Support Maribel's Home Birth
Donation protected
My name is Maribel Valdez Gonzalez. I am a teacher in San Antonio, Texas and the face of Arlene Mejorado/Shepard Fairey/Amplifier Foundation's Defend Dignity Poster released in January. I am expecting a baby at the end of July! We are so excited to welcome our little warrior into this world and we are going to give birth by honoring the way folks have been giving birth for a millenia, in the comfort of our home surrounded by womxn who will honor and respect my choices.
Unfortunately, my insurance does not cover midwifery services. We have to pay for our medical expenses completely out of pocket while simultaneously preparing for non-existent maternity leave. (FMLA is unpaid, and disability only provides coverage, if you signed up for it before you became pregnant. Pregnancy is considered a pre-existing condition.) Our family is certainly experiencing how unjust medical care is for womxn and mothers in Texas.
We are choosing to have a homebirth for many reasons. The most obvious reason for choosing to work with a midwife in our home instead of a sterile hospital environment is the relationship-building aspect of our interactions. My midwife spends more than an hour with me and my companion during each visit. It doesn't feel rushed or insensitive. My midwife doesn't make me feel that I am sick. Rather, she reinforces the very true beautiful nature of giving birth, that it is natural. Having a midwife throughout this process has made me feel that my body is powerfully capable of anything. Our colonial society tells women that we must hate our bodies. Pregnancy has been depicted as a painful and inconvenient medical event. My work throughout this pregnancy has been to decolonize my understanding of my connection with my child, as my body goes through changes. More than ever, I have fallen in love with my body and all of the ways it has changed in order to grow our love child.
Equally important, my midwife respects my choices, opinions, and desires in regards to how I envision the birthing ceremony. Giving birth in a hospital usually means being confined to a bed and being at the whim of the plethora of nurses and doctor's decisions in regards to my own body. Moreover, I've heard many many horror stories of women who have been induced and given Pitocen without their consent. This means my child's arrival will have to correspond with the doctor's schedule.
Having access to midwifery services is birth justice. Please support our vision in having a respectful, comfortable, and trauma-free birthing ceremony.
If you donate more than $1000, we will gift you a WE THE PEOPLE Defend Dignity 18x24 Screenprint Signed by Obey Shepard Fairey and Arlene Mejorado x /450. We have 3 available to give. First come, first serve.
If you donate more than $50, we will gift you a 24x36 Litho print signed by myself along with 4 stickers of the same poster.
Thank you for your kind donation. May your kindness and support be reciprocated many times over. Please share widely.
With love and hope for a more just future,
Maribel Valdez Gonzalez
Antonio Gonzalez
Unfortunately, my insurance does not cover midwifery services. We have to pay for our medical expenses completely out of pocket while simultaneously preparing for non-existent maternity leave. (FMLA is unpaid, and disability only provides coverage, if you signed up for it before you became pregnant. Pregnancy is considered a pre-existing condition.) Our family is certainly experiencing how unjust medical care is for womxn and mothers in Texas.
We are choosing to have a homebirth for many reasons. The most obvious reason for choosing to work with a midwife in our home instead of a sterile hospital environment is the relationship-building aspect of our interactions. My midwife spends more than an hour with me and my companion during each visit. It doesn't feel rushed or insensitive. My midwife doesn't make me feel that I am sick. Rather, she reinforces the very true beautiful nature of giving birth, that it is natural. Having a midwife throughout this process has made me feel that my body is powerfully capable of anything. Our colonial society tells women that we must hate our bodies. Pregnancy has been depicted as a painful and inconvenient medical event. My work throughout this pregnancy has been to decolonize my understanding of my connection with my child, as my body goes through changes. More than ever, I have fallen in love with my body and all of the ways it has changed in order to grow our love child.
Equally important, my midwife respects my choices, opinions, and desires in regards to how I envision the birthing ceremony. Giving birth in a hospital usually means being confined to a bed and being at the whim of the plethora of nurses and doctor's decisions in regards to my own body. Moreover, I've heard many many horror stories of women who have been induced and given Pitocen without their consent. This means my child's arrival will have to correspond with the doctor's schedule.
Having access to midwifery services is birth justice. Please support our vision in having a respectful, comfortable, and trauma-free birthing ceremony.
If you donate more than $1000, we will gift you a WE THE PEOPLE Defend Dignity 18x24 Screenprint Signed by Obey Shepard Fairey and Arlene Mejorado x /450. We have 3 available to give. First come, first serve.
If you donate more than $50, we will gift you a 24x36 Litho print signed by myself along with 4 stickers of the same poster.
Thank you for your kind donation. May your kindness and support be reciprocated many times over. Please share widely.
With love and hope for a more just future,
Maribel Valdez Gonzalez
Antonio Gonzalez
Organizer
Maribel Valdez Gonzalez
Organizer
San Antonio, TX
