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What is a Postpartum Doula and Why You Might Need One
Read more: What is a Postpartum Doula and Why You Might Need OneIf you’re pregnant or planning to have a baby, you’ve probably heard of a doula. A birth doula is a trained professional who provides emotional and physical support to a birthing person during labor and delivery. But have you heard of a postpartum doula? A postpartum doula is a trained, certified professional who comes to…
Articles
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The importance of cultural competency in our care
On September 1, 2017, superstar tennis athlete Serena Williams gave birth to her daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr. According to a 2018 Vogue interview detailing her journey to motherhood, Williams had a relatively easy pregnancy. However, Olympia was born by emergency C-section due to her heart rate dropping to a dangerously low level during contractions.…
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Uterine Fibroids: What are they? And how might they impact your birth experience?
Uterine fibroids are a condition that many Black women face in their lifetime. Many of our grandmothers, mothers, sisters, and cousins have been diagnosed with uterine fibroids, and there is a statistically higher chance that we might also. What Are Uterine Fibroids? Uterine fibroids are a form of noncancerous growth on the uterus that often…
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The Importance of Asking For What You Need From Your Partner
My husband and I prepared for our first child very differently. Of course, I was having the child and he wasn’t, so there were practical differences in how we both got ready for the baby to arrive. But we differed in many ways other than physical changes too. Culturally, our community is vast, unique, and…
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Loving Yourself Through Pregnancy Stages
My 5-year-old daughter loves to tell people that girls are superheroes “because we can make people in our bellies.” She is right. We are pretty magical. Our bodies know how to do amazing things when it comes to reproduction and pregnancy. And once we give birth, those superpowers become even more clear. But that magic…
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Celebrate the Changes You’re Experiencing; They’re Part of Your Pregnancy Journey
When I found out one of my closest friends was also pregnant at the same time, my imagination went wild with images of prenatal yoga followed by (decaf) iced coffee dates and side-by-side stroller speed walks. Together, we would take on nursing, sleep training, and homemade baby food and complain about lack of sleep and…
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Giving Birth with Confidence: Advice from Black mothers on the importance of self-advocacy during pregnancy.
The U.S. has a problem with pregnancy-related death, especially for women of color. Given the number of advancements made across nearly every aspect of health care in the last quarter-century, women in the U.S. are still more likely to suffer a pregnancy-related death today than they were 20 years ago. A report from the CDC…
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Forget the Cookie Cutter Registries, Here’s What You’ll Really Need Those First 6 Months to a Year.
Creating a registry is a lot of pressure. How are we supposed to know what and how much we need when we haven’t done this before? As a mom of three, I can assure you that so many of the things we are told we need, we don’t. Sometimes those things even make life more…
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Black Pregnancy: Finding Joy Over Fear
Finding joy in pregnancy can feel a little like finding a needle in a haystack. Pregnancy has so many fear inducing moments, it can be downright overwhelming. But it is possible to find joyful moments during this miraculous 10 month journey. We as Black women have the honor of continuing the circle of life. We…