I am so honored to have my very own midwife (twice over), the amazing Jennifer Braun, joining me on SATIATE today.
Shortly after I met her in 1996, Jennifer Braun began to serve disadvantaged women and children in Afghanistan, Haiti, and now Uganda –– training midwives world-over since 2004.
She is the executive director of International Midwife Assistance (IMA), originally created by a group of women alarmed by the dismal state of maternal/child health in Afghanistan.
They began with a mission in which every woman would have access to a qualified attendant and lifesaving resources throughout her pregnancy and birth.
Once they completed their project in Afghanistan (an amazing feat!), IMA's work expanded to Haiti and Uganda with the intention of bringing equal access and health care to women all over the world.
This is an important episode with insider insights from Jennifer about the challenging state of Afghanistan and the women who live there.
Listen and hear:
Insights into life as an Afghan woman (brace yourself)
How IMA’s work in Afghanistan started, how it evolved and when it was complete
How the presence of skilled birth assistants, trained midwives and in some cases the presence of medical doctors, OBYGYNs and more impacted the maternal and newborn morbidity rate in many countries around the globe.
How a fairly small group of women grew into making a huge impact on women’s health globally –– training women from many countries on safe prenatal, birthing and postpartum.
Where you can head to support IMA’s mission and the sister organizations they work with.
Meet Jennifer Braun:
Jennifer Braun has served disadvantaged women and children in Afghanistan, Haiti and Uganda since 2004.
As Executive Director of IMA (International Midwife Assistance), she travels several times a year to oversee the organization's international programs as well as to work in the field as a midwife. She has been attending homebirths since 1982.
Jennifer holds a Bachelor’s degree in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology from the University of Colorado at Boulder. She holds a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Duke University. She was President of the Colorado Midwives Association from 1985 to 1992 during which she was a citizen lobbyist, working to pass legislation that is now the Colorado Midwives Practice Act. She also co-authored the first CMA Certification Program.
Jennifer has been an educator since the late 1980s, training midwives from apprenticeship through licensure as well as teaching at CU-Boulder and the Southwest Acupuncture College-Boulder Campus. She has been honored with recognition from Volvo for Life (2006), the Echievement Award (2007 and 2020), and Boulder Weekly named her Person of the Year in 2008.
I hope you enjoy this inspiring conversation.
