Podcast Summary

That Can't Be True with Chelsea Clinton

Episode: Misconceptions on Midwives & America’s Broken Birthing System
Date: October 2, 2025
Host: Chelsea Clinton
Guest: Elaine Welteroth (author, journalist, founder of Birth Fund)

Overview of Episode Theme

This episode delves into “America’s broken birthing system,” focusing in particular on widespread misconceptions about midwives and barriers to safe, equitable maternity care in the U.S. Chelsea Clinton sits down with journalist and advocate Elaine Welteroth to explore shocking maternal health statistics, the cultural stigmas around midwifery, Elaine’s own journey through the medical system as a new mother, and her work to increase access to midwifery care through her organization, Birth Fund. The episode also offers a myth-busting segment, “Fact or Fiction,” around trending birthing-related practices.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Opening – The Parental Self-Talk Revolution (00:45-03:37)

• Chelsea and Elaine reflect on the transformation of self-talk and gentle language that comes from motherhood.
• They discuss the practice of using affirmations with their children—and themselves:

  “This morning, as I was getting ready, I literally, for the first time in my entire life was like, I did it to myself. And I almost cried. I was like, this is such a beautiful practice that I'm instilling in him. And now I'm borrowing it…” (Elaine, 02:52)

• Both note the unexpected “bonus” of motherhood is a kinder relationship with oneself.

2. America’s Maternal Health Crisis (03:37-06:56)

• Chelsea drops the “that can't be true” stat: The U.S. has the highest rate of pregnancy-related deaths among high-income countries, with 700+ deaths annually, 80% of which are preventable.
• Elaine adds, “Black women are actually dying at three to four times the rates of white women.” (04:28)
  • In NYC, Black women die at nine times the rate of white women (Chelsea, 05:00)
• Elaine’s shock that this crisis isn’t more widely known drives much of her advocacy:

  “The fact that I did not know this meant that most mothers to be probably don't know this.” (Elaine, 05:04)

3. Why Aren’t We Talking About Midwives? (06:56-10:31)

• Chelsea and Elaine laugh over the misconception that midwives are some new “innovation.”

  “‘Could you please tell me a little bit more about this innovation of midwives?’ And I was like, innovation? It’s probably the oldest profession in the world.” (Chelsea, 06:56)

4. Elaine’s Personal Journey Through the Broken System (10:31-17:14)

• Elaine details her struggle: went through eight different doctors and felt dismissed, belittled, and unheard.
• Recounts a jarring story:

  “A doctor said to me in the middle of my question, she stood up and said, ‘You have exceeded my 2 to 3 question max per appointment. I’ve given you grace, but I need to leave.’” (Elaine, 13:20)

• Discusses the emotional toll:

  “Each of these experiences with these doctors broke something inside of me… Nothing has ever made me feel more vulnerable than being pregnant, especially in America.” (Elaine, 13:52)

• Elaine emphasizes that 50% of mothers describe their birth as traumatic.

5. Challenging Stigma & Discovering Midwifery (17:14-25:35)

• With community support, Elaine is connected to Kindred Space LA, a Black female-owned birthing center.
• She acknowledges her initial fear and ignorance:

  “People throughout history have cast midwives aside as, as witches… it’s all by design to create a medicalized model that is set up for profit over patient care.” (Elaine, 18:06)

• Her first visit to a midwife was radically different:

  “She had breakfast and tea waiting… we sat and we talked… she wanted to know everything about my family dynamics, my work dynamics, where my stress comes from, what I'm eating, what my fears are…” (Elaine, 20:17)

• Details her home birth, which was surprisingly empowering and safe:

  “I got to such a place of transcendence that I actually can tell you… I enjoyed childbirth.” (Elaine, 24:10)

• “What I am here to say is: there are options. …If you are feeling scared and unsafe at the hands of your caretaker, please, please know that you have the agency to explore other options.” (Elaine, 25:26)

6. Birth Fund: Filling the Access Gap (26:45-29:39)

• Birth Fund pays the bills for families who want midwifery care but can’t afford it out of pocket (since most insurance won’t cover midwives in the U.S.).
• Started with calls to her network (e.g., Serena and Alexis Ohanian, LeBron and Savannah James, John Legend and Chrissy Teigen).
• Urgency: "We cannot afford to wait for lawmakers… to fix this." (Elaine, 29:07)
• Clinton: "Your mantra is: it’s up to us to save us." (Chelsea, 29:39)

7. Fact or Fiction: Debunking Modern Wellness Trends (30:14-34:37)

a) Hypnobirthing (30:15-31:16)

• Elaine: Pro-hypnobirthing, especially for those with birthing fear.
  • Hypnobirthing uses breathwork and mental training to promote calm during labor.
  • Helped Elaine access “total Zen.”

b) Pelvic Floor Therapy (31:16-33:49)

• Elaine experienced SPD (pubis symphysis dysfunction) and pelvic floor therapy “was game changing… I was able to play tennis during my second pregnancy.”
• Emphasizes importance of discussing these support tools, as many women don’t realize what help is available.

Notable Quotes

• On U.S. maternal mortality:
  “America is the deadliest place to give birth in all of the industrialized countries.”
  — Elaine Welteroth (05:04)

• On midwifery stigma:
  “Throughout history, people have cast midwives aside as witches… it’s all by design to create a medicalized model for profit over patient care.”
  — Elaine Welteroth (18:06)

• On agency in childbirth:
  “If you are feeling scared and unsafe at the hands of your caretaker, please, please know that you have the agency to explore other options.”
  — Elaine Welteroth (25:26)

• On the hope for maternity care:
  “The future of birth in this country is hybrid spaces for all of them [doctors, doulas, midwives] to coexist within four walls.”
  — Elaine Welteroth (26:17)

Memorable Moments

• Elaine’s “Pop a Squat” story:
  After being told by a doctor “You can’t just come into a hospital, pop a squat, and have a baby,” Elaine literally did just that, giving birth at home:

  “I pushed myself off of the birthing stool and I popped a squat and I had my nine pound baby. The way women have been having babies since the beginning of time.” (24:45)

• Call to Action:
  “If we even positively affect change, save one life, then we've done something that really matters.”
  — Chelsea Clinton (34:37)

Timestamps Quick Reference

• Opening and reflections on motherhood: 00:45–03:37
• Maternal mortality crisis discussed: 03:37–06:56
• Misconceptions about midwives: 06:56–10:31
• Elaine’s struggle with doctors: 10:31–17:14
• Stigma and birth plan transformation: 17:14–25:35
• Birth Fund explained: 26:45–29:39
• Fact or Fiction (hypnobirthing/pelvic floor therapy): 30:14–34:37
• Closing call to connection and care: 34:37–35:02

Tone and Style

• Candid, empathetic, and personal—not clinical.
• Mixes humor and deep emotion.
• Conversational but sharply focused on exposing truths and empowering women.

For Listeners: Takeaways

• U.S. maternity care is in crisis—awareness and advocacy are needed.
• Midwifery is time-tested, safe, and empowering, but cultural and systemic barriers persist.
• You have agency: seek care models and providers who respect and support you.
• There is growing grassroots pressure (e.g., Birth Fund) to open access to safer, more personal care models for birth.
• Open conversation about birth topics (from trauma to therapy to alternative practices) is vital.