Black Texas mother reveals why she drove 1,300 miles and lived in an RV to give birth to her third child in Virginia – after feeling neglected and put ‘on display’ at hospitals in her home state

A Black mother has opened up about her decision to drive 1,300 miles and live in an RV for two months to give birth in Virginia instead of her home state of Texas.

Mimi Evans, a 35 year old doula of Houston, explained that she was a young mother and didn’t know much about her birth options when she welcomed her first two children at local hospitals.

The mother of five recalled being abused and neglected during both deliveries, despite them taking place in two different medical centers.

“I just knew that if I ever got pregnant again, I wouldn’t have my baby here,” she told DailyMail.com.

Evans explained that when she had her first child, she was given no choice other than whether or not she wanted to get an epidural.

The second time she was was given an injection of Pitocin – a synthetic hormone that can help induce labor – without anyone fully explaining what it was or asking if she wanted it.

When she tried to stand up for herself, her requests to walk around, eat, and even use the bathroom were all denied.

“I was constantly told, ‘No,’” she said, recalling how she was warned that if she went to the toilet, she could have her baby on the toilet. “It was a lot of fear-mongering.”

Evans also had student doctors observe her birth, making her feel like she was “an animal in a zoo” that was “on display.”

“I just sat there and got quiet and I just took it until I delivered my baby,” she said. “I just took it because I was terrified that I would have a C-section if I didn’t take the Pitocin and I didn’t have a baby when it was deemed necessary.”

According to US data, black women in the US are more likely to give birth via C-section March of Dimes.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also reports that they are two to three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women.

In Texas, the total number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births has more than doubled, from 10.3 in 1999 to 21.9 in 2019. JAMA study.

Evans said her “breaking point” came after she gave birth. Instead of holding her baby and experiencing skin-to-skin contact, the newborn was taken to the daycare center and wheeled back to her “cold, sterile room” alone.

When she learned she was pregnant with her third child in 2013, she knew she wanted to give birth in another state and started saving money.

The mother began researching hospitals in Virginia, where she had grown up, and found one in Richmond that was immediately welcoming.

Evans recalled being overwhelmed when she was offered a tour of the maternity ward and the opportunity to enroll in a childbirth education course for the first time.

After settling into a hospital, she changed her health insurance to ensure she had coverage in the state and purchased an RV to serve as a temporary home for her and her family.

When she was seven months pregnant, she and her former partner packed their bags and drove to Virginia with her children.

They spent two months in the “very cramped quarters” of the camper while dealing with an influx of insurance paperwork without a permanent address.

She missed her family in Texas and couldn’t set up a daycare or have a baby shower, but ultimately she felt the sacrifices were worth it.

Evans said she had a very different birth experience in Virginia, despite the state having a comparable maternal mortality rate like Texel.

“I was like, ‘Wow, I wish this was given to me the first two times.’ The atmosphere was so quiet. The lights were dimmed for me. It was the best, the most magical birth experience I’ve had,” she said.

“And I just felt so bad because I really wished my first two birth experiences were like this.” Then I discovered that there are no magical birth experiences in hospitals. You just have to find the right place.”

Evans returned to Texas with her family after giving birth and trained as a doula and birth educator.

The mother, who also has an adopted child, hired a birth team and gave birth at home when she welcomed her daughter in 2022.

“I just want people to know that this is all about informed consent and just informed choices,” she said. ‘When I think about my birth experiences over the course of 18 years, that has been the theme that really appeals to me. It’s just that I can make my voice heard and have the opportunity to choose.”

Evans understands that home births are not for everyone, and for those who want to be in a hospital, she advises with a ‘strong birth support team.’

She said this could be a doula, a partner, a family member or a friend – someone who is knowledgeable and can be an advocate during labor.

“I definitely feel like the pressure to conform is still there,” she explained. “And that’s what needs to change so that people can have better birth experiences.”