Episode 16: Dr. Vanessa Hildebrand on Birth Anthropology

Episode Summary

Hillary and Dr. Vanessa Hildebrand geek out on birth anthropology, which is one of those conversations that quietly changes how you walk into your next prenatal. Vanessa brings field research, classroom experience, and a researcher’s discipline about not flattening other cultures into a stereotype.

We cover Dr. Hildebrand’s research on birthing in an Indonesian village, what cultural anthropology has to say about childbirth education, and the three basic things you need to know about cultural competence to bring back into your everyday work. The thread running through it: challenge your assumptions. Always.

Especially useful for educators and doulas working with families across cultures, and for anyone who has been told to be more culturally aware without anyone explaining what that should look like in practice.

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Mentioned in This Episode

Dr. Vanessa Hildebrand on birth anthropology

Cultural competence in birth work