Series 3 Episode 3: Aruna Boodram on abolitionist parenting and surviving the NICU

Birthing and Justice with Dr Ruth De Souza

Synopsis:
It’s tough negotiating the highly technocratic spaces of a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of a hospital – let alone as the queer, autonomous-single parent of a micro-preemie. Aruna Boodram is part of the Caribbean diaspora living in so-called Canada. In this week’s conversation, we discuss the stress and uncertainty of caring for one’s baby in NICU, how the concept of abolition applies to parenting and how community organising can benefit from being family friendly and inter-generational.
Content warning: This episode contains conversations about medical trauma.
Notes:
Medium blog “There’s no way to prepare for this.”
https://medium.com/@aruna.boodram/theres-no-way-to-prepare-for-this-44059552485
Shameless Magazine
https://shamelessmag.com/
Children’s Peace Theatre in Toronto http://www.childrenspeacetheatre.org/
Canadian Premature Babies Foundation.
https://www.cpbf-fbpc.org/
Music in this episode includes ‘Prevailing Truths’ by Ketsa, ‘Dark Water’ by Nul Tiel Records, ‘Nowhere to Be, Nothing to Do’ by HoliznaCC0 and ‘Webbed’ by REW<<<, used under a Creative Commons license from Free Music Archive
Birthing and Justice is written and produced by Dr Ruth De Souza on the traditional and unceded lands of the Boon Wurrung people of the Kulin Nations. Sound editing by Olivia Smith.