Re-Normalizing Homebirth in a Fear-Based Society with the Homebirth Queen

"Find other women who have given birth [at home]. Women around the world have been doing it for years... giving birth without a hospital. They’re doing it right now. You have to do what’s best for you. If you want to do a home birth, prepare and educate yourself." ~ Talise "Homebirth Queen" Xavier

I recently heard media mogul Byron Allen say this: "You can't live in fear because fear is another form of slavery..." I have mentioned before that Black women have been inundated with messages about their increasing maternal and infant mortality rates. When that message is not presented in an empowered manner it becomes counterproductive and produces FEAR in the hearts of Black women about their ability to birth their babies. It is not uncommon for Black women to desire a doula because they fear that without one they will die.

I have always appreciated speaking to women who recognized the sacredness of birth, no matter where they birthed. Still, because of my southern roots and being of the first generation born in a hospital, I recognize that those who chose to birth at home must have certain conviction about the ability of healthy bodies to birth without medical intervention. Talise has that conviction.

Talise Homebirth Queen Xavier uses her five homebirth experiences  to help renormalize birth, breastfeeding, and postpartum practices. We had some technical difficulties before we were able to talk about breastfeeding and postpartum, but I believe our conversation will be encouragement to those contemplating homebirth. ​We also talked about the personal responsibility that every person needs to take for their birthing choices, whether birthing in the hospital, a birthing center or at home.​

Topics Discussed:

• Making the decision to birth at home
• Managing the “risks” surrounding birth
• Making a birth plan to manage risks
• Unpredictable and predictable reasons for being in the hospital
• PTSD of hospital experiences vs hospital births
• The business of birth in hospitals
• “White Coat Syndrome” in hospital births
• Trusting yourself in birth
• Indoctrination of birth in society
• Using hypnobirthing to manage childbirth
• The importance of babies’ introduction to the world
• “Spoiling” new babies
• Birthing twins at home​
• Birthing in a safe place
• Doing what's best for you

Note: For those who watch the video, you will notice that Talise lost video reception toward the end of the conversation. Eventually, we were disconnected, but the audio works well throughout our conversation. Enjoy!

Listen to the MP3:

Here are some ways you can get in touch with the Homebirth Queen:

​Email: talisemotherofsix@gmail.com
Phone: (913) 251-5386
Facebook: Talise Homebirth Queen
Instagram: Talise Homebirth Queen
Twitter: Talise Xavier
LinkedIn: Talise Xavier

​Purchase your copy of Home is Where the Birth Is!:
https://www.amazon.com/Home-Where-Birth-Stories-Homebirth/dp/1733681124