Birth Advocacy & the Power of Doulas with Crystina Hughes

What does it look like to build a birth culture rooted in compassion, informed choice, and community? In this episode of the Wombs of the World Podcast, Charlotte sits down with nurse, doula, author, and community advocate Crystina Hughes for a powerful conversation about Black maternal health, access to doula care, informed consent, and the importance of helping people feel safe and supported throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.Crystina shares how her nursing career led her to doula work and eventually to creating Diamonds for Doulas, an organization making doula support and childbirth education more accessible in her community. She also opens up about her own experiences with pregnancy loss, HELLP syndrome, feeling dismissed within the medical system, and postpartum birth control coercion, experiences that ultimately helped shape her advocacy work and her book, My Calling to HELLP. Together, Charlotte and Crystina explore:Black maternal health disparities and self-advocacyInformed consent, informed refusal, and bodily autonomyBuilding better relationships between doulas and hospital staffWhy feeling safe matters during labor and birthMaking doula care and childbirth education more accessibleBreastfeeding, postpartum support, and the power of communityPregnancy loss and supporting families through griefTurning personal experience into meaningful community change At the heart of this conversation is a simple reminder: compassionate care matters. When we listen to people, respect their choices, and give families the education and support they need, the ripple effects can extend far beyond a single birth.Connect with CrystinaDiamonds for Doulas: https://doulacrystinacallingtohellp.square.site/ Instagram/Social: @CrystinasmithhughesBecome a DoulaFeeling called to birth work? Explore the Wombs of the World Full Spectrum Doula Training and learn to support families across pregnancy, birth, postpartum, loss, and the full spectrum of reproductive experiences.Learn more: https://www.wombsoftheworld.com/doulatraining If you enjoyed this conversation, follow or subscribe to the Wombs of the World Podcast wherever you're listening, and share this episode with someone who believes in creating better care for mothers, babies, and families. Explore more from Wombs of the World: https://wombsoftheworld.com