Why I specialise in South Indian pregnancy, birth and postnatal care
- Pooja Mistry
- Mar 17
- 4 min read
Drumroll please…
Because I AM SOUTH INDIAN. I AM HINDU. I AM GUJARATI. I couldn't be more relatable!
Not only do I understand the Birth World but I understand the cultural aspect of being First Generation British Indian.
Minus the bare obvious- it’s because there isn’t anyone else like me (that I know of in Leicester) and mate- we already had it figured out ages ago but somehow lost ourselves to the modern western world! I'm just bringing back what our ancestors already knew.
Let's have a look at the world around us. It's 2025 and although we would want to believe that there are no inequalities or racial discrimination happening- the truth couldn't be more different. Granted it's not as "in your face", but it is still there. And it is just S**T.
I'd like for you to think about the last time you saw a Indian Women's birth being represented anywhere. How often do we see someone relatable from our community representing us? Normalising us? Celebrating us?
I'm not sure about you but the first Birthing Woman of Indian decent I saw in the rawness of everything was me. I will forever be grateful to hypnobirthing for helping me in my mindset change and thereafter my continual research into my birth rights that helped me achieve positive birth experiences; however, I have witnessed and heard so many stories of Women of colour who are being subjected to the medical racism of the maternity services. It not only upsets me that Women in a professional capacity believe it is OK to treat another Woman the way they do but that Women of Colour in professional capacity are also doing this to Birthing Women of colour!
It's not sad, it's disgusting! And by not speaking up we are allowing our daughters and granddaughters to be subjected to more trauma and abuse.
Although the report Systemic racism, not broken bodies An inquiry into racial injustice and human rights in UK maternity care by Birth Rights was released in 2022, I recently read through it again and these points enraged me:
"Black women in the UK are four times more likely to die in pregnancy and childbirth than white women; Asian and mixed race women twice as likely."
WHY? Can someone please kindly explain why this is? Why is there not individualised care for Women? We already know that Women from different ethnicities have different bodies, and it seems but obvious that if our bodies are different we cannot be measured against the same average line?!
"What is required now is a determined focus on individualised, rights-respecting care."
YES!! This is so blindingly obvious! Individualised care is integral to the physical, mental and emotional well- being of a pregnant woman. Please stop generalising!
"The inquiry highlights that Black and Brown women do not feel safe when accessing maternity care."
Well this is pretty clear and I have witnessed it myself. I recently supported a birth as a Doula (my client being a Woman of Colour) and was horrified at the comments I heard towards Women of Colour.
On one hand I heard a Women of Colour whose first language was not English being subjected to a Vaginal Examination and even though the Birthing Woman was screaming and crying, the professionals response was "we just need to get this done." I'm sorry, and correct me if I am wrong, but a PERSON of ANY COLOUR, BACKGROUND, GENDER screaming and crying instantly shouts "NO" or "STOP" to me. I know you have a job to do but not at the expense of causing her abuse and trauma.
At another moment during my support for the same client, I heard another Woman of Colour (again English was not her first language) who was waiting for an elective caesarean be told "If you eat anything then you will not meet your baby today. The doctors will not perform the surgery." (She said irritated.) Again, correct me if I am wrong but I'm sure women who experience spontaneous labour are eating throughout and should they have a emergency caesarean birth they have not been starved for the recommended hours. I'm not saying this professional wasn't doing her job, but the way in which the information is presented matters! You may be doing your job but she is living an experience. If you would like to read more about eating and drinking in labour, check out some evidence based information here.
"Common themes emerged from across the evidence. They are:
• Lack of physical and psychological safety
• Being ignored and disbelieved
• Racism by caregivers
• Dehumanisation
• Lack of choice, consent and coercion
• Structural barriers
• Workforce representation and culture"
It's so clear that things need to change but are we actually seeing change?
Now my examples and explanations could go on (because I am so passionate about what I do) but I hope you are seeing what has come up. Forget about these findings though- go and speak to your own family/ friends of colour and just ask their experience. I am not saying it is happening to everyone, what I am saying is it shouldn't happen to anyone.
This is why I share my journey with you. From one Mother to another, I urge you to look at who you are welcoming to your birth team. Who you are inviting to be a part of your care team because your support should be respecting you, acknowledging your feelings and collaborating with you. They should not be doing things without explanation or consent because it is their job.
This is why I specialise in South Indian Pregnancy and Parenting care. Because I am furious at the unjust approaches and care from the Maternity Services to Women of Colour. I am here to support you so you feel informed and that your voice is heard in your birthing journey.
This is why I am Pooja the Hypnobirthing Educator.
This is why I am Pooja the Doula.
This is why I am Pooja Masi (for the babies who attend my Mum & Baby Classes).
And I am ready to walk your journey with you.
Pooja xo
Comentarios