Participatory Body Mapping of Postpartum stories with Latinx mothers

Postpartum bodies are invisible. They are not portrayed in the movies, shown in popular culture, not even present in prenatal or postnatal education. Indeed, what we see in the media is the unrealistic standard of postpartum bodies that need to "go back to normal" as soon a possible.

This project is an intervention that uses participatory body mapping in the context of postpartum care with Latina moms in central Texas. It aims to create body representations that tell multiple perspectives about the forces that drive traumatic perinatal experiences, specifically in the context of migration.

Through a series of online and in-person workshops, a group of Latina moms developed representations of their postpartum experiences using body maps, linking physical symptoms to structural, social and economic realities. We then identified strategies and resistances used by the mothers to make sense of postpartum, and traced body meridians that connect their struggles with those of other women in the room. We used a number of sensible pedagogies in this project, generated knowledge in rational and less rational ways, and strengthened a community of support, where body maps and images enabled reflection and transformation.

This project contributes to shaping support mechanisms for Latinx communities, who have been historically undersupported by social and medical systems. By framing health beyond medical terms, the project generates cross-disciplinary insights, and inform multi-sector collaborations to serve the needs of this population, while advancing important scholarship in participatory methods, public health and design.