Mino Fest 2023: The Radicalized Reproductive and Maternal Health Conference

Mino Fest 2023 was attended by three of Xavier's Exponential Honors Program students to engage in conversations around envisioning the future of perinatal health. The students learned about the lack of data Canada has on Black Maternal Health and how we see similarities and differences between Canada and the US. Speakers at the conference spoke on topics like reproductive justice, access to care, systemic violence against black women, why the implementation of black postpartum traditions is important to reduce maternal morbidity and provide support to new mothers, and being practitioners of respectful maternity care to name a few of the topics discussed at the conference. 

These students had the opportunity to question the midwives in attendance about their professional experiences with disparities in the medical field. Our students found that the clients of these midwives often felt that their concerns were ignored or dismissed as trivial as opposed to their white counterparts. These midwives also cited that clients expressed that there seemed to be a lack of compassion for the maternal bond between a mother and newborn child. This resulted in newborn exams being prioritized over that bond, while for other mothers it was more likely for a compromise to be reached so that the mother could maintain that skin-to-skin contact while the doctors performed the necessary examinations for the newborn.

Mino Fest 2023 had a huge impact on our Exponential students. It brought to light the lack of research around the disparities that Black women face in Canada. It highlighted the lack of attention and care that Black women received in Canada and worldwide in the medical field. Additionally, the prominent practice of hiring of doulas and midwives in Canada compared to the United States showcased how holistic care can and should play an important role in the medical experience of black maternal health. This conference inspired Exponential students to explore how westernized and holistic medicine can co-exist and help enhance the medical experiences of Black mothers.