Kai's Midwifery Journey!
Donation protected
Who am I?
My name is Kai Shatteen and I am blessed to be the mother of two young adults. I was young when I had them and knew nothing about being pregnant, childbirth, the postpartum period or even being a parent. My lack of education and support during that time of transformation has driven me to ensure that other parents don’t suffer from the unknown the way I did. My experiences and those of people dear to me, have shaped how I move through this lifetime with the guidance of my ancestors. I am passionate about serving others as they become parents.
A Commitment to Better Birthing Outcomes for All:
The facts about birthing outcomes for Black Birthing People are grim but changeable as more of us take charge of our health. To close racial gaps in health, we need to disrupt racism at multiple levels. It’s especially important to address institutional racism, which results in race-based differential access to a broad range of resources that enable good health, like quality health care, excellent schools, and good jobs. Right now, I am choosing to tackle the inequities in health care in regards to pregnancy and infant care. As more people begin to birth at home with midwives, I believe our outcomes will become progressively better. Here are the facts now: The rate of death for Black infants at birth or within the first year of life nationally is double that the rate of white infants. As a doula, I strive to educate and provide resources to all birthing people, including ways to advocate for themselves while navigating the hospital system, understanding their power and listening to their bodies. I have supported numerous families by being with them before, during, and after their births to ensure the greatest health outcomes. I do this work because I believe our communities deserve better, and I am committed to participating in better birthing outcomes and healthier lives overall.
We Deserve Better, and It’s About Time:
The institutionalized discrimination in Maternity and Infant Care settings against Black Indigenous, People of Color and the LGBTQIA communities mirror the discrimination in society at large. We deserve to be free from the harms associated with a system that does not listen to our needs and believes that Black People experience less pain. We deserve the highest quality of care available in all cases, at all times. That is what I offer now, and what I will offer more of when I complete the journey to becoming a midwife. It’s about time that we had more advocates, more conscious service providers, and more loving care-givers to choose from in our time of greatest need. Black Birthing People deserve to have care providers they can relate to. Help me birth my dream and know this: I will help tons of families get the quality care they deserve as they bring new life into the world!
How will the funds be used?
I am currently studying with National Midwifery Institute! NMI is a direct-entry midwifery program, accredited by Midwifery Education Accreditation Council (MEAC). MEAC is a non-profit accrediting body approved by the US Department of Education as a nationally-recognized accrediting agency for direct-entry midwifery education programs. A Direct-Entry Midwife (DEM) is an independent practitioner educated in the discipline of midwifery through apprenticeship, self-study, a midwifery school, or a college/university-based program distinct from the discipline of nursing. A direct-entry midwife provides the Midwives Model of Care to healthy pregnant people, and newborns through the childbearing cycle (primarily in out-of-hospital settings including homes and free-standing birth centers) and may also provide gynecological wellness care.
The money raised will go towards my tuition, textbooks, workshops & conferences to enhance my learning, apprentice travel expenses and certification fees. Full tuition costs $17,000 over the course of 3-5 years. Thanks to the many donations and scholarships I have received, my current balance due is $9,400. Thankfully they have a payment plan and I can pay the tuition monthly. Unable to donate money? No worries! Please share this cause and help get the word out!
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping my dream come true! #FutureBlackMidwife #BirthJustice #ForThePeople #LiberateBlackBirth #ReproductiveJustice #SustainaBlackBirthWorker
My name is Kai Shatteen and I am blessed to be the mother of two young adults. I was young when I had them and knew nothing about being pregnant, childbirth, the postpartum period or even being a parent. My lack of education and support during that time of transformation has driven me to ensure that other parents don’t suffer from the unknown the way I did. My experiences and those of people dear to me, have shaped how I move through this lifetime with the guidance of my ancestors. I am passionate about serving others as they become parents.
A Commitment to Better Birthing Outcomes for All:
The facts about birthing outcomes for Black Birthing People are grim but changeable as more of us take charge of our health. To close racial gaps in health, we need to disrupt racism at multiple levels. It’s especially important to address institutional racism, which results in race-based differential access to a broad range of resources that enable good health, like quality health care, excellent schools, and good jobs. Right now, I am choosing to tackle the inequities in health care in regards to pregnancy and infant care. As more people begin to birth at home with midwives, I believe our outcomes will become progressively better. Here are the facts now: The rate of death for Black infants at birth or within the first year of life nationally is double that the rate of white infants. As a doula, I strive to educate and provide resources to all birthing people, including ways to advocate for themselves while navigating the hospital system, understanding their power and listening to their bodies. I have supported numerous families by being with them before, during, and after their births to ensure the greatest health outcomes. I do this work because I believe our communities deserve better, and I am committed to participating in better birthing outcomes and healthier lives overall.
We Deserve Better, and It’s About Time:
The institutionalized discrimination in Maternity and Infant Care settings against Black Indigenous, People of Color and the LGBTQIA communities mirror the discrimination in society at large. We deserve to be free from the harms associated with a system that does not listen to our needs and believes that Black People experience less pain. We deserve the highest quality of care available in all cases, at all times. That is what I offer now, and what I will offer more of when I complete the journey to becoming a midwife. It’s about time that we had more advocates, more conscious service providers, and more loving care-givers to choose from in our time of greatest need. Black Birthing People deserve to have care providers they can relate to. Help me birth my dream and know this: I will help tons of families get the quality care they deserve as they bring new life into the world!
How will the funds be used?
I am currently studying with National Midwifery Institute! NMI is a direct-entry midwifery program, accredited by Midwifery Education Accreditation Council (MEAC). MEAC is a non-profit accrediting body approved by the US Department of Education as a nationally-recognized accrediting agency for direct-entry midwifery education programs. A Direct-Entry Midwife (DEM) is an independent practitioner educated in the discipline of midwifery through apprenticeship, self-study, a midwifery school, or a college/university-based program distinct from the discipline of nursing. A direct-entry midwife provides the Midwives Model of Care to healthy pregnant people, and newborns through the childbearing cycle (primarily in out-of-hospital settings including homes and free-standing birth centers) and may also provide gynecological wellness care.
The money raised will go towards my tuition, textbooks, workshops & conferences to enhance my learning, apprentice travel expenses and certification fees. Full tuition costs $17,000 over the course of 3-5 years. Thanks to the many donations and scholarships I have received, my current balance due is $9,400. Thankfully they have a payment plan and I can pay the tuition monthly. Unable to donate money? No worries! Please share this cause and help get the word out!
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping my dream come true! #FutureBlackMidwife #BirthJustice #ForThePeople #LiberateBlackBirth #ReproductiveJustice #SustainaBlackBirthWorker
Organizer
Kai Shatteen
Organizer
Oakland, CA
