Creating Choices: Nikia Grayson on Birth Justice & Community Care

Creating Choices: Nikia Grayson on Birth Justice & Community Care

In this inspiring episode of Discover Midwives, host Jessica Brumley sits down with Dr. Nikkia Grayson, a nationally recognized Certified Nurse-Midwife, Family Nurse Practitioner, educator, and reproductive justice leader. As Chief Clinical Officer of Choices Center for Reproductive Health in Memphis, Tennessee, Dr. Grayson has helped build one of the nation's most innovative Black midwifery-led models of care, where they offer birth center services, reproductive healthcare, abortion care, primary care, and community support all under one roof. Dr. Grayson shares her journey into midwifery and her vision for restoring community-centered care. Together, she and Jessica explore what "full-spectrum reproductive healthcare" really means, why relationship-based care matters, and how midwives are helping address the maternal health crisis, especially in underserved communities. You'll also hear an honest conversation about the realities of birth work, the importance of emergency preparedness, and why midwifery is both deeply compassionate and highly skilled clinical care. Whether you're pregnant, planning a family, seeking reproductive healthcare, or simply curious about what midwives do, this episode offers a powerful look at a model of care built on dignity, respect, and trust. Listen now and discover how midwives are transforming healthcare, one relationship at a time. About Discover Midwives Discover Midwives, presented by the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM), introduces listeners to the people, stories, and evidence behind midwifery care. Through conversations with midwives and healthcare leaders, the podcast helps consumers better understand their healthcare options and the benefits of the midwifery model of care

More than Birth: Reimagining Postpartum Care

What if postpartum care didn't end at six weeks? What if new parents received the support, community, and care they truly needed after bringing home a baby?In this inspiring episode of Discover Midwives, our host Jessica Brumley, PhD CNM, interviews one of the nation's most influential midwifery leaders, Dr. Ebony Marcelle, Director of Midwifery at Community of Hope and the Family Health and Birth Center.Dr. Marcelle shares her remarkable journey into midwifery, from a life-changing gynecology visit to becoming a nationally recognized advocate for reproductive justice and maternal health equity. Together, Jessica and Ebony explore how racism, chronic stress, and systemic barriers contribute to disparities in maternal and infant outcomes, and how innovative, community-centered care can help change the story.You'll learn:• Why the postpartum period deserves far more attention than it receives• How Community of Hope has built a groundbreaking model of care that includes home visits, integrated mental health services, peer support, and year-long postpartum engagement• Practical ways families can prepare for life after birth during pregnancy• What friends and loved ones can do to support a new parent• Warning signs in the postpartum period that should never be ignored• Why community, continuity, and listening to families are essential ingredients for healthier outcomesWhether you're expecting a baby, supporting someone who is, or simply passionate about improving maternity care, this conversation offers wisdom, hope, and actionable insights from one of midwifery's most powerful voices.Because birth is only the beginning, and we believe every family deserves support long after the baby arrives.

Power, Pain & Choice

Understanding Labor Pain vs. Suffering In this episode of Discover Midwives, we tackle one of the most discussed and often misunderstood topics of the third trimester: pain in labor. In a culture that teaches us to fear the intensity of childbirth, we shift the perspective toward understanding the physiological purpose of labor and how to navigate it with confidence. What’s Inside: Pain vs. Suffering: Explore the critical distinction between the physical intensity of labor and the emotional experience of suffering, and why the two don't have to go hand-in-hand. The Midwifery Edge: How the midwifery model of care provides the education, advocacy, and hands-on support needed to transform the labor experience. Beyond Survival: We discuss why "surviving" birth shouldn't be the goal—feeling safe, respected, and supported should be the baseline expectation for every birthing person. Building Your Team: Practical advice on choosing your support system, from doulas to midwives, to ensure you emerge from your birth feeling stronger, wiser, and transformed from your experience. Key Takeaway: You deserve care that listens to you and includes you in every decision about your body. Tune in to learn how to move from a place of fear to a place of informed power. Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe and share this with someone in their third trimester to help them prepare for a respectful and supported birth experience.

Midwives & Prenatal Care: More Than Checkups

More Than Checkups: What Prenatal Care Is Really About Are prenatal visits just “check-the-box” appointments… or something more? In this episode of Discover Midwives, Jessica breaks down what prenatal care actually looks like, and why it’s so much more than quick checkups. From your very first visit to those final weeks before birth, you’ll learn what’s happening behind the scenes, what tests are offered (and why), and how your care can and should be tailored to your needs. She provides insight into the midwifery approach to prenatal care. Great prenatal care isn’t just about labs and ultrasounds. It’s about building a relationship with someone you trust, someone who listens, supports you, and helps you feel safe throughout your pregnancy. Inside this episode, you’ll discover: * What really happens at your first prenatal visit. * Which labs, screenings, and ultrasounds are offered (and your choices around them) * How often you actually need to go, and why it can be flexible. The difference between home, birth center, and hospital-based care * Why bringing your questions (and your support people!) matters more than you think * How feeling safe and respected in care can impact your birth experience

Menopause, Midwifery & You

Menopause is something every woman will experience, but so many of us feel unprepared, unheard, or even dismissed when it begins. In this episode of Discover Midwives, we’re changing that. Join host Jessica Brumley as she sits down with Dr. Amy Giles, Certified Nurse-Midwife and educator, for an honest, empowering conversation about what menopause really looks like, and how midwives are uniquely equipped to support you through it. Together, they break down: What perimenopause actually is (and why symptoms can start years before your last period) The wide range of symptoms—from hot flashes and sleep struggles to brain fog, mood changes, and low libido Why menopause is a whole-body, whole-life transition Simple, effective lifestyle strategies to feel better now Natural remedies, supplements, and when they may help The truth about hormone therapy, what’s changed, what’s safe, and who may benefit How to prepare for a menopause-focused visit so you feel confident and heard You’ll also learn why midwives are more than just birth providers. They are experts in caring for you from your first period through menopause and beyond. If you’ve ever wondered, “Is this normal?” “Why do I feel so different?” “Do I just have to live with this?” This episode is for you. You deserve care that makes sense. You deserve options. You deserve to feel like yourself again. Whether you’re in your 30s, 40s, 50s or supporting someone who is, this conversation will leave you informed, validated, and hopeful.