Have you ever felt sidelined in your pregnancy journey? A lot of women do. Navigating birth can feel like running up against a system that forgets women are the ones at the center. But there’s a powerful truth: our experience isn’t just about bringing a baby into the world—it’s about standing up for our rights and reclaiming agency.
Alejandra Cardenas, a human rights attorney with decades of global advocacy, once found herself silenced during her first birth—despite her expertise. Her journey from disempowerment to a triumphant, self-directed second birth fuels her mission to help others break free from outdated norms and reclaim control.
This episode unpacks Alejandra’s personal stories, the realities of obstetric violence, the life-changing impact of midwives and doulas, and practical ways to advocate for yourself, challenge fear-based care, and build a birth team that puts you first.
Episode Highlights
5:30 “I thought about myself as a pretty savvy, empowered feminist who just knew everything that had to be known about pregnancy and my rights— and then I got pregnant.”
5:53 “I remember that I wanted to have a midwife just intuitively for the things I knew. I just thought that’s going to be better. But the system was set up in a way that it’s still very hard to access that.”
12:02 “I felt like my body had failed me. I felt like I had failed my baby. I didn’t know that this was something that could happen.”
20:03 “I am determined to be the protagonist of my story this time, to not let anyone pressure me. This time, they were dealing with a very different version of me.”
29:37 “I was so happy seeing the cord, seeing what’s happening with the cord, and pushing the placenta out. I wanted to see a placenta. I was just so happy. Like, I love the whole thing. I truly was on cloud nine.”
36:33 “Information is power. It will allow you to differentiate scaremongering and fear mongering and just detect the red flags, and that’s important for you to advocate for yourself.”
Connect with Alejandra:
Maria Alejandra Cardenas, a Colombian lawyer with over 20 years of experience in international law, human rights, gender, and reproductive rights. Alejandra has led groundbreaking legal strategies at the Center for Reproductive Rights, served as Regional Director for Latin America and East Africa at Women’s Link Worldwide, and was a Human Rights Expert with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. She holds degrees from the Universidad Externado de Colombia and Harvard University, where she was awarded the Irving F. Kaufman Fellowship. Beyond her academic and professional achievements, Alejandra has published widely and lectures internationally on human rights issues.
But Alejandra’s story isn’t just one of global leadership—it’s also deeply personal. Despite years of fighting against obstetric violence, when she gave birth to her first child, she found herself at the mercy of a system that stripped her of her agency. Her second birth, however, was a transformation. She reclaimed her power and experienced the beauty and dignity that birth can hold.
Read Maria’s Research on Midwifery and Autonomy:
Legal Threats to Autonomy, Choice, and Informed Consent in Labor and Childbirth Legal Threats to Autonomy, Choice, and Informed Consent in Labor and Childbirth | Center for Reproductive Rights
Legal and Regulatory Frameworks Are Undermining Midwifery Models of Care New Research: Legal and Regulatory Frameworks Are Undermining Midwifery Models of Care | Center for Reproductive Rights
Pleasurable Birth Essentials is your toolkit for a birth that’s as safe as it is sensual, as evidence-based as it is soulful.
This is not your average childbirth class.
This is a revolution—a journey designed for mamas who trust their bodies and their minds.
Here, pleasure isn’t an afterthought – it’s foundational.
Evidence isn’t dry – it’s empowering.
Community isn’t optional – it’s essential.
You deserve a birth that honors your strength, your sensuality,
and your sovereignty.