Goodbye To The Only Midwife on TV

cross posted from my blog at RH Reality Check

Spoiler Alert

I want to fully disclose that I cannot afford cable so I don’t have it and this post is about public television. I’m one of those people that still uses their rabbit ear antenna for their television. I have no shame in still living an analog life where my polariod camera gets more use than my digital one. So you can understand, I’ve only seen one midwife on television this year and that is Dell on ABCs Private Practice.

A spinoff of ABCs Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice piqued my interest with having a Black heterosexual couple who opened their own wellness center, called Oceanside, that has a holistic approach to health and well-being and cast a great group of actors to perform each character. This first season had me intrigued when the writers included storylines about relationships among older adults, gay and lesbian topics on fertility, and challenges in the child welfare system and storylines on intersex children. The third season has been interesting regarding the commentary on sexuality with people who have disabilities, teenage pregnancy, mental health topics and parenting, and a range of beliefs among the characters regarding abortion.

One of the many things I also appreciate about the show is that the physicians and people who work at Oceanside are interesting models of how to work with and among various patients and clients. I always find it interesting as a viewer to see how physicians talk to and engage their patients, especially youth. Dell Parker (performed by Chris Lowell), a young white man who has a child and a history of drug recovery, is also the only midwife on the television show.

We watched as Dell was trained under the care of various OBGYNs and other medical staff to help create and build on his own contributions to the center. His work in midwifery not only challenged some perceptions on masculinity when it comes to who can and is a midwife and what makes a good midwife (do “good” midwives have to have had a child? Need a uterus? Experienced menstruation?). His character also provides complementary care to Westernized thoughts regarding pregnancy and childbirth.

It saddened me to a level I can’t even really express to know that this last episode of Private Practice, "The End Of A Beautiful Friendship" the writers chose to kill Dell’s character off via a brain injury. I was shocked to say the least. This was one of the only representations I’ve seen on mainstream public television of midwifery. As an abortion doula with The Doula Project (we are currently accepting applications for doulas in NYC click here for more information) I found it extremely devastating to the storyline and will admit I think it is a poor choice.

Having midwives represented in mainstream media is important. Dell was one of the only representations I can think of in non-cable mainstream public television that may be accessible to a wider audience. There is now a void on representations of midwives, but there is also a larger void in how the care midwives give is just as vital to wellness centers and childbearing. Who remains to challenge the Westernized models of pregnancy and birthing options on the show as Dell did (I don’t think Pete will be as passionate or on point as Dell was)? Have you thought about how his character was an opportunity to establish and further conversations on midwifery and doulas? I know I’d mentioned his character in my teaching on human sexuality, and now I worry that none of my students will even know of his characters existence or was important.

Are there other non-cable mainstream television shows you’ve seen or known of (in any language or country) that feature midwives and doulas? I’d love to know of other resources that are accessible.

Latino Sexuality Round UP

The week is coming to an end but there are TONS of things going on! If you are in NYC please try to make it out to one of these events. If you are somewhere else please check out the links, see if you can make a donation, or enjoy the articles from this week!

My homegirl Maegan La Mamita Mala Ortiz is reading her poetry this evening at Bluestockings. Readings begin at 7pm and are FREE!

Three things occurring this weekend and I hope you can pick one and go!

1. Walk to Beat The Clock for Cervical Cancer
I'm going to be there will you? Event begins at 8:30am

2. NY Coalition for Abortion Clinic Defense Training
I'm going to try real hard to make this after the walk! If you are able to provide clinic defense for women who need care but are blocked by anti-choice protesters, please help! This is a center in the South Bronx, you know what that means: families of Color, working class people, OUR community needs us!

3. The Doula Project in NYC Fundraiser
As many of you know I am an abortion doula and this is the organization I work with. This is very near and dear to my heart. If you can support the fundraising events pelase go, or make a donation!

Are you a fan of True Blood? If so check out all of the writings on True Blood this week on the site I write for: In The Culture. Here's my piece on Latina Vampire Isabella, the most powerful woman of Color on the show who instantly is written off the storyline when she gains power! hmmmm.

My homegirl GoddessJaz tweeted this story "Body Worlds plans corpses sex exhibition" asking if we think it's creepy, art, science? I wondered when I read the article, is this consensual sex? What say you? Let's also not forget that there is remains concern regarding how the bodies were obtained.

Support Your Doulas

Some of you know, some of you don't, but I'm an Abortion Doula. What that means is that when women have scheduled their abortion procedure* I am with them in the procedure room. I help them breath, relax, and move through the procedure quickly and safely. We not only help the patient and her family, we also help the physicians.

This is not a new profession, as abortions and births have been going on since the beginning of time! However, the Doula Project of NY is a new program and we are currently in only one public hospital in the state. We are in the process of achieving our non-profit 501(c)3 status and are having fundraisers to make sure we can afford all that we need to make this happen!

Currently the abortion doulas are all volunteer. That's right! I may work 4 jobs, but I am committed to this project and to serving women who are in need of support and comfort. I am not alone, all of the abortion doulas are committed as well. We are made up of birth doulas, adoption doulas, and abortion doulas. All of us provide valuable services that center the family.

Please support if you can and make a donation via our website, or come out to one of our events!




*not only because it is their CHOICE not to be a parent, but for many women, they have had miscarriages and they need to make sure the entire contents of the pregnancy are no longer inside them, others planned to have parent their child but the baby has multiple complications such as anencephaly or is stillborn.