12/17/2020
Did you ever wonder what happened to Serena Williams?
An Olympian, an educated, healthy, and wealthy individual with access to any facility of her picking! Yet, she had complications following her birth. She knew there was something wrong and communicated with the nursing staff of her issues. Unfortunately, she got the same response that many other less fortunate black individuals face in our health care system every day. Her concerns were not taken seriously, delaying the treatment that she needed, leading major complications that could have been prevented.
Personally, I reached out to receive Birth Doula services when I was pregnant with my son because I knew that something like that could happened to me too. My reality is a little less promising than the very famous Serena Williams. If they did not listen to her, why would they listen to me? Therefore, I hired a doula to attend my birth to help be my voice during one of the most vulnerable times one can experience in their life. My doula helped me get through an unmedicated 22hour labor with very little complaints.
It was in that moment that I reassured myself that I want to be there for other birthing persons, especially those at greatest risk, low-income, LBGTQ+ individuals/couples, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). When our healthcare system ignores us, it is our duty as a community to stand together and help advocate for each other, protecting the valuable lives that go ignored.
Like I said before:
"If it can happen to Serena Williams, it can happen to me. If it can happen to her, it can happen to you too."
Brittany Stone-Jenkins
Trained Birthing Doula
The days following the September birth of daughter Alexis Olympia were difficult ones for tennis champion Serena Williams, according to an interview in Vogue.