Singer and songwriter Erykah Badu is heavily involved with the International Center for Traditional Childbirth. According to the singer, the mission of the organization is to assist mothers in “education about pregnancy, [both] post and prenatal, to prevent infant mortality and encourage breastfeeding [along with] proper care for the child.” Geared towards minority women, Badu along with the organization hope to decrease the statistical data that shows high infant mortality rates among African Americans.
In a recent interview with TheGrio, Erykah revealed that she is a strong advocate for natural births that take place in the presence of a midwife or doula. As Badu states, “I’ve had three natural births all six years apart. [They] were [all] delivered at home with a midwife. A custom fit birth just for us.” Erykah has been a doula since 2001 and is studying to become a direct entry midwife. Although her preference is a natural birth at home, Badu stresses that “the main focus is a healthy mother and a healthy baby.”
Check out the interview here.
