But I figured I would post this, just in case there are others down here who would be interested. If you need further details feel free to FM me!

The Business of Birthing in the United States

Tuesday, March 10th: 6-8pm at Sarratt Cinema

Brian L. Heuser (Peabody faculty) and Marie H. Martin (of the Global Education Office) would like to invite you to a public conversation about the absence of social responsibility in the US birthing industry. They will be accompanied by their new (and first) child, Gabriel Grant, a panel of midwives from Vanderbilt’s West End Women’s Health Center, and the undergraduate chapter of Net Impact. The discussion will focus on reclaiming pregnancy and birthing as mother-centered and child-centered processes.


Despite boasting one of the best health care systems in the world, the United States has the 2nd highest newborn death rate among developed countries and the highest maternal mortality rate in decades. Relatedly, giving birth in the United States is a process that has become almost exclusively dominated by hospitals and doctors, too often treating both mother and child in the same manner as they do pathologies.

However, as our population continues to educate itself about the problems with the health care industry, the role of midwifery is staging a profound comeback as families demand more control over the pregnancy/birthing process.

On March 10th, come meet some great babies and join in our conversation about how the birthing business is being reclaimed by families and their midwives.