Our Approach
to Advocacy
At Monstera Roots, advocacy isn't a service add-on. It is the foundation. Every practice, philosophy, and interaction is designed to ensure Black and Brown mothers are seen, heard, and protected.
Work With Us
Lived Experience Became a Life's Calling
Jazmine Britton is a vibrant Afro-Latina birthworker whose path into maternal advocacy was not chosen from a textbook — it was forged through personal experience. As a mother, a surrogate, and a woman who has moved through the healthcare system as a Black woman, Jazmine knows firsthand what dismissal looks and feels like.
Her credentials span full spectrum doula training, birth education, herbalism, and surrogacy advocacy. But what sets her apart isn't a certificate — it's the ability to walk into a hospital room and shift the energy entirely. To make a laboring mother feel that she is not alone, that someone in the room truly sees her.
"I became a doula because I needed one and didn't have one. No mother should ever feel that alone again."
Currently studying to become a licensed midwife, Jazmine's vision extends beyond individual births. She is building an ecosystem — a practice, a community, and eventually a farm and apothecary — where Black maternal health is addressed at every level: physical, spiritual, nutritional, and generational.
Jazmine's Journey
Jazmine's own birth experience revealed the gaps in care for Black mothers — dismissal, bias, and isolation that no mother should face.
Completed full spectrum doula training, birth education certification, and surrogacy advocacy work, building a toolkit rooted in cultural competence.
Served as a surrogate mother, deepening her understanding of pregnancy, bodily autonomy, and the emotional complexity of birth from all angles.
Began serving NYC families directly, building a practice grounded in trust, accessibility, and spiritual care for underrepresented mothers.
Currently studying to become a licensed midwife — extending her reach from birth support to full prenatal and obstetric care.
Plans to open a farm and apothecary — healing the community through herbalism, food sovereignty, and holistic maternal health education.
The Six Pillars of Our Practice
Everything we do flows from these principles. They aren't marketing language — they are the operational backbone of how Monstera Roots shows up for every client.
Informed Consent as Power
Every client receives thorough education on their rights — including the right to ask questions, request explanations, and decline procedures. We believe an informed mother is a protected mother. We normalize phrases like "Can you explain that?" and "I need more time to decide."
Witness & Presence as Protection
Having an advocate in the room changes how providers behave. Studies show that continuous doula support reduces C-section rates by 39%, epidural use by 15%, and significantly shortens labor. We are that unwavering presence — watching, documenting, and standing firm.
Ancestral Wisdom Meets Evidence
Western medicine does not hold all the answers. We integrate herbal knowledge, ancestral birth practices, and spiritual grounding alongside peer-reviewed evidence. Our approach is whole — it honors the body, the lineage, and the science simultaneously.
Community as a Care Model
Isolation is dangerous for new mothers. We build community before birth so that when the baby arrives, there is a village ready. Support circles, postpartum check-ins, and peer networks reduce the risk of PPD and create long-term resilience.
Naming Bias Out Loud
We do not look away from systemic racism in medical settings. We discuss it openly with clients, prepare them for what they may encounter, and equip them with language to advocate for themselves even when we aren't in the room.
Healing Beyond Birth
Trauma does not end when the baby is born. We offer postpartum support, herbal wellness, placenta medicine, and ongoing access to Jazmine — because true healing is longitudinal. The fourth trimester is not an afterthought; it's a priority.
How We Push Back
on Medical Bias
Advocacy is concrete, not abstract. These are the specific, practiced ways we interrupt bias and protect our clients inside the medical system.
Birth Plan as Legal Record
We help clients create detailed, signed birth plans and coach them on presenting them firmly on arrival. A written plan on file makes dismissal harder.
The B.R.A.I.N. Framework
We teach every client: Benefits, Risks, Alternatives, Intuition, and Nothing (delay). This gives them a structured tool to use with any provider, any time.
Documentation & Witness
We encourage note-taking and, where permitted, recording. When Black women document their experiences, they have evidence. Evidence changes outcomes.
Provider Accountability
We are trained to professionally but firmly redirect dismissive language. We advocate for second opinions, alternative providers, and transfers when safety is at risk.
Pre-Birth Hospital Visits
We walk clients through their birth facility before labor — meeting staff, asking questions, noting the environment. Familiarity reduces anxiety and increases confidence.
Post-Care Follow Through
After birth, we help clients report adverse experiences through proper channels — hospital patient advocates, state health departments, or community watchdogs.
When You Work with
Monstera Roots
Prenatal Visits
Multiple visits before your due date to build trust, review your birth plan, discuss fears, and prepare your body and mind for birth.
Full Labor Support
We are with you from early labor through birth — physically, emotionally, and as your advocate in every interaction with medical staff.
Postpartum Check-Ins
Follow-up visits, herbal support, lactation guidance, and emotional care in the weeks after birth when you need it most.
24/7 On-Call Access
Questions don't follow office hours. You have direct access to Jazmine throughout your care period.
Free Initial Consultation
Every journey starts with a no-pressure conversation. We want to know you, your goals, and what you need before anything else.
Key Organizations in the Fight
We are part of a larger movement. These organizations are doing critical work that we stand behind.
Black Mamas Matter Alliance
Centering Black women in policy, research, and advocacy for maternal health equity.
National Birth Equity Collaborative
Working to eliminate disparities in birth outcomes through community and policy change.
DONA International
The world's largest doula-certifying organization — upholding standards of doula care.
CDC Black Maternal Health
Federal data and initiatives addressing the maternal mortality crisis in America.
You Deserve Someone
In Your Corner
Whether you're planning a birth, recovering postpartum, or just beginning to navigate your options — Monstera Roots is here. Start with a free, no-pressure consultation.