Maternity on migration: pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum

Motherhood is an intimate, deeply emotional subject that varies radically depending on the context in which it is experienced. In this episode, SayaCare takes a candid look at what women from the African diaspora go through when they become mothers far from their familiar surroundings, their families, and their cultural practices.

We welcome Audrey Ndjave-Sulpizi (@audrey__hmb), a clinical nurse and psychoperinatal specialist with over 20 years of experience. Her perspective is both professional and deeply human: she has supported hundreds of women and knows what the Canadian healthcare system offers… and what it doesn’t see.

Together, we talk about pregnancy when you don’t yet speak French or medical English well. We talk about childbirth when hospital protocols clash with traditions. We talk about postpartum when depression is a word that is not spoken at home. We discuss the implicit biases of caregivers, cultural misunderstandings, and the feeling of invisibility that many women report.

Audrey gives us concrete tips for navigating this system, identifying the warning signs of postpartum depression, and, above all, feeling justified in asking for help. She also talks about existing resources that are not well known in communities.

This is an episode full of emotion and kindness for all those who have experienced or will experience motherhood far from “home.

Thanks to the Canadian Race Relations Foundation for your support in making this initiative possible.

If you would like to access more health resources, visit : https://sayaspora.com/en/special-project/sayacare-2-2/