Remembering Amber Rose Isaac with Bruce McIntyre - conversations about racism in maternal health (FULL INTERVIEW)

*note* both the full version of this interview & a 15 minute highlights reel can be found on YouTube & wherever you listen to podcasts

It was really important to me to have this conversation with my guest today. I’ve interviewed him as part of my second book I’m writing – parents of the pandemic but it also just made so much sense to turn our conversation into a podcast

Some of you may remember the story of Amber Rose Isaac. A beautiful soul who died a really unnecessary death. Amber had HELLP syndrome which results in low platelet counts which is treatable, except Amber was continually ignored. She knew her body. She knew she didn’t feel right and yet she kept being dismissed and ignored. It wasn’t until she decided she’d switch to a midwife and homebirth model that they discovered how high risk she was. Doctors were signing off on her bloodwork and yet by the time she went to be induced her blood was like water. Induction resulted in an emergency c-section.

Instead of being with her partner Bruce and her mum, she bled out in a hospital room alone. She didn’t even get to met her baby boy, Elias. I just don’t believe it wouldn’t have happened if she were white.

In my first book, more than a healthy baby I talk about how in the Bronx in New York City black women are 12 times more likely to die than white women. Not just statistics. I don’t want us to forget and just say “oh well, that’s sad” I want things to change. This is in 2021, not 1821.

Since I first her of her story, it has haunted me. Maybe it’s because like me, Amber had a psychology degree and was getting her masters. Maybe it’s because my parents are Glaswegian and Amber’s partner Bruce McIntyre has one of the most Scottish sounding names you can have.

Maybe because I know a little of what it’s like to lie on a hospital bed, terrified while knowing I was losing a lot of blood.

3 days before she died Amber tweeted about how she wanted to write a tell all book about the negligence. Her partner Bruce has channelled his grief into activism. It was such an honour to be able to speak with him. This episode is a little longer. It is a beautiful love story with such a tragic ending.

As you listen to Bruce and Amber’s story – I ask you to channel your sadness and anger into action. Go to the Save a Rose foundation

@savearosefoundation

https://www.gofundme.com/f/JusticeForAmberRoseIsaac?member=5876644&rcid=21691913083746949a8aff83d145f184&sharetype=teams&utm_campaign=p_na+share-sheet&utm_medium=sms&utm_source=customer

More than a healthy baby: Finding strength & Growth After Birth Trauma

https://doctorerin.com.au/more-than-a-healthy-baby-birth-trauma-book/

Join over 1500 people in my Birth Trauma Training for Birth Workers

https://www.udemy.com/course/birth-trauma-training-for-birth-workers/?referralCode=ABA1D879884EBBF44BA4

There’s also my Supporting Birth Partners After birth Trauma masterclass

https://www.udemy.com/course/supporting-partners-after-birth-trauma/?referralCode=507DAEDCAA7E7449E5FA