Our society is so fixed on the ideal body type - skinny, fit, active, toned. No one wants to gain wait, to be “obese” based on their BMI, and there is so much focus on not gaining weight or only gaining appropriate amounts of weight that we can’t seem to discuss weight gain in pregnancy without someone leaving the conversation feeling inadequate. The recommendations for weight gain in pregnancy seem to change constantly, with diet recommendations changing almost as frequently. And it makes you wonder, does body image insecurity feed into pregnancy weight gain and what can happen because of it?

Kayce PearsonJanuary 17, 2020research, pregnancy, birth, weight gain, mental health Comment

Hemoglobin and Pregnancy

During pregnancy, hemoglobin is a touchy subject. In some cases, it is the only tool used to monitor iron levels and risk of anemia, but as stated above, hemoglobin is simply a screening marker.

Kayce PearsonJanuary 17, 2020research, pregnancy, labs, labwork, birthComment

Experience Doesn't Pay the Bills!

Unpaid internships are almost a staple in the United States, a thing of privilege, and in my opinion, a thing that needs to be dismantled. I’m not saying it will happen overnight, but I think steps need to be taken to get rid of this archaic system, propped up by privilege and tradition.

Kayce PearsonJanuary 17, 2020birth, birthworkers, midwife, apprentice Comments

Open, Open, Open

I wrote this last year, a poem about the last fifteen or so minutes of my last labor and birth. It was the longest and shortest six hours of my life, and time had no meaning until it did. Everything was quiet, and I loved it. I worked with my body, I moved, I moaned, I spoke, I whispered.

Kayce PearsonJanuary 17, 2020birth, ubac, freebirth, poemComment