Vertical Birth w/ AMUPAKIN in Ecuador

Vertical Birth w/ AMUPAKIN in Ecuador

It was a pleasure contributing to Stance’s recent podcast on vertical birth w/ AMUPAKIN in Ecuador. It is in Ep. 44: Musician Genesis Owusu; Pandemic Birthing w/ Maiysha Campbell Kramer & Milli Hill; Pregnant: Visible and Invisible Disabilities; Vertical Birth w/ AMUPAKIN in Ecuador.

Vertical birth w/AMUPAKIN - Kichwa mdwives and plant medicine collective

Here in the words of Stance:

“…We speak with Ofelia, Olga and Maria, Kichwa midwives from the Association of Kichwa Midwives of Upper Napo (AMUPAKIN) about Ecuadorian indigenous birthing practices including vertical birthing which have become a recognised practice within the Ecuadorian medical system. Specialising in ‘natural’, vertical births using traditional tools and techniques, including plants and chants, the midwives also provide a range of holistic health services for women and men. Devoted to passing on their ancestral knowledge to future generations through workshops and a 24/7 clinic serving patients in need, the work of AMUPAKIN is mother centric in order to achieve healthy birth experiences. Alongside a discussion and translation help from Dr. Nina Moeller, a long time associate at AMUPAKIN and professor of Political Ecology and People’s knowledge at Coventry University, we speak with midwives Ofelia, Olga and Maria and hear about their mission to raise awareness about vertical birthing practices, and how they’re going about this amidst the current social and political situation…”

For further background, here’s an angle on indigenous child birth in neighbouring Peru, by the United Nations Population Fund : Born at the end of a rope: Embracing indigenous childbirth traditions to save lives


See also About Stance:

“…Stance is an independent award-winning arts and culture podcast run by journalist and curator Chrystal Genesis. Guests so far include musicians Four Tet, Jamila Woods, Chassol, Róisín Murphy, Amber Mark, Caribou, Ebo Taylor, Kaytranada, Jessie Ware and Nao, authors Yaa Gyasi, Elif Shafak, Saidiya Hartman, Sayaka Murata & Valeria Luiselli, lawyer & campaigner Gina Miller, politician Bobi Wine, poets Fatimah Asghar, John Cooper Clarke & Kae Tempest, actor Riz Ahmed, Me Too founder Tarana Burke, playwrights Inua Ellams & Natasha Gordon, writer and activist Janet Mock, choreographers Akram Khan, Deborah Colker and Hofesh Shechter, fashion designer Duro Olowu, Philosophers Kwame Anthony Appiah & Angie Hobbs, and visual artists Shirin Neshat, Larry Achiampong, The Singh Twins, Hassan Hajjaj, JR & Juliana Huxtable…”

Vertical Birth w/Amupakin