Birth & Baby Ep. 96 - The Genesis Clinic Story: From Closure to Rebirth

About this episode

Jude Polack shares the story of the Genesis Clinic's journey from closure to rebirth, highlighting its impact on birthing experiences in South Africa.

Welcome and thank you for listening! In this heartfelt and informative episode, we sit down with Jude Polack, the visionary founder of the original Genesis Clinic in Saxonworld, Johannesburg. Jude takes us on a journey through the history of this beloved birthing facility, from its inception in 2009 to its unexpected closure and inspiring rebirth. Jude shares the story of why she initially sold the clinic to the Life Healthcare Group in 2015. We delve into the difficult decision by Life Healthcare to close the clinic in 2023, a move that left the community and staff reeling. Genesis Clinic has always been more than just a maternity ward; it's a sanctuary for families seeking a less medicalised and more empowering birth experience. As a midwife-led facility with an on-site emergency operating room, it provided a safe and supportive environment for thousands of families from all walks of life. Jude explains the core philosophy of Genesis: placing birthing families at the forefront, empowering women to choose their birth, and prioritising low-intervention births. We discuss the broader implications of the clinic's closure within the South African context, including the country's…

People in this episode

Host: Midwife Margreet Wibbelink

Guest: Jude Polack

Topics covered

• Genesis Clinic history
• maternity care
• birth experience
• healthcare inequities
• C-section rates
• empowerment in childbirth

Keywords

• Genesis Clinic
• Jude Polack
• maternity ward
• birth empowerment
• healthcare closure
• South Africa
• C-section
• obstetric violence
• low-intervention births

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Genesis Clinic, Life Healthcare Group

Places: South Africa, Saxonworld, Johannesburg

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