In the mosaic of motherhood experiences, the journey of perinatal immigrant women is unique and complex. In the middle of the joys and challenges of pregnancy and postpartum, they often confront a silent yet daunting opponent: racial trauma. Exploring this intersection unveils profound insights into the resilience, struggles, and systemic barriers immigrant women face during this critical period.
Racial trauma, a concept often overlooked in mainstream discourse, is an insidious force shaping the mental health and well-being of marginalized communities. For immigrant women, the burden of racial trauma is compounded during the perinatal phase, amplifying stressors and vulnerabilities. Shadows are cast over what should be moments of bonding and celebration through microaggressions, discrimination, and historical injustices; racial trauma permeates their pregnancy and postpartum experiences.
Within immigrant communities, cultural norms and expectations surrounding motherhood add layers of complexity to the perinatal journey. While cultural beliefs provide strength and resilience, they can also perpetuate or exacerbate racial trauma. Balancing traditions with the realities of navigating systemic racism presents a tightrope walk for immigrant women, where cultural pride collides with the harsh realities of discrimination and bias.
Systemic Challenges and Barriers:
Despite the universal need for support, perinatal immigrant women often face systemic barriers hindering access to resources for addressing racial trauma. Language barriers, culturally incompetent care, and fear of discrimination serve as formidable obstacles, leaving many women feeling isolated and neglected. These barriers not only exacerbate racial trauma but also perpetuate cycles of marginalization, impacting maternal and child health outcomes.
Spanish-speaking women who migrate to the U.S. face unique challenges when accessing health care during their perinatal journey. In many cases, they cannot afford private health care and must rely on Medicaid for coverage. However, they may still face barriers to receiving adequate care, even with Medicaid. Ruth McCLeery, Doula and Kansas Administrator at Uzazi Village, works with immigrant women and explains, “The baby is born, and they’ll cover your labor and delivery. So, you don’t get outrageous hospital bills, and then you still have to apply for Medicaid for them.”
Cultural beliefs and practices within immigrant communities often intersect with experiences of trauma during the perinatal period. For instance, in many regions of Mexico and Latin America, individuals lacking financial resources may face inadequate care in hospitals, contributing to traumatic childbirth experiences.
In accessing or providing support for trauma during pregnancy and postpartum, systemic barriers abound. For instance, language barriers pose significant challenges for non-English speaking women seeking informed care. Addressing these barriers involves breaking down communication obstacles to ensure access to necessary support, information, and care. The aim is to empower women, foster understanding, and build trust to promote positive maternal and infant outcomes.
McCleery emphasized that the use of coping strategies and resilience-building techniques is crucial for navigating trauma during the perinatal period. “Creating a safe and supportive space for mothers to express their emotions, fears, and concerns without judgment is essential. I encourage mothers to practice mindfulness, deep breathing, meditation, and other relaxation techniques that can help reduce stress and anxiety during pregnancy and childbirth.”
Additionally, connecting with faith or familial support systems can be beneficial. Given the prevalence of trauma among women, validating their experiences and providing emotional support is vital.
Cultural expectations may conflict with the realities of dealing with trauma during pregnancy and postpartum. For instance, the expectation of resilience within certain cultural contexts may discourage women from seeking help. “As a doula, navigating such challenges requires sensitivity, empathy, and the creation of safe, nonjudgmental spaces for women to seek support,” McCleery explained.
Effective resources and support systems for addressing trauma within immigrant communities include access to culturally competent mental health services, peer support groups, and community health workers. McCleery emphasized the need for increased funding for culturally responsive services, “I believe increased funding for culturally responsive services—specifically for Latino cultures—is crucial. Including investing in language-specific mental health programs, community-based support, and doula services tailored to the needs of immigrant communities.” Integrating trauma-informed care principles into perinatal services and advocating for policy changes within the healthcare system are crucial steps.
Advocacy and activism play a vital role in addressing systemic issues perpetuating racial trauma among perinatal immigrant women. By amplifying the voices of immigrant women, advocating for culturally competent and trauma-informed care, and pushing for policy changes, progress can be made toward ensuring all women receive the support and care they deserve during pregnancy and postpartum.
McCleery concluded, “By being “superheroes” and making sure the voices of immigrant women are heard, advocating for culturally competent and trauma-informed care in Latina cultures, and pushing for policy changes within the health care system, we can work towards a future where [all] women receive the support and care they deserve during pregnancy and postpartum.”
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How do cultural beliefs and practices within immigrant communities intersect with experiences of trauma during the perinatal period?
Ruth McCLeery: There’s trauma all around Mexico and Latin American countries where, if you don’t have money, you’re just not going to be well taken care of at the hospital.
What systemic barriers or challenges have you encountered in accessing or providing support for trauma during pregnancy and postpartum?
Ruth McCleery: Most of the women I help aren’t fluent in English, which creates considerable challenges for accessing informed care. Communication barriers prevent them from fully expressing their experiences or understanding their support options. I help break down those language barriers and ensure that women receive the support, information, and care they need to navigate pregnancy and childbirth confidently and comfortably. I aim to contribute only to positive maternal and infant outcomes by fostering empowerment, understanding, and trust.
Can you discuss any coping strategies or resilience-building techniques that have been particularly helpful for you and the mothers you work with in navigating any traumas during the perinatal period?
Ruth McCleery: Creating a safe and supportive space for mothers to express their emotions, fears, and concerns without judgment is essential. I encourage mothers to practice mindfulness, deep breathing, meditation, and other relaxation techniques that can help reduce stress and anxiety during pregnancy and childbirth. For some, that is faith-based; for others, it means calling their mother, who may be in their home country. Because most women have already experienced trauma, whether that was through an un-consented medical procedure, sexual assault, trafficking, or other abuses, creating a safe and supportive space for mothers to express their emotions, fears, and concerns without judgment is very important. Too often, they aren’t listened to due to a language barrier. I hear, validate their feelings, and help them through their emotional and even physical responses.
Have you faced any instances where cultural expectations conflicted with the realities of dealing with trauma during pregnancy and postpartum? If so, how have you navigated these challenges as a doula?
Ruth McCleery: I work almost exclusively with diverse cultural communities, and I have encountered instances where cultural expectations conflicted with the realities of dealing with trauma during pregnancy and postpartum. One significant factor involves the cultural expectation of resilience, which can sometimes deter mothers from seeking help or expressing their emotional struggles openly, and the language barrier also plays a role in that ability, so they don’t.
As a doula, navigating cultures requires sensitivity and empathy. It’s important for me to create a safe and nonjudgmental space where the mother feels comfortable expressing their emotions and seeking support without fear – of something happening they didn’t ask for and even deportation.
What resources or support systems have you found to be most effective in addressing trauma during the perinatal period within immigrant communities? Are there any specific services or initiatives that you believe could better serve the needs of immigrant women and their families?
Ruth McCleery: First, access to mental health services is vital. Immigrant women need mental health services that understand their cultural beliefs, values, and experiences, and provide trauma-informed care in multiple languages.
Next, peer support groups offer solidarity, empathy, and a sense of belonging, allowing mothers to connect with others who share similar experiences or struggles.
Community health workers are another vital resource. They provide culturally and linguistically appropriate support, education, and advocacy, helping immigrant women navigate the healthcare system and access essential services.
I believe Increased funding for culturally responsive services- specifically for Latino cultures—is crucial. This includes investing in language-specific mental health programs, community-based support, and doula services tailored to the needs of immigrant communities.
The integration of trauma-informed care principles into perinatal services is also essential. Training healthcare professionals in trauma-informed practices, creating trauma-sensitive environments, and implementing screening protocols to identify and address trauma-related issues early in the perinatal period will go a long way in creating healthy and positive experiences.
In what ways do you think advocacy and activism can contribute to addressing systemic issues that perpetuate racial trauma among perinatal immigrant women within immigrant communities? Are there any specific changes or initiatives you would like to see implemented in the health care system to better support immigrant women facing trauma during pregnancy and postpartum?
Ruth McCleery: I am deeply invested in supporting perinatal immigrant women, and I think advocacy and activism are essential for addressing systemic issues that maintain racial trauma within immigrant communities. By being “superheroes” and making sure the voices of immigrant women are heard, advocating for culturally competent and trauma-informed care in Latina cultures, and pushing for policy changes within the health care system, we can work towards a future where [all] women receive the support and care they deserve during pregnancy and postpartum.
Ruth is a perinatal doula and community health worker (add credentials and number of years working in this field.)
