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Alaska Native Birthworkers Community Survey

The Alaska Native Birthworkers Community's vision is that every Alaska Native birthing person feels supported, well cared for, and full of the information they need to make confident choices around reproductive health, birthing, and parenthood. We seek to formalize and grow a network of Alaska Native birthworkers who feel confident, competent and grounded in cultural values to support each other for better health and family wellness outcomes. You can learn more about our work by visiting www.nativebirthworkers.org. 

This survey is open to Alaska Native peoples. The purpose of the survey is to help us understand the experiences and resources available to those who have been pregnant, given birth, supported pregnancy and birth, breastfed or supported breastfeeding within the Alaska Native community. We will use the information provided to help us prioritize our focus areas, receive guidance from our community and grow our network to realize our vision. We greatly appreciate your time and value your survey feedback. If you have any questions please contact us at: nativebirthworker@gmail.com. When you complete the full survey your name will be entered into a raffle for a $100 Amazon gift card. The drawing will be held on May 15, 2020, but the survey will remain open beyond that date to continue accepting feedback from our community.
1.Contact Information:
2.Are you Alaska Native?(Required.)
3.What is your Alaska Native cultural affiliation?
4.What gender pronouns do you use?
5.Have you been pregnant before?
6.Have you given birth before?
7.If yes, how many times?
8.Have you ever been a birth companion or partner?
9.If yes, how many times?
10.In what setting(s) have you given birth or supported birth?
11.Please select any of the hospitals where you have given birth or supported birth in Alaska:
12.Please share about the types of support and information you had, and/or wish you had, during pregnancy and/or to prepare for birth (either as the birthing person or companion):
13.Please share about the types of support and information you had, and/or wish you had, during birth (either as the birthing person or companion):
14.Please share about the types of support and information you had, and/or wish you had, after birth (either as the birthing person or companion):
15.What resources did you find most helpful to feel well cared for and full of the information you needed regarding pregnancy, birth and postpartum care?
16.What resources did you feel were lacking to feel supported, well cared for and full of the information you needed regarding pregnancy, birth and postpartum care?
17.Have you ever attempted to or been able to breastfeed?
18.What resources did you find most helpful to feel well cared for and full of the information you needed regarding breastfeeding?
19.What resources did you feel were lacking to feel supported, well cared for and full of the information you needed regarding breastfeeding?
20.We want to learn and grow Indigneous knowledge and support around reproductive health, birthing and parenthood. Please share about your knowledge and/or interests for the following:
Options
Plant medicine, oils, organic medicines
Naming ceremonies
Body; anatomy, physiology
Coming of age, rites of passage, puberty
Birthing ceremonies
Managing pain strategies
Energy work
Chiropractic, massage, acupressure, acupuncture
Birthing stories, taboos, pregnancy practices
Breastfeeding
Role of doulas
Role of midwives
Preparing for parenthood
Colonization/Intergenerational trauma
Pathways to birthworker professions
21.What do you feel like are the most important things for us to consider as we grow our network of Alaska Native peer to peer care around reproductive health, birthing, parenthood, and reclamation of ceremony and Indigenous knowledge?
22.Age:
23.What community do you consider home / ancestral lands?
24.In what community do you currently live?
25.We would like to see our community network grow. In what capacity would you like to stay involved?
26.What emergent needs and opportunities do you see to support birthing and breastfeeding families during the COVID-19 crisis?