The Birth Attendants are doulas from Olympia, Washington and a non-profit grassroots organization. They provide emotional and educational resources to incarcerated pregnant and postpartum women. The group also educates their community about the issues surrounding reproductive choices in prison, their goal being, “a just and safe world where women are empowered to make choices for themselves and their families, a world where services are directed toward health and well-being and encompass support and restoration for families and communities.”
The Birth Attendants are committed to the Reproductive Justice movement which is all about, “the complete physical, mental, spiritual, political, social, and economic well-being of women and girls, based on the full achievement and protection of women’s human rights. …it is important to fight equally for (1) the right to have a child; (2) the right not to have a child; and (3) the right to parent the children we have, as well as to control our birthing options, such as midwifery. We also fight for the necessary enabling conditions to realize these rights.” They also provide support and education to women in prison, as well as classes about STIs, fertility, birth control, and safer sex. They also continue to support their clients when they give birth. The group is based in their community and functions independently, so they need support to keep doing their important advocacy work.
You can sign up to knit and learn more here: http://birthattendants.com/wordpress/?p=87
