Networth and Chill with Your Rich BFF: Episode Summary

Title: The Real Cost of Motherhood with Elaine Welteroth
Host: Vivian Tu
Guest: Elaine Welteroth
Release Date: May 7, 2025

Introduction

In this compelling episode of Networth and Chill with Your Rich BFF, host Vivian Tu engages in a profound conversation with Elaine Welteroth, a renowned author, journalist, television host, creative entrepreneur, and founder of Birth Fund. Welteroth brings her personal experiences and professional insights to explore the intricate and often overlooked costs of motherhood in the United States.

Elaine Welteroth’s Personal Journey

Welteroth begins by sharing her unexpected journey into motherhood, highlighting the emotional and financial challenges she faced. She candidly discusses her fertility journey, including undergoing embryo freezing, and the unplanned nature of her pregnancy:

Elaine Welteroth [03:01]: “I was like, wait, really? Really? I mean, but it is what it is. And I think that's just another reason why you wanna make sure that you're having babies at a time in your life where you're really prepared and you can have more choices.”

Welteroth emphasizes the importance of intentionality in family planning, asserting that while no one can be entirely prepared for the unexpected, being in a stable financial and personal position can provide more options and reduce anxiety.

Challenges in the Maternal Healthcare System

The conversation delves into the systemic issues within the U.S. maternal healthcare system. Welteroth recounts her arduous experience in finding a supportive and competent care provider during her pregnancy:

Elaine Welteroth [08:30]: “I was speed dating doctors. I was trying to find the right fit. And every single time I left feeling smaller and smaller and smaller.”

She describes feeling unheard and rushed by obstetricians, which exacerbated her vulnerability during pregnancy:

Elaine Welteroth [08:57]: “I had a doctor stand up in the middle of our conversation and say, you have exceeded my 2 to 3 question max per visit.”

These experiences shed light on the broader maternal mortality crisis in the U.S., where systemic neglect disproportionately affects women of color.

Midwifery vs. OB Care

Facing the shortcomings of traditional obstetric care, Welteroth transitions to midwifery as a viable and empowering alternative. She critiques the over-medicalization of birth and advocates for midwifery's holistic approach:

Elaine Welteroth [12:02]: “Midwives are birth workers that are experts, medically trained experts at delivering or as they say, catching your baby and caring for the mother holistically.”

Welteroth highlights the superior outcomes associated with midwifery care, noting that unnecessary medical interventions in hospitals often lead to complications and increased maternal mortality rates. Her personal decision to have a home birth at 37 weeks under a midwife's care resulted in a positive and empowering experience, starkly contrasting her previous encounters with obstetricians.

Birth Fund: Mission and Impact

Motivated by her experiences, Welteroth founded Birth Fund, a coalition dedicated to funding midwifery care for families across the country. She underscores that:

Elaine Welteroth [19:23]: “80% of the maternal deaths in this country are preventable. And 80% could be averted with midwifery care.”

Birth Fund aims to remove financial barriers by providing grants that cover the cost of midwifery care, which averages around $10,000 per birth. The organization has successfully raised significant funds, allowing it to support multiple families and advocate for systemic changes in maternal healthcare.

Elaine Welteroth [23:11]: “Birth Fund is a coalition of families, individuals and corporate partners who have come together to invest their own resources to ensure that families have access to this life saving model of care of birth care.”

Welteroth emphasizes the critical need for alternative birth care options, especially as insurance often does not cover midwifery, making it inaccessible for many families without financial assistance.

Historical Context and Stigma Surrounding Midwifery

Welteroth provides a historical perspective on midwifery in the United States, explaining how it was systematically undermined by the rise of obstetrics and pervasive propaganda campaigns that portrayed midwives as unsafe and unskilled:

Elaine Welteroth [25:25]: “They were seen as dirty, like unsanitary, unskilled, unsafe and like witchcraft. There was like almost basically like a witch hunt around midwifery care.”

This historical vilification has left enduring stigmas that hinder the acceptance and integration of midwifery within modern healthcare, despite its proven benefits.

Societal and Structural Issues in Motherhood

The discussion shifts to broader societal issues, particularly the inadequate structural support for parents in the U.S. Welteroth critiques recent White House proposals that incentivize large families without addressing foundational support needs:

Elaine Welteroth [29:23]: “The best way to encourage women to have more babies is to give them structural support. Which we lack severely in this country.”

She argues that financial incentives are insufficient without comprehensive support systems such as affordable childcare, parental leave, and accessible healthcare. Welteroth also touches on the exorbitant costs of raising children, challenging the notion that financial preparedness alone can mitigate the challenges of parenthood.

Elaine Welteroth [32:16]: “It is as if there's no concept of what women are going through as it is with the children that they have now on top of the idea that our rights are being stripped.”

Conclusion

In closing, Welteroth reiterates the mission of Birth Fund and the urgent need for collective action to address the maternal mortality crisis and support families:

Elaine Welteroth [34:42]: “Without insurance, by the way, so we're all clear.”

She underscores that until systemic changes are implemented, organizations like Birth Fund play a crucial role in providing necessary support and saving lives.

Key Takeaways

• Maternal Mortality Crisis: 80% of maternal deaths in the U.S. are preventable, with midwifery care offering a significant solution.
• Systemic Failures: The current maternal healthcare system inadequately supports pregnant women, particularly women of color.
• Empowerment through Midwifery: Midwifery provides a holistic and empowering alternative to traditional obstetric care, reducing unnecessary medical interventions and improving birth outcomes.
• Birth Fund’s Role: Birth Fund is pivotal in making midwifery care accessible by covering costs, thus addressing financial barriers and advocating for systemic change.
• Need for Structural Support: Effective support for motherhood requires comprehensive structural changes, including affordable childcare, parental leave, and inclusive healthcare policies.

Notable Quotes

• Elaine Welteroth [08:30]: “I was speed dating doctors. I was trying to find the right fit. And every single time I left feeling smaller and smaller and smaller.”
• Elaine Welteroth [12:02]: “Midwives are birth workers that are experts, medically trained experts at delivering or as they say, catching your baby and caring for the mother holistically.”
• Elaine Welteroth [19:23]: “80% of the maternal deaths in this country are preventable. And 80% could be averted with midwifery care.”
• Elaine Welteroth [25:25]: “They were seen as dirty, like unsanitary, unskilled, unsafe and like witchcraft. There was like almost basically like a witch hunt around midwifery care.”
• Elaine Welteroth [29:23]: “The best way to encourage women to have more babies is to give them structural support. Which we lack severely in this country.”
• Elaine Welteroth [34:42]: “Without insurance, by the way, so we're all clear.”

Final Thoughts

This episode sheds light on the often-invisible costs of motherhood, advocating for a reformation of maternal healthcare and societal support systems. Elaine Welteroth’s insights and the mission of Birth Fund highlight the critical steps needed to ensure safe, dignified, and accessible childbirth for all families.

For more information on Birth Fund and to support their mission, visit thebirthfund.com or follow Elaine Welteroth on Instagram @lanewelteroth.