Birth Stories in Color

Javana's birth experience taught her some important lessons about self-advocacy and the current structure of maternal health in the United States. The gaps in education about options and the variance in how providers operate through the perinatal process led her down a road of challenges and fear. Over thirty hours of labor started with mild, irregular contractions and pieces of her mucus plug releasing. Javana experienced irregular labor patterns that kept her home until her water broke. That shifted her mindset to watching the clock and did not feel like she her labor was intense enough to be in active labor. She attended her scheduled doctor's appointment and she was 2 cm dilated. Her doctors advised her to go to the hospital later in the day and suggested mid-afternoon. Arriving at the hospital led Javana down the cascade of interventions that started with an IV against her wishes. Labor started to feel isolating in that she felt alone and unsupported by her nursing team. Eventually, Javana accepted more interventions than she originally intended and an epidural helped her get some rest after being in labor for so long. Her most compassionate caregiver was the anesthesiologist, as he listened to her and talked her through the challenges of placing her epidural. After that the baby had some heart decelerations that concerned the care team. Javana was exhausted by the entire experience and she consented to a surgical birth. After a challenging birth and hospital experience, Javana chose to honor herself in her motherhood with experiences of joy. She feels prepared to embark on her second birth with more  knowledge and understanding of what could be. Resources:Tinyhood | online parenting classesThe Birth Hour | birth story podcastEvidence Based Birth | online childbirth resourceAll About Pregnancy & Birth Podcast | parenting podcast 

The year 2020 will forever be etched in the minds of those who lived to tell the tale. Oh, the stories we will tell. The smoke and mirrors were dispersed and the United States revealed its true self. We bore witness to Riot, after Riot, after Riot. The revolution appeared to be televised after all. But deep in our communities the true revolution was brewing. Many Black women and birthing people continued to give birth despite the headlines, the statistics, and the odds stacked against them. But they didn't just give birth; they gave birth how they wanted, where they wanted, and focused on what was most important to them. A surprise pregnancy anchored Chris and Raquel's growing family and allowed them to sway but not break during an uncertain time. Raquel entered the pregnancy unemployed due to a hiring freeze, from the shutdown, that kept her from starting her new position. Chris became the sole provider as they moved forward with the pregnancy.  The first few weeks of pregnancy brought about two different mental shifts. Anxiety filled Raquel as she continued to apply for jobs and manage the COVID-19 pandemic while pregnant. The isolation was challenging but allowed for a slower pace and opportunities to be introspective. Chris had a more challenging experience with his employer and managing how he would navigate the birth and postpartum period. He did not have paternity leave and intended to take leave without pay. The thought of it was scary as he knew he would be bucking the system. The Williams chose to keep their pregnancy to themselves aside from their parents. Their birth plans were kept under wraps and allowed them to keep out the noise, opinions, and outside stressors. Chris and Raquel chose a homebirth with a midwife and a doula. They utilized their resources and access to do it their way. Raquel dove into research on birth and parenting. Chris had the mentality of being ready when the time came. He found himself focused on trying to go against the negative stereotypes of Black fathers. Holistic care equipped Raquel with education, mental fortitude, and an understanding of what childbirth could include. When she started to feel the small ripples of early labor she contacted her birth team which included her midwife, doula, and birth photographer. Chris was spending the day attending graduation ceremonies for his students. Raquel told Chris he was fine to go and she knew it would be fine. They had a late dinner but didn't set up the birthing tub because it was too late in the day. The waves were not close enough for her to think that she was in active labor. She checked in with her midwife and she told her to use her discernment. Raquel took a Tylenol PM and they enjoyed a movie and facials until she fell asleep. Around four in the morning, Raquel stated that she had to poop. They went down together, Chris could see her from the door, and as Raquel made a maneuver he said, “I don't think that's poop.” Chris was scared that the baby had died, due to the shape and stillness of her head. Meanwhile, Raquel was in a calm, zen state as she assured Chris the baby was ok. They were able to Facetime their midwife to manage the delivery of the baby. Chris caught their baby with a nuchal cord and unwrapped it and placed the baby on Raquel's chest. The midwife entered the house shortly after. Dani and the birth photographer joined them shortly afterward for postpartum support and photography. Immediately postpartum, they walked back down the hall with their baby. The experience of having their team come to them and the care that was provided for them had them in awe. Raquel believes that everything we need to have children… we already have it. We've been having babies like this forever.

Our guest, CEO of Emagine Solutions Technology Courtney Williams, is the creator of The Journey Pregnancy App. The app enables patients to vital signs during pregnancy and then transmits this information in real-time and creates a record. Beyond that it issues a call to action for users to contact their providers when they enter vitals that are out of bounds based on ACOG standards. This technology was developed after Courtney experienced Postpartum Preeclampsia, a rare condition that occurs when you have high blood pressure and excess protein in your urine soon after childbirth. She was already working in maternal health technology.Courtney's pregnancy started in 2019; she gave birth at the height of the first wave of the pandemic in 2020. The pregnancy started well; she ate right and worked out daily. But the gym access stopped due to the pandemic - unfortunately, this was a major stress reliever for Courtney. She also utilized acupuncture with a naturopathic provider. Eventually, she lost access to that support due to growing concerns due to the pandemic. It had been helpful for morning sickness; this was another hit to her emotional support.A week before the childbirth, Courtney's son measured big and they were scheduled for a surgical birth; which she was ok with because it eased her uncertainty. Unfortunately, the hospital would not allow her doula to be present. Courtney's husband was her sole support during the birth and everything went well as they welcomed their son. In the hours and days after the birth, her body started swelling. Courtney presented with a headache and pronounced chest pain five days postpartum. She attempted to contact her provider but did not get a response; she decided to go to the emergency room, where she was diagnosed with Postpartum Preeclampsia. After returning home, she needed to report to her doctor's office multiple days in a week for blood pressure readings. This brought about challenges in their breastfeeding/pumping journey. Courtney was surprised that there wasn't technology to ease the challenges for new parents to go to frequent appointments during the early phases of postpartum.We will save ourselves. We have everything we need within ourselves to rebuild birth better. Being active participants in our care, engaging providers who acknowledge and respect our voices, and equipping ourselves with innate knowledge and an understanding of how our unique bodies respond to pregnancy are key components in creating safer, joy-filled birth experiences. Resources:The Journey Pregnancy App | software app that enables patients to track vital signs in pregnancy and transmits this information to providers in real timeEmagine Solutions Technology | tackling the U.S. maternal health crisis with remote patient monitoring for pregnancy careHealth in her Hue | a digital platform that connects Black women and women of color to culturally competent and sensitive healthcare providers, and offers health information and contentBlack Maternal Health Center of Excellence | provides maternity care & support in Los Angeles CountyWolomi App | digital community that offers support to women of color to improve maternal health outcomesCentral Phoenix OBGYN | Dr. Sharon Thompson - supportive pregnancy care

Meeting Emoni and listening to her pregnancy and birth reminds one of the classic interview of a young Serena Williams when the interviewer asked her repeatedly why she thought she was going to win her match. Her father Richard Williams interrupted the interview and told the reporter to “leave that alone.” The “that” he referred to was Serena's confidence. He was deeply protective of that which he and her mother had built through practice and words. For those entrusted with the work of birth in any capacity and for those entrusted with someone sharing their birth wishes, “Leave that alone.” Birthing in confidence doesn't mean to be ignorant of the possibilities that something could go wrong. But it does help shape the mind to prepare the body for the work ahead in pregnancy, labor, delivery, and parenthood. Emoni knew she didn't want to give birth in a hospital. She connected with the resources within her community to help push her vision into motion. A local midwife, the dedicated doulas of ROOTT, her child's father, and her mother were entrusted with her vision and supported her through the birthing experience from early conception through her first 18 months of motherhood. Laboring in her mother's home at her own pace was an empowering experience. The birth she envisioned happened. Emoni's mom described it as the most powerful birth she'd ever been present for. The high of labor would soon turn to postpartum lows. Despite having extended support from her doula, Emoni struggled with postpartum depression. Having support doesn't mean you won't experience mental health challenges. Postpartum depression can be the perfect storm of lower oxytocin and increased cortisol. Emoni did make her way through postpartum depression. She wishes she had asked for more help but more importantly, she wished she knew what she could ask for, reflections she hopes informs others. Restoring Our Own Through Transformation (ROOTT) | reproductive justice organizationLG Doula | full spectrum doula, birth & postpartum photographer 

Stacee describes her current state of being as her motherhood era. She has birthed two of their children with her husband, and to look at them now you would have no clue what it took to get here. Conception did not come easy. Childbirth brought its challenges. Postpartum complications nearly ended it all. Stacee and Shawn's family was forged in the fire. Stacee and her husband, Shawn, held strong to not only each other but to their dream of adding to their family as well.While Shawn and Stacee's story details two live births, their first pregnancy ended in a miscarriage. A miscarriage that has allowed Stacee to be empathetic of those who have endured similar experiences. She talked about the feelings of isolation and loneliness that is matched with the mystery of miscarriages. The inexplicable loss of a child whose life is not yet deemed viable and the lack of compassion in medical settings as it's happening.  Welcoming a new life into the world is a joyous occasion, but the postpartum period can bring about various health complications for mothers. While many women and birthing people experience a smooth recovery after childbirth, it's essential to be aware of potential challenges and seek timely medical attention when needed.Excessive bleeding after childbirth, known as postpartum hemorrhage, can be life-threatening. Healthcare providers closely monitor mothers for signs of hemorrhage and may intervene with medications or, in severe cases, surgical procedures to control bleeding. Stacee found herself faced with this after her first birth. Her immediate postpartum journey started with stabilizing her daughter's blood sugar levels which led to the discovery that she had a rare condition that not only needed special treatment but a specific medical team an hour away from where they lived. They took a medical flight, while Stacee was barely able to acknowledge any of her own needs. During that trip, as her daughter was getting the help she needed at a pediatric hospital; Stacee eventually went to the hospital next door for her own care. They discovered that she still had sponges inside of her from her surgical birth and was having a postpartum hemorrhage. Pause. Breathe. Sit.The emotional enormity of a near-miss affects everyone in the family. Stacee is here to share her story. Shawn is here to share his vantage point of their story. Their babies are here to love their mother. Stacee and Shawn's words carry the weight.

Esther McCant, founder and CEO of Metro Mommy Agency, opened up about her five pregnancies, which included a miscarriage that would push her to self-advocate with her medical provider.Esther's first pregnancy happened within the first few months of her marriage. Six weeks later, she learned that she had a blighted ovum and her provider prepared her to miscarry. She had the choice to let the ovum pass or go to the hospital for a DNC. She stayed home as long as she could but eventually went to the hospital. Esther recalled the doctor taking quite a while to see her, and when she did she insisted that Esther still needed a DNC even though everything had passed. She felt threatened by the doctor about the potential that she could bleed out. This interaction helped Esther to trust herself. She chose to leave and go home. The grieving process started; she became pregnant again within a few months. The hospital miscarriage experience led her to want to explore other birthing options. Her sister-in-law invited her to  her calming water birth; which helped her see a new vision. Esther found a midwife who resonated with her and a doula who could support her choices. The midwife was able to support her in a birthing center.Walking around the neighborhood of the birthing center helped move her labor along. Their family started to arrive and became overwhelmed. The midwife asked some of the family members to leave to clear the space. Her mother stayed and it was after the birth and looking at pictures from her doula that she was able to see the relationship she had with her mother in a different light. Her mother, who had only given birth surgically,  had an opportunity to bring healing for herself as she fed Esther and cared for her during her labor. Baby would arrive with a nuchal hand and in the OP position by squatting.The third pregnancy brought on changes that would impact her nutrition, wellness, and the birthing environment she desired; which included a water birth.  Feminine energy filled the birthing space by inviting her sisters-in-law. Her son's birth was challenging as she had back labor. She regrets not getting chiropractic care and having a doula this time. Postpartum was filled with engaging with other women as opposed to the more isolating experience she had after her first birth.They had moved from Florida to Alabama, and the difference in provider options was vastly different. In Florida, Esther could have a Certified Professional Midwife, a Certified Nurse Midwife, or a Licensed Midwife deliver her baby. Unfortunately, Alabama did not have those options at the time in 2014. Alabama has terrible birth outcomes and race relations. She could only deliver with a midwife if an obstetrician was present during the labor and delivery.  Esther felt low during the pregnancy because they were living with her parents and living paycheck to paycheck. Esther decided to leave the state when she was ready to give birth. She provided much of her prenatal care until she found a midwife in Tennessee. Her midwife helped her be more proactive about her health and nutrition; including lowering toxins in their environment and skin care. Postpartum preparation was top of mind as she would be traveling to give birth.When Esther thought she was in labor they made the two-and-a-half-hour trek to Chattanooga to no avail as the baby was not ready. They turned the trip into a babymoon and would make the trip again a couple of days later. Esther and her husband brought the kids along to meet up with her family who would care for them. They didn't make it there on time due to a flat tire problem. Esther gave birth within 6 hours of leaving their home and although she felt distracted by having the other children there and wondering where her family was. Esther's Haitian roots welcomed the Haitian bath, teas, and essential oils, and started the restoration process with her mother coming to support her.When Esther had her fourth son, she was a trained birth doula. She envisioned a waterbirth with her partner,  two midwives, and two doulas present. The birth and pregnancy were heavy in dealing with the ongoing race issues in our country and the experiences of Black men and boys. Giving herself space to release those feelings during long labor allowed her to relax in her body and give birth smoothly. Her vision would come true as she delivered her son in a haze of joy.Adding value to herself and the clients she serves now catapulted Esther to take a deep and intentional dive into more doula training and become a Certified Lactation Counselor. Additionally, she serves other doulas in the country as a mentor in birth work and business. Resources: Metro Mommy Agency | serving women with support and education to navigate through their journey into motherhood

Storytelling is always where the truth lies. It's an authentic account of our experiences - without modification, questions, or uncertainty. Validation that our experience and voice matter. We know what the narrative has been created around black fathers, what they are or aren't doing. What fatherhood has or hasn't meant to them. In our community, though we feel the truth, we know the role black fathers have in the foundation of their families.In 2020 in collaboration with Heather Gallagher (photojournalist Heather Gallagher photographer), we highlighted and amplified the voices of black fathers in our community. We are thrilled, to be able to bring the series back with five fathers from our local Columbus, Ohio community. Four of them sharing with us a little bit of who they are, what fatherhood means to them, and the joy in their journey. A special layer to this year was giving these fathers their flowers of celebration in partnership with Black Men Flower Project, and The Bloom Boutique 614. Black Men Flower Project gives blooms to show appreciation to Black men - honoring their life in the present moments. One father shared that this was the first time he had ever received flowers - beaming with pride, he exclaimed "I feel pretty!" These voices and their lives are a gift, and we are truly grateful and honored to share them with you all!

Raena Boston, Founder of the Chamber of Mothers and The Momtras, joined us to share her three birth experiences and the makings of motherhood. Raena's first pregnancy lead her down a new path for her family by choosing a birth center instead of a hospital. Her provider was off-putting and the idea of shifting to different providers within the practice helped her make the decision.The birth center experience with Baby Aksel was beautiful. She arrived at the birth center at 4 cm dilated after a night of laboring at home. Her husband, Travis, and their doula were supportive and helped her manage labor and delivery.Their second pregnancy would be a "happy accident" 10 months after their first son was born.  They chose to work with the birth center again. Baby Asher came a little over a week passed his estimated due date. Walking around the neighborhood was helpful but she had become anxious and tired of being pregnant. Not to mention managing a toddler through the last few days before the birth. True to form Raena arrived at the birth center 6cm dilated with the understanding of her body's needs helping direct her labor. The midwife was laid back and focused on ensuring Raena listened to her body and felt empowered through the process. Baby Asher was born shortly afterward with some concern as he arrived covered in meconiumAfter bringing two kids earthside Raena and Travis experienced a hard period in their marriage as they navigated how they would move forward together. 2021 would usher in another "happy accident" after they chose each other and worked on their relationship. This pregnancy and birth would be during the pandemic. They wanted to use the birth center again. The initial prenatal appointment was different, as discussions about her BMI became an issue. The nurse mentioned her race and BMI as reasons they needed to take more measures,including a daily aspirin and early screening for gestational diabetes, despite never having a medical history of high blood pressure or gestational diabetes. Raena attempted to address her concerns about how she was being treated; she regrets not listening to her gut. The mask mandate was rescinded in Florida; the practice also stopped requiring mask-wearing due to the pressure of other patients who didn't want to wear the masks. During a 38-week appointment, Raena was handed a packet for her appointment and a slip of paper fell out that read "BMI-out of bounds". She was instantly triggered by this and started to feel agitated. She then had a high blood pressure reading that led to a conversation that would make a major shift in her pregnancy. Raena's blood pressure continued to get higher as the days passed. She and Travis had started conversing about switching to a homebirth with another midwife. Her blood pressure reached 174/106; they planned to go to the hospital.Transitioning their birth plan was mentally challenging but after getting settled into the idea that she would stay at the hospital. Raena was able to maintain a decent BP without continuous high readings. They started an induction when Raena was ready, as she wanted a different doctor on call. The staff at the hospital was mindful that the hospital was not her first choice and worked with her through her options. The environment wasn't ideal; she pushed through her expectations. The intensity was high and the doctor wanted to break her water. She felt unheard and over-talked during labor. Raena pushed their baby out, and Travis announced the sex. They were on a high as they acknowledged that they had survived a challenging season in marriage and were proud of themselves as a couple.Processing her last birth has shed light on the lessons learned; like paying attention when people and places have changed or that you have changed and know you need something different. Listen to the wisdom of your body. Self-advocacy can be learned the hard way or we can pick it up from those who came before us. You don't have to be a model patient. Raena vows to never, ever abandon herself again.Resources:The Working Momtras | community of affirmations, stories, and connection - through the lens of motherhoodChamber of Mothers | a nonprofit focusing on uniting mothers as advocates to America's priorities on mothers' rights

A few years have passed since we last heard from Dasia. She shared her first birth story which included a home birth transfer to the hospital where she endured birth trauma. Since our last chat on the podcast, Dasia added birth doula to her growing list of titles and passions.  This second pregnancy was unexpected but welcome. Her threshold of knowledge had shifted not just within birth work but what she knew about herself after becoming a mother for the first time. In retrospect, she acknowledges that she wanted to repair the issues of her first traumatic birth and didn't allow herself to sit in the joy and miracle of the second birth. She dove head first, determined to create a birth dream team and the home birth of her desires. She found a doula and midwife that aligned with her needs. The desire to prepare her body for labor and commit to her care was strengthened by weekly commitments to a chiropractor, massage therapist, and float therapy. When asked if she sought mental health therapy during this pregnancy Dasia took us through a moment of self-reflection. She remembers researching therapists and never pushing forward. There is resistance to seeing one's self as deserving and not minimizing hardships about other difficult times. Her husband and best friend, Juvante, was working out of town for the majority of the pregnancy. His physical absence was the removal of her sounding board and being seen. This was an emotional strain but she still felt mentally sound, which made it feel less pressing to address. The idea of invalidating our own experiences is sitting with her and is allowing her to pause in the now. Unpacking this birth was two-fold as Dasia prepared for survival and maintained her plan to birth in a safe space.Dasia's labor started during her braiding appointment. Although she thought they were Braxton-Hicks her stylist sped up the process. Dasia consulted with her doula and midwife and they told her things would come as they were supposed to. She spent the rest of her day with her family as the contractions continued. The frequency and intensity of the contractions increased. She kept denying the labor but gave herself space to eat and rest. She finally informed the birth team how the day was going. She experienced a sharp pain through each contraction. She wasn't concerned but wanted to relieve it. Dasia came into acceptance of labor as she tried to take a warm bath that did not slow things down at all. There was a fear of losing stamina that stemmed from the first birth that pushed her to rest. The midwife arrived around 2:00 am and peacefully joined the space. Her husband stepped in as her doula as he was ever-present and supporting her needs. Squatting through her contractions while her husband held her felt deeply vulnerable. She could feel the shifts in engagement and transition proved mentally challenging as she was processing that her home birth was happening. Instincts kicked in and her body made the shifts needed to plant her feet in the present. Her husband told her he can see the baby's hair and they welcomed their second baby girl shortly afterward. Building a village of community support has been heavy work for Dasia and Juvante in this postpartum season. They are in a space of being close to family geographically but not connected in a way that supports their growing family's needs.  This is the challenge of postpartum, especially after the pandemic has weakened some relationships with distance. The intentionality of seeking out support and building relationships isn't easy but necessary. Resources:Therapy for Black Girls | online space dedicated to encouraging the mental wellness of Black women and girlsSpinning Babies | pregnancy preparation as well as labor activities to ease birthSusan the Birth Doula|specializes in birth and postpartum advocacy, education, and support for expecting mothersLove ‘N' Touch (Sekesa Berry) | traditional community midwifery care serving the Atlanta area

Birth doula and student-midwife Trinity Stephens is serving the Southwestern Ohio birthing community at an early age. She's 17 years old but has been a birth worker for four years. She completed her initial training with her Aunt Rhonda and has continued to build her skills and garner further education through training and hands-on work with local midwives.After attending her first birth, virtually, she couldn't serve in the hospital due to her age. Trinity reached out to local midwives to see if she could shadow them. Her parents were supportive and encouraged her to learn a trade; this work aligned with what they had instilled in her.  They fully invested in the desires of her heart. As a homeschooler, her schedule allows for freedom of choice and how she spends her time. Trinity was also able to attend college classes and started her research on Black Maternal and Infant Health and solutions to better outcomes and positive experiences. Her research led her to think beyond doula work and explore the obstetrician/gynecologist route. She knows that Black women need to feel safe in their pregnancy journey, and Trinity wants to be a haven. Eventually, she connected with a midwife willing to meet with her, and she has been attending births with her ever since. Trinity fell in love with home birth and has shifted her plans to become a midwife. Seeing safe, natural births have helped her see the possibilities for birthing people to birth without fear and unnecessary interventions. Trinity understands that midwives need to prepare for challenges during birth, and this has also helped her be patient with the midwifery process. She has attended over 100 births and counting. Each birth helps her become more confident about the work ahead. None of the births she has attended count towards her midwifery journey because she hasn't graduated from high school yet. She's not rushing the process and loves learning.Exploring her family tree regarding birth work has created some interest in her lineage and how it is a birthright. She has three practicing doulas in her family;  her cousin, BSiCs own, Danielle Jackson, her Aunt Rhonda, and her Great Aunt Joyce. She encourages more people to answer the call because our people need us. Stepping into the work humble and ready to receive correction. We have an ask - if you feel led to support Trinity with her Midwifery journey, please listen to her birth story, and donate to her Cashapp: Bennies Babies The Doula Service.

This is a story that includes loss - In memory of Troya SimoneKay's expectation of pregnancy was to feel joy. Her life was falling into place the way she wanted it to regarding her personal and professional life. She inquired about the effects of her workload and the pregnancy. Her provider said as long as she felt good, she could continue working the way she had been. Despite her provider's reassurance, she decided to start scaling back her work as a chef/entrepreneur. A few weeks later, she started feeling bad while she was at a party. She had a high pain tolerance and found herself pushing through without seeking help, submitting to the strong Black woman persona. The pain continued, and Kay called 911; she woke up in the ICU. Kay lost her baby. She lost the joy in her pregnancy. Her daughter was stillborn. She couldn't hold her, not because she wasn't allowed but because she didn't want to; there was a disconnect. Ten years later, she still feels that loss.The postpartum period for the parents of a stillborn child goes beyond the initial trauma of not bringing their child home. Kay and her husband live in the state of Texas, where it is required to name and bury their child. She had to ask the nurse where her baby was as if no one had considered her in the process. Her OB told her that she had never lost a baby. The coldness of the responses, tone, and lack of care added more pain to her grief. The medical staff at the hospital offered microaggressions with a side of coldness, leaving her to feel blamed for the loss. Life after the loss was harder than the loss. The words of her friends and family weren't comforting. The idea of another opportunity to be pregnant again didn't soothe or heal her. Give it time; tough words that proved to be isolating. The help she needed was hard to explain. She couldn't articulate what she needed even when people asked her directly. Kay described herself as a broken plate without enough glue to put it back together. A rebirth at 7-8 months postpartum saved Kay. She could feel herself withering away. The domino effect of infant loss started and shifted her community, the loss of things and people, friendships, and relationships, including her partner. They had to separate and rebuild from scratch after Kay spent some time to herself in deep healing. Journaling her feelings helped her explore her patterns and how to dictate the outcomes of her days. She started asking people about their birth stories, which opened the door for people to talk about their losses, abortions, joy, and pain. Kay saw the mental health needs of birthing people as a new cause to fight and build for. Her life as a chef was winding down as she fulfilled her commitments without the love for the work.Kay's passion for Black Maternal Mental Health grew The Shades of Blue Project. Centering the experience of birth and not the outcome is inclusive and not isolating. Social support in the form of diapers, formula, etc. Mental health support for losses of all types, miscarriages, stillbirths, and abortions. Creating safe spaces that are accessible for the people, decreasing barriers to resources, help serve those who need it most. A beautiful boutique designed to empower its clients to be engaged in their own experiences with dignity. What you do for yourself helps you serve others. This year (2023) the Black Maternal Mental Health Week, created and hosted by Kay and The Shades of Blue Project, will continue their I.N.S.P.I.R.E. Method training. The intention is to provide compassionate care methods specifically for women of color and minorities, which doulas can implement, midwives, clinicians, and those facilitating support groups. Resources:Shades of Blue Project | dedicated to helping women before, during and after child-birth with community resources, mental health advocacy, treatment and support

Creatives Jenni & Bryson had built a life together, centering their work in music and writing before their baby girl joined the family. Their pregnancy journey started with extreme nausea for Jenni. She sought medical support for her discomfort and found relief in prescription nausea medication. Jenni was interested in midwifery care but was “risked out” due to blood pressure issues. However, she was able to find medical providers that met her needs.Listening to and watching birth stories helped Jenni prepare for pregnancy and birth. It came to a point where she had to start filtering her choices as it became information overload that triggered anxiety. Bryson and Jenni attended a virtual birthing class together and hired a doula toward the end of the pregnancy for additional support with advocacy and physical support. Deep-seated fear surrounding dying during childbirth under the care of hospital providers had settled into Jenni's psyche. Routine prenatal appointments left her second-guessing the information she received from her providers. Jenni reached out to other Black medical and birth professionals for reassurance and additional information. The challenges of being a pregnant Black woman felt mentally heavy, constantly trying to read between the lines and discern information for accuracy. She found herself being very direct when with her care providers as she needed an induction. Jenni was concerned about a pulmonary embolism as she saw it in the media as a common cause of death or challenges during childbirth. She discussed a plan of care if she developed clots before consenting to her subsequent surgical birth.Jenni and Bryson chose a surgical birth after a prolonged, four-day induction. The surgery was a shift from her vision but ended up being the most positive and relieving part of her labor and birth story.  Jenni felt good after her birth in terms of pain management. Once her body calmed down when they were at home, she could feel the sleep deprivation in conjunction with breastfeeding challenges. Their daughter had screaming fits that led them to call the nurse for support; that night, their nurse explored the idea of one night of baby formula. Jenni gave herself permission to rest by using supplemental formula for the night. Bryson ventured out in the middle of the night to purchase a can. However, when he returned to the house, all was well, and their baby girl had nursed. The reassurance of having a backup plan to feed their baby gave them some relief and peace. Their breastfeeding journey has been enjoyable for Jenni and their baby girl.Accessing local programs for moms and families was a significant key to planning for birth and managing postpartum life. Jenni recommends exploring what is available in your area, especially if designed for Black families. Centering the whole family's needs beyond the pregnancy added value to their parenting journey. Resources:Healthy Birth Initiative | opening up access to health care and providing ongoing support to pregnant Black and African American women and their families before and after birthBlack Parent Initiative | culture-specific, community-centered organization, creating innovative, culturally-relevant and sustainable interventions and opportunities for families

Black & Queer Mama, Shay Australia and her Filipino partner, Paul, took a deep dive into preconception into what pregnancy would look like for him and her clear expectations of his engagement. He was locked in and in agreement with how he wanted to show up. They both made changes during the pregnancy to improve their health, which included smoking cessation and abstaining from alcohol. They made a commitment to be involved with doula and midwifery care. After trying to conceive for a few months without success, they took a break from trying and they found out they were expecting soon after. During their break, Shay attended a doula training and gained a wealth of knowledge that she immediately found helpful.Shay was unsure of how they would manage the costs of their birth plan desires. She applied for Medi-Cal and unleashed a barrage of resources that helped them access the support they wanted. They would plan to deliver at a birthing center with a midwife. She took advantage of prenatal yoga, walking groups, and other classes that would support their journey. Paul leaned into his role and prepared for the birth side by side with Shay.Deep-growing fears about bringing their baby earthside started to cause anxiety for her. Knowing her baby was safe within her body was assuring. However, the time would come when she would have to manage parenthood in the outside world. They started to develop a birth plan and decide who to invite to their sacred space. Her midwife helped her set the tone and environment that would welcome their child. They started curating a list of people that best fit the space they wanted to create. This exercise made way for uncomfortable conversations with people they loved. Managing conversations about gender identity was critical in creating the family dynamics and open communication they desired. These conversations and challenges with relationships through the pregnancy drastically changed her initial ideas about birth presence. Isolation set in, causing emotional stress but allowed her to center herself and Paul as they stepped into this new chapter together.Paul and Shay's labor and delivery experience started after a week of prodromal labor. They were deep in labor land at home until they decided when they could go to the birthing center. The midwife met them at their home to support and monitor her progress. Shortly after their time together, they were ready to transition to the birthing space. Contractions were building as the intensity grew. Shay felt fully supported to trust her body and baby to birth. She reached the point of no return as the baby slipped out quickly. They bonded immediately as their lactation journey began with the newborn crawl.Arriving home about three hours after the delivery was jarring as they felt unprepared to be left alone with a new human. Paul felt safe with Shay's wealth of knowledge, while she was not as confident as he believed she was. They watched their baby be content to sleep for hours and listened for breathing. After a couple of weeks of confinement, Shay welcomed guests to drop off food and brief check-ins. Shay's physical recovery was going well until she had a spell of blurred vision, a headache, and faintness came upon her. Having spent much of her life experiencing these symptoms as a form of migraines set in. She called Paul for support and reported to the hospital. The doctors performed tests and procedures to determine a diagnosis. However, they did not have a physical health diagnosis and recommended a mental health evaluation. The mental health professionals determined Shay's physical manifestations were anxiety, which gave her an understanding that she had been experiencing anxiety her whole life. She was grateful to have a diagnosis that has led to a healthier mental health outlook. Shay stands by setting boundaries in life, especially during pregnancy for expectant families. She has created a series of books about motherhood and a birth story journal that helps birthing people process their pregnancy and labor in real-time and as postpartum support.Resources:Roots of Labor Birth Collective | doula support serving families in the Bay areaBirthing Justice | black women, pregnancy & childbirthJulia Chinyere Oparah | Birthing Justice co-editor, professor, and chair of Ethnic Studies at Mills College and a founding member of Black Women Birthing JusticeSumi's Touch | full spectrum pregnancy, birth, and postpartum support and doula trainingBirthland | Oakland based, women of color owned midwifery practiceMarin Family Birth Center | provides innovative health and wellness services to all, with the goal of African American health equityKindred Soul | offers families support before, during and after birth through Doula Services, Midwifery Care, herbal products and more

With the culmination of a marriage biodata form, a year of cyberstalking, and the power of liquid courage Priya and Harsh finally connected. After a  short courtship, they would marry during the Covid-19 pandemic. The couple found out they were expecting their first child while still managing the pandemic and the challenges it would bring to their parenthood journey. They were committed to learning how to prepare for birth.Priya would experience intense fatigue during the first trimester, depending heavily on support from her sister for guidance and an empathetic employer for grace. The second-trimester energy provided an opportunity to front-load her work to prepare for maternity leave. Harsh and Priya researched and prepared for their birth and postpartum; they felt empowered by their education. Additionally, Priya continued to exercise throughout the pregnancy. They filled their knowledge gaps utilizing books, podcasts, and a birth class. She engaged in collecting gently used baby items to lower the costs of welcoming their little one using a “buy nothing group.” Harsh was focused on keeping Priya happy and setting the family up for success. His mother was critical in maintaining a steady supply of prepared meals for them during pregnancy and in the postpartum period. Intentional postpartum planning included a traditional Indian baby shower that helped them feel supported.Due to the nature of the pandemic and limited access to additional hospital guests, Harsh took on the task of learning doula skills. He studied physiological birth and ways to manage the birthing space, which included the BRAIN acronym (Benefits, Risks, Alternatives, Instinct or Intuition, and Nothing). These skills were instrumental in making decisions for Priya and baby as shifts arose.On the day labor started, they tested their new skills and managed laboring at home until they suspected a ruptured membrane (her water broke). Because they were unsure of the leak, they contacted the hospital and planned to make their way in to check and bring their bags in case they needed to stay. They were informed that it was hospital policy to keep patients whose membranes had ruptured regardless of their stage of labor. Priya and Harsh kept busy by having a dance party and keeping Priya active as much as possible to help the baby engage and progress. Harsh was attentive and helped Priya build her oxytocin levels. She recounted the magical feelings she had with him being there. Their partnership was in full bloom in the birthing space. Harsh describes his most important job as maintaining the order of operations for comforting Priya. It included supporting her breathing, music & dancing, her favorite crepe cake, and a “push” gift.After realizing that each nurse on duty had a different skill set, taking ownership of her labor would help them get back in the driver's seat of their care. Priya recalled her Built to Birth class resources that reminded her to stay active even with an epidural. She enlisted Harsh and tried to enlist the nurses to help support position changes but was met with resistance. She eventually allowed her body to rest and prepare for the next stage of labor. Harsh's vantage point allowed him to see kind caregivers who weren't trained to promote natural physiological birth. He also realized that he was the only man in the room and his voice felt small in this space. He didn't feel  he had a right to tell everyone (including Priya) to pause and bring attention back to their birth plan and preferences. He's confident that other men feel the same way and would benefit from having a female doula to advocate in the room to help slow down the pace.After 3-4 hours of pushing and intense back pain, Priya's provider recommended a surgical birth. Harsh and Priya agreed that after discussing their case and acknowledging all of the hard work she had put in, to make an empowered decision to have a surgical birth. Harsh praised the caregiver team as the surgery was efficient and smooth. They met their son and gently bonded with him as Priya continued to receive care.Immediately postpartum, they surprisingly discovered that their doctor had a horrible bedside manner. They had experienced being rushed at prenatal appointments but had considered it a system issue. However, they felt dismissed after asking the provider for more information about her body during and after surgery. She recommended they watch a YouTube video as she couldn't explain her eight years of medical experience. Postpartum is going well. Family care supported the first six months after the baby was born. They have developed a playbook and contribute to it as the family shifts, and their baby grows. It keeps them connected and helps balance the parenting load gap.Their advice for expectant and new parents… ask for help, accept the support, stay out of work for as long as possible, access physical therapy, and involve the non-birthing partner in everything.(BSiC TIP- You can sign an Against Medical Advisement (AMA) form to leave a hospital if you determine that is what is best for you.)Resources:Built to Birth | online evidence-based childbirth education class

After a high blood pressure read at 20 weeks gestation, Mya started care with Maternal Fetal Medicine out of an abundance of caution. Seven weeks later, she would report to the hospital with a headache, feeling sick, and an even higher blood pressure reading, ultimately diagnosed with preeclampsia. Mya, a registered nurse, immediately knew her birth would be different than expected. Her doula met her at the hospital, as she was still being monitored and trying to keep the baby in utero as long as possible. Mya faced many decisions regarding her care about how she wanted to deliver her daughter; vaginal induced birth or surgical birth. She decided on a surgical birth. Mya wanted her husband to be engaged in the process by being able to cut the cord. During delivery, she was still managing her blood pressure through medications, magnesium sulfate, and Labetalol. The magnesium sulfate was hard on her body as it caused nausea, and she wasn't allowed to eat during administration. Balancing different rooms to stabilize her blood pressure and monitoring; went on for eight days until her daughter was born. Mya noted that administering medication for a patient versus being the patient was a very different experience. She had to step out of her "nurse mind" to be able to advocate for herself.As baby Aria's umbilical cord showed signs of inadequate blood flow; Mya initiated the request for her cesarean birth. She would enter the world healthy, screaming with her eyes wide open. She weighed a little over a pound and was rushed to the NICU with her father.  Mya stayed at the hospital for three additional days. She was ready to go home for rest and nourishment, but it was gut-wrenching to have to leave her daughter at the hospital. Thankfully, she had started pumping and was able to deliver several tubes of colostrum to the NICU before leaving.Mya's birth experience has allowed her to become more vulnerable. She confided in her husband and parents that she was not okay and leaned into them for support. She shared the term NICU PTSD and the effects it can have on new parents. Mya had to face the reality that her child might not come home. Therapy was her saving grace to cope with anxiety and concerns about Aria.From her own experience, Mya is creating a virtual safe space for moms to connect. Advising new parents as a trained doula Mya has developed a list of tips for expectant families. Start with researching providers, hire a doula to support you and prepare you for birth, learn about the NICU facility in the hospital,  and hire a lactation consultant that makes you feel comfortable. You can connect with more of Mya's journey and support offerings here. Resources:Saul's Light | New Orleans-based nonprofit that provides support and community to families with babies in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).March of Dimes | education, research, support & advocacy for moms and babiesSilvie Bells |  nonprofit organization that provides care packages with heart rate & oxygen monitors to medically fragile NICU babies

Dr. Nicole Carter founded HUES Women's Advocacy Institute to train Women of Color as health and wellness advocates to support other Women of Color in self-efficacy and advocacy. Her work stems from a personal experience managing three autoimmune disorders and connecting with her college students about their shared health concerns.She took on the responsibility of helping the students learn how to navigate health systems. The organic relationships built with the college students were the catalysts in creating the institute.Dr. Carter steers the focus beyond changing patient behaviors by addressing the actions of medical providers. Their provider-based institute teaches medical professionals how to provide inclusive, equitable care that centers on the history and lives of Black, Indigenous, and Women of Color.HUES was founded in the Summer of 2022; they have hit the ground running by garnering support and buy-in from the community. The intention is to continue hosting live events and growing their institute participants. One of their initiatives is the Blooming Circle of Advocates. The idea is that a flower blooms from one gene to help it bloom. It can take just one person to advocate for you or listen to you and change the trajectory of your care. Care should be intentional and thoughtful, which is why HUES delivers education for providers and care seekers.Resources:HUES | women's health advocacy institute Queens Village | supportive community of powerful Black women coming together to improve Black infant mortality from the ground up

High school sweethearts Elizabeth and Luis started to build their family shortly after marriage. There was no family history of infertility, but after many conversations within their circle, they felt it was worth starting a family as soon as possible. After learning more about ovulation tracking, they were expecting their first child without any challenges. Thankfully the internet didn't let them down the way her provider did by telling her to try to conceive and come to her in a year if it didn't work.Elizabeth recalls having some fatigue early in the pregnancy. And overall felt like she had a happy, energized pregnancy. Exercising during pregnancy felt good, simply moving her body. Recognizing limitations on her body helped her stay in tune with herself.Fear of birth was built up by not knowing enough about the process - education helped release this fear. They took childbirth education and prenatal yoga together, which also helped them bond in the experience.When they arrived at the hospital for labor, Elizabeth started to feel the cascade of interventions taking away her voice. She felt disconnected from her body after receiving an epidural. The pushing stage was long, three hours long. The feelings of joy she expected when her daughter arrived earthside were replaced with relief. It was over. Their nursing journey started as painful as the baby had a lip tie. Elizabeth didn't feel equipped with proper knowledge of breastfeeding and pumping. Their discharge felt overwhelming, and they would go home with a crying baby with minimal support. They hired three different lactation counselors and endured two lip tie procedures. Elizabeth was determined to have a nursing relationship with her daughter, and she did.Elizabeth wanted something different for their second birth as she recalled her first pregnancy. This time she was diagnosed with gestational diabetes, which pushed her to make some health and nutrition changes as she worked through the initial shame she felt from the diagnosis. Sharing her diagnosis with friends and other birthing people helped her work through the emotions as others shared that they had endured the same. They hired a doula to provide additional support for managing the pregnancy and labor.Labor was spontaneous, and she managed the contractions at home in a way that felt good and empowering. She isolated herself as labor progressed. Luis was more engaged during labor as he found his role this time. They would arrive at the hospital already 9.5 cm dilated with a cervical lip. She had created an environment to stay connected to her body with music and utilizing an eye mask during contractions. Elizabeth maintained her voice throughout her hospital experience. She asked questions and spoke up when she needed help. They welcomed their second daughter less than an hour after arriving at the hospital feeling joyful and empowered.Youtube & Instagram Recommendations from Elizabeth:Robyn Compton - gestational diabetes dietitianYour Badass Natural Birth - childbirth educationThe Pelvic Docs - pelvic health supportNurse ZabeBodyFit by AmyNourish Move LoveSara Beth YogaResources:Kellymom | provides evidence-based breastfeeding and parenting information to both professionals and parentsAZ Breastfed Babies | international board certified lactation consultants providing in person and virtual consults located in ArizonaReal Food for Gestational Diabetes by Lily Nichols | book providing effective alternatives to the conventional nutrition approachThe Birth Partner | a complete guide to childbirth for dads, partners, doulas, and all other labor companionsNatural Hospital Birth |a guide for navigating the hospital setting with minimal birth interventionsThe Birth Hour Podcast | birth stories and pregnancy resourcesBirthful Podcast | podcast talking to perinatal pros and new parents to inform your intuitionBuilt to Birth | online childbirth education

*We recommend listening to this episode in two parts, there is so much to learn from Janelle & Mivon's story, and we hope you take the time and space to connect to all the intricacies of it*Janelle & Mivon perfectly timed their conception to align with their wedding day. They were able to share their pregnancy with their wedding guests as a sweet surprise.The early stages of pregnancy were plagued with exhaustion and food aversions. Her midwife reminded her that the work of growing a baby was intense. This allowed Janelle to give herself grace for what she had considered “laziness.” Aligning their spirituality with their birth and parenting goals with the support of a spiritual doula helped them feel ready and calm.After preparing for months through education, optimizing their physical health, and mental preparation, labor started one night, as it often does. A quiet moment of solitude brought Janelle gently into labor land as she practiced her breathing and tracked her contractions in the darkness. Eventually, they made it to the birthing center to determine progress and the next steps. Mivon, Janelle, and her mom started to create a peaceful environment and managed consistent contractions, and progressed through early labor. Time passed, and Janelle fell back into solitude when space allowed. During a heart rate check, the midwife captured a heart deceleration, and the baby's heart recovered quickly. More time passed, but her dilation had not changed, accompanied by another heart deceleration. The difficult conversation about the possibility of a hospital transfer was necessary. The midwife felt confident that the baby was ok and encouraged movement. Mivon and Janelle's mother started to feel uncertain about their plans to stay at the birthing center. Janelle felt the shifts in the room. She trusted her intuition and stuck to the plan, and trusted in the midwife and Janelle. Prayer and shifting through position changes led to active labor and no more decelerations. Mivon's hands would be the first to touch Baby Zara as Janelle pushed her out. Skin-to-skin started immediately with Janelle as they welcomed their child and the flood of emotions that would ensue.Baby Zara would come earthside on her late uncle's birthday, making her entry a blessing and a tribute. The term labor is fitting as the work for her to get here was intentional and intense.They have had a great breastfeeding relationship and are managing cloth diapering. Work/life balance needs pushed Janelle to quit her job. Mivon quit his job, too, fostering happiness and creating the family life they desired. They were able to find new positions that met their individual and family needs. Janelle remembers the highs and lows of her emotions as she adjusted into motherhood. Leaning into her support system proved beneficial and has eased her concerns for her mental health. Surrendering to the flow has helped her maintain and manage continuous transitions of new parenthood.Resources:The Business of Being Born | a 2008 documentary film that explores the contemporary experience of childbirth in the United States

Celia Kelly Bouza and her husband, Terrell, welcomed two children in the last three years while managing their busy careers at ESPN. Leading up to their son Axel's pregnancy, they were met with a PCOS diagnosis for Celia and a miscarriage. The provider was supportive and helped them manage fertility support, and their journey was off to a great start.  However, upon arriving at the hospital, the nurses didn't provide the support she had expected. There was a series of heart decelerations and position changes that led to an emergency surgical birth (belly birth) Things happened so quickly that the staff forgot to bring her husband along. He made it just in time as the surgery commenced. Due to meconium aspiration, there was a delay in bonding due to breathing issues, and was transported to a local children's hospital, his father went with him. Thankfully, Celia's best friend had been there for the labor and stayed with her. Celia was transferred to the same hospital after 12 hours of waiting. Their nursing journey started with pumping and delivering colostrum to the NICU.After fertility challenges conceiving the first child, Celia and Terrell had no problems when they decided to expand their family again. Celia decided to hire a doula for additional support for her second pregnancy. She had experienced a dismissive provider about her extreme nausea early on, prompting her to change the medical team. Celia found her doula Whitley after a quick Instagram search. Whitley was forthcoming about her inexperience with VBAC as she met with Celia and offered her referrals to additional doulas. However, Celia felt they were the perfect fit due to her humility and their instant connection. This pregnancy through a few curve balls as they managed placenta previa, a slight increase in protein in the urine, and a couple of high blood pressure reads. The placenta previa would resolve itself but the other two issues led to an induction that triggered PTSD from her first birth experience.  Celia, Terrell, and Whitley arrived at the hospital for the induction. They were armed with deep knowledge of her medical records from Axel's birth, empowered to make informed decisions, and a strong desire to have a redemptive birth.After a rocky start, Whitley helped create an environment to help Celia relax and rest. That space of peace would be interrupted as her dilation and progress didn't match her expectations as the induction went on. The spiral started, and Celia's mood shifted; her doula helped her recenter and reclaim her power in that moment of deep discouragement. They made some decisions about pausing the Pitocin and starting an epidural. The epidural placement did not go as expected. The anesthesiologist denied her reality when she told him it wasn't working. She effectively banned him from her care team. The epidural was fixed, and she started to feel relief. Celia got her redemption by way of VBAC; despite the baby having a “true knot” and meconium present in the amniotic fluid, there were no complications. Celia was also able to find a space in healing about the loss of her mother in the same hospital she had just given birth in. A true story of redemption that has allowed her to feel a sense of wholeness. Resources:Nubeing Doula Services | childbirth education and doula services in the Greater Hartford area

Intentional family planning set up Deborah Woodson and her husband, Mike, for an empowering journey. She started eating healthier and working out before they started trying. YouTube offered helpful insight about ovulation, and they conceived soon afterward. Homebirth was top of mind, but they were in a relocation transition, so they started care with an OB. After Deborah interviewed a few midwives, she landed on one that clicked with her, Grand Midwife Claudia Booker. They would continue care with both providers to cover all the possibilities. Meanwhile, she still needed to get her husband on board with the idea of home birth. Watching documentaries and reading articles about birth and, specifically, Black birth experiences helped bring the two of them in step with home birth planning.Early morning bathroom trips hinted that early labor would start soon. However, after some nausea and a walk, the body shifts calmed down. Deborah's mom was there and shared that she believed labor would start that day as she managed her stomach pains. Her mom was right, Deborah would lose her mucus plug that night, and intense contractions began. Her midwife advised that she rest and to contact her when things picked up. Deborah fell into labor land and frequently retreated within herself. Their baby girl arrived before the midwife. However, her husband, mother, and sister were present in the home. Shock kept her frozen as she waited for her midwife's care. Mike held their daughter, sobbing with joy.Deborah's key takeaway from her first birth was learning that she could rely on her body. She became more aware of the intricacies of her body and how it changed. She felt good physically in the immediate postpartum period.Less than two years after their daughter's birth, their family expanded again. There was an unexpected shift in care providers as they learned they had lost their midwife after a hard-fought battle with cancer. The loss deeply hurt Deborah; grief showed up as she had to find another midwife. She had grown close to Claudia and was accustomed to her no-nonsense approach to care that she needed. Eventually, she connected with a birth center to establish care while she searched for a homebirth midwife. She found a midwife that knew Claudia and that was comforting her.Deborah struggled with the concept of expansive love for multiple children. The pregnancy was uneventful and without physical challenges. Deborah's hyperawareness about her body helped her know that her baby had shifted to a breech position. Her midwife helped her flip the baby through skillful maneuvering. Labor was a lot more painful as they discovered during the pushing phase he was malpositioned in  LOT (Left Occiput Transverse). Once he was delivered, her baby was calm; the family bonded comfortably in their home.Her second birth has helped her release the need to control and embrace flexibility. Parenting two young children comes with the need for patience and understanding of their individual needs.

Yoga Instructor and traveling Occupational Therapist, Kelly Barnes shared her quicker than expected homebirth at 37 weeks. An experience she describes as "challenging, overwhelming, and rewarding all at the same time." Her expectations regarding when and how she would give birth were dismantled but the result was pure magic.Kelly maintained an active lifestyle which included yoga and running throughout her pregnancy. Dual care with a certified homebirth midwife and OB. Envisioning a water birth was a focal point for Kelly as she embarked on her pregnancy. As a contingency, she enlisted dual care with a licensed professional midwife for the homebirth and an obstetrician to cover in case she needed to transfer from home.Building up to her maternity leave, she loaded up on work to fully fund her maternity leave. As the nesting phase started to kick in she started to show signs of early labor. This sudden change caught Kelly off guard, and she wasn't mentally or physically prepared for the baby to arrive. Her husband enlisted her sister to help her reconnect in mind and body to settle into the reality that she didn't have weeks to prepare. Labor progressed as her husband scrambled to complete the homebirth checklist, thankfully, their doula was present to support her. The atmosphere shifted as her team slowly made their way to the home and set up the environment. Kelly managed labor with what was familiar to her, movement. She would live out her vision as she pushed her baby out.Postpartum wellness was intentional for Kelly as she knew what challenges could be ahead of them. One issue was breastfeeding, Kelly found that latching issues and a painful and fast letdown would discourage the experience. Her support group and doula helped center her in this new work for her and the baby. The emotional lows were expected, but she didn't know how it would feel. Allowing her body to rest and relax while she embraced her husband, and taking on additional responsibilities in the home has aided in her healing.Birth and motherhood are teaching Kelly that research is key, aligning with your care provider, and making informed choices.Resources:NATAL | a podcast docuseries about having a baby while Black in the USHomecoming Podcast |black home birth storiesDoing it at Home Podcast | space for empowered, loving and real birth stories and conversations from home birth familiesMindful Birthing | training the mind, body, and heart for childbirth and beyondThe Bradley Method | childbirth education series

In collaboration with Pacify Health, this month's episodes will focus on the doulas. You'll hear conversations with four Pacify Doulas, getting a chance to reflect on “ The Other Side” of birth. Today we meet Danielle Miller.Danielle Miller was an established lactation counselor when the call to birth doula work pulled her in as a change agent supporting Black birthing people. She completed both birth and postpartum training, allowing her to build upon her skills. The first birth she attended felt like such an honor that she couldn't believe she had waited to become a doula. The love for the work has determined her path, and feels purposeful. Witnessing babies come earthside has demanded she respect the process, not rush and allow.Introducing virtual support to her practice with the Pacify app has further developed her skills to provide more mental guidance for her clients. Tapping into the ability to reach clients from wherever was uncomfortable but necessary. Now she embraces it as birth can call on mindfulness that connects with the body. Helping mothers and birthing people feel seen and heard during their pregnancy and labor is key to how they feel about their experience.Danielle has coined the term “Pacify is the uber of doulas.” When her purple app lights up, she knows she's about to connect with someone and can share information about birth. It provides an extra layer of protection for people not feel alone and helps them find their voice. The convenience of the app for doulas has helped her work/life balance. She is generally up with her newborn at night and has created a life for her family that allows her to support both in-person and virtually while being present at home.Sponsors:Pacify Health | virtual, value-based maternal and pediatric carePacify Health is the leading provider of virtual, value-based maternal and pediatric care. The Pacify tech-enabled platform provides 24/7 perinatal and infant feeding support to new and expecting parents via their smartphones. The Pacify app connects families to a nationwide network of doulas, lactation consultants, and registered nurses within minutes, reducing costs and improving outcomes for managed care organizations, public health programs, health systems and employers.

In collaboration with Pacify Health, this month's episodes will focus on the doulas. You'll hear conversations with four Pacify Doulas, getting a chance to reflect on “ The Other Side” of birth. Today we meet Zoerina Ledwidge.A college assignment captured Zoerina's attention; it was a report on the maternal mortality rates in the DC area. She took into account the disproportionate findings regarding Black women. The report introduced her to the positive impact of doula support for birth. Zoerina discovered  Mamatoto Village, where she was introduced to holistic perinatal care. After training there and attending births; she was instantly hooked. They offered opportunities to shadow experienced doulas at births, which helped build her confidence.Zoerina balances the new ways of in-person and virtual support while anchoring in a holistic approach to birth. Initially, virtual support was tricky in developing a voice that was not in the birthing room with her first virtual client. There were lapses in communication, but now she feels like she has been able to get the kinks out. Letting go of her own expectations and allowing her presence alone to be the best thing she can provide for her clients. She helps her clients develop birth wishes instead of birth plans to ease their minds about what they want to happen, allowing them to surrender to the process.Pacify's virtual doula app has supported Zoerina's passion for finding new ways to serve the black community. Because Pacify is available to all people with Medicaid in select states, it provides accessible care for Black people who may not be able to take on the expense. Over 50% of the doulas on the network are Black; culturally affirming and sensitive care is critical. This platform allows Zoerina and other doulas to answer questions that may not be addressed during prenatal visits regarding common discomforts and concerns. Many topics can be addressed during the doula calls; the importance of prenatal care, finding a doctor or midwife they trust, explaining the process of labor and birth, pain management and coping skills, bodily changes, and stress management are just a few.A few takeaways from Zoerina - get a doula; there is a doula for everyone, and seek lactation support for infant feeding. Lactation consultants support formula feeding and breast/chestfeeding. Pacify offers both!Families who call Pacify are connected with convenient 24/7 on-demand access, support with creating a personalized Birth Wish List,  access to a resource library, evidence-based information, non-judgmental support, and the boundary of the virtual environment. Resources:Mamatoto Village | providing accessible perinatal support services devoted to serving Black mothers, babies, and their familiesSponsors:Pacify Health | virtual, value-based maternal and pediatric carePacify Health is the leading provider of virtual, value-based maternal and pediatric care. The Pacify tech-enabled platform provides 24/7 perinatal and infant feeding support to new and expecting parents via their smartphones. The Pacify app connects families to a nationwide network of doulas, lactation consultants, and registered nurses within minutes, reducing costs and improving outcomes for managed care organizations, public health programs, health systems and employers.

Yasmin had a natural inclination to work with babies at an early age. She thought she would be a gynecologist or pediatrician; the pain of seeing sick children shifted her career plans.  She became a teacher instead, and her love for being an educator was helpful when choosing birth work. After training in birth and postpartum work, she included lactation and even explored a path to midwifery.Yasmin has noticed how hard women can be on themselves from her  experience as a mother and a birth worker. Remembering her personal vulnerabilities informs her practice regarding the need for patience, gentleness, and compassionate care.Working with Pacify has amplified the educational component of her doula experience. She can work with families through the app and can address prenatal questions and concerns. The ability to touch more lives via lactation and doula support through this medium blows her mind. It is not lost on her when she greets a Black or Brown parent who is excited to see someone who looks like them. Acknowledging parents that call Pacify that are Black and using doula support and breastfeeding resources is important to her. Black families are among the lowest demographic to initiate breast/chestfeeding. The lack of diversity in the lactation field partially contributes to this statistic.When women have a baby, it may be the only time in their lives that people offer unsolicited help. Yasmin encourages new parents to ask about their family traditions surrounding birth and postpartum and for help with unexpected needs. Many cultures report healing practices about maintaining warmth in the birth giver's body and staying home in the first 40 days after birth. These traditions are major keys to Yasmin's postpartum practice; she shares them with virtual and in-person clients.Her doula journey continues to unfold; Yasmin is grateful to add her time with Pacify as priceless work. She feels supported by the team and valued as they provide a consumer-driven service and a space for doulas to make a difference for new parents and for their work to be deemed necessary.  

In collaboration with Pacify Health, this month's episodes will focus on the doulas. You'll hear conversations with four Pacify Doulas, getting a chance to reflect on “ The Other Side” of birth. Today we meet Lare Ngofa.Free-Spirited, science-loving Lare is a birth and postpartum doula who entered the birth worker world when she caught her baby cousin at age 16. She deepened her knowledge of holistic pregnancy care through education and family conversations, but she waited to move forward in the work as she wanted to explore other avenues. While working through her career choices, her mother was diagnosed with cancer. Lare shifted gears to care for her and her autistic brothers. Unfortunately, treatment would not heal Lare's mother as she passed away after a brief hospice stay. Lare refocused her intentions on what family and work would look like; as she managed the waves of grief.  Lare finally trained as a doula with the support of her cousin and has developed a practice that features intuitive and holistic care in the Los Angeles area. Supporting families in-person and virtually allows Lare and other birth workers to be accessible to families who want their services. Doulas spend a lot of time educating families on their options and encouraging them to give birth without fear. Lare found that her clients teach her new techniques and advice as well. One client taught her the value of a focal point in the birthing space and reminded her that she told her, ”Surrender or be dragged; surrender to this process or be dragged through it.” The connection between doulas, birth givers, and new parents can vary based on personalities and individual needs. This unique relationship helps build trust and confidence for birth and the subsequent parenting journey. Doulas can only take credit for the role required of them and how they show up in sacred spaces. A chance encounter with a client coping with a mother fighting cancer would transform Lare's practice. She stepped into asking the hard questions that pulled back the curtains of grief as her client lost her mother during the third trimester of her pregnancy. The weight of being a motherless mother was bearing down on them. With no expectation of how to feel or be Lare held space for her client to ground herself into simply being present. These types of relationships are built one conversation at a time. Choosing to connect and open up about our experiences and concerns about pregnancy and birth is developed by taking the first step of reaching out to a known resource. Every call will not be a deep and emotional conversation, but every call is a human connection. Working with Pacify has added value to Lare's doula practice; she is now accessible to people who may not be within her reach financially or geographically. Sponsors:Pacify Health | virtual, value-based maternal and pediatric carePacify Health is the leading provider of virtual, value-based maternal and pediatric care. The Pacify tech-enabled platform provides 24/7 perinatal and infant feeding support to new and expecting parents via their smartphones. The Pacify app connects families to a nationwide network of doulas, lactation consultants, and registered nurses within minutes, reducing costs and improving outcomes for managed care organizations, public health programs, health systems and employers.

This is a story about loss and rebirth; specifically what the Medical Industrial Complex deems a “near miss.” A maternal near miss occurs when someone nearly died but survived a complication that occurred during pregnancy, childbirth, or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy. Consider where your mind, body, and spirit are sitting during the time you read and listen to this story. Shawnise embarked on her third pregnancy with intentional care for herself and growing her family one last time. She managed her health and nutrition while raising her other daughters without complications in her pregnancy.  A mother's quiet preparation had carried her through to term. She planned a tubal ligation after the birth upon deciding that her family was complete. Shawnise understood that the procedure was simple and harmless, that would not be the case for Shawnise. Soon after delivering her daughter, she was rushed into the operating room for her procedure, not allowing time for skin-to-skin or initiating lactation. Post-surgery, she showed signs of severe illness over the next few days. The family immediately advocated for her care and informed her care providers that something was wrong and that she may be showing signs of infection. The response was not immediate and was dismissive at first. Her family pushed harder for emergent care; exploratory surgery began that night. Shawnise would spend two months in the hospital after being diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure, Renal Failure, Perforated Bowel, Double Pneumonia, and Upper Respiratory Failure.  Shawnise's thoughts started to echo that she would not survive. Shawnise flatlined on the day before her expected discharge from the hospital. Her sister returned to the hospital and showed up in her scrubs from her job. She was mistaken for a staff member as they interacted with her in the room. Only discovering later that she was Shawnise's sister after she passed out seeing her lifeless sister on the bed. Twenty minutes passed as Shawnise experienced a spiritual awakening in what she calls the Afterlife. She describes feeling the love and grace of God before being sent back home. After her revival and subsequent discharge, she would report additional health concerns. She would receive a pacemaker to keep her heart beating and depression would settle in. Before her surgery, she had no preexisting conditions or health challenges. Her previous pregnancies were uncomplicated. Shawnise had a support system that helped her with the transitions and daily work as a mother of three and managing her healthcare. Trauma has a way of stealing joy from beautiful moments in our lives. You would never know that Baby Kensie's birth was peaceful. It was perfectly normal. The pregnancy was beautiful. The family was strong then and even stronger today. Addressing her mental health has brought her to the point of sharing her story of triumph. Shawnise wakes up every day and can care for her children. Love helps her move forward and not look back.  Resources:Shawnise Website | shawnise chantellGod Within the Lily | the shawnise chantell story - the death and resurrection of me

Oona-Ife and Anthony were hosting friends at their home when they decided she should take a pregnancy test. She took the test because she had spent the night throwing up after a night of eating steak and butter pecan ice cream. They learned they were expecting a baby, and the news brought so much joy that they had to stifle their excitement from their guests. Anthony even snuck out of the house to shed a few tears as their lives were about to change in this season of expansion. Little did they know that they would spend the first trimester of their pregnancy separated at mealtimes. Oona-Ife could not only bear the taste of certain foods, but even the smell of preparing them would turn her stomach. She felt violently ill during most meals and experienced a bout with depression as she pushed into her second trimester with limited support on how to remedy her ailments. It made pregnancy feel hard and isolating. Like most people with extreme morning sickness in pregnancy, it would subside as the second trimester continued. Despite a rocky start, Oona felt an abundance of self-love and support from her village, which left her with positive reflections regarding her pregnancy. Anthony made space during their journey to learn about what to expect during childbirth and was able to connect with other new and expectant fathers for support. He was intentional about his presence for prenatal visits and building relationships with their care providers.  Labor would gradually commence after a violent bout of nausea and vomiting one evening. Oona-Ife and Anthony would fumble around trying out some tried and true labor strategies that would end in a good laugh and an A for effort. Because they were having a homebirth they were in close contact with their doula and midwifery team about changes in contraction patterns, behaviors, and any concerns they had. As things picked up, their doula would arrive first to assess the scene and encourage them to call the midwife to the house. Laboring and birthing at home proved to be their best decision as it fostered comfort and ease that kept them calm. Despite some hiccups with their tub and a moment of familiar panic for those who needed to relocate during the transition, Oona-Ife would deliver their daughter safely in the water. The midwives and doula would leave them to bond and care for their new baby and themselves. They would receive a caravan of support with family members arriving at different intervals to visit and provide care over the first month postpartum. Just as they started to get a rhythm at about eight days postpartum Oona-Ife would have severe headaches; she grew concerned regarding her own health. She would eventually go to the hospital for care after connecting with her midwife as her blood pressure elevated to dangerous levels. She would be diagnosed with Postpartum Preeclampsia and Covid-19. Thankfully, she centered her care and was able to heal with continued support from her family and providers. Today, they are still growing in their parenthood and partnership journey. Anthony encourages partners to show up and be present. Ensure your whole birth team meets before labor begins to promote healthy communication and mutual respect. Oona-Ife continues her work as a doula, childbirth educator, and perinatal mental health provider. Her advice is to confront your fears before childbirth by utilizing methods that align with your needs. Allowing yourself to acknowledge them and understand that every space you enter will not be affirming of your choices or your concerns. Resources:Expectful | the mental health app for before, during, and after pregnancy.The Birth Partner | a complete guide to childbirth for dads, partners, doulas, and all other labor companionsBirthing from Within | holistic approach to childbirth that examines this profound rite-of-passage not as a medical event but as an act of self-discovery.

Gianna and Evan have welcomed three children into the world. The words joy, blessing, and purpose have marked each pregnancy and birth. They learned that they would be having a girl after the birth of two sons. Their daughter's birth would make her the first girl born on Evan's side of the family in over 100 years.After having two healthy and normal pregnancies, she thought," What are the odds that everything would go well?" Gianna worked through her doubts. Her training as a Certified Nurse Midwife kept her sane. The excitement was building, and they started exploring birth options, even considering a homebirth, but Evan did not feel comfortable with that plan. However, he was determined to learn enough to be her doula. They planned for a hospital birth with a midwife but planned to labor at home as long as possible. A blessingway helped her connect with the women in her life that lived near her. Fears were released, Blessings of motherhood were shared, and they gave her the support she needed. Centering her thoughts and visuals on uninterrupted birth through videos, Christian Hypnobirthing, and podcasts guided her preparation for labor.At 38 weeks and six days, Gianna would go into labor while preparing for the Super Bowl party they were hosting. She managed her surges and dismissed them as Braxton Hicks contractions increasing because she had been busy that day. After putting the kids to bed, she realized that she could be in active labor. In her solitude, she drifted into "laborland." Evan joined her and started timing her surges, they began to get ready to leave, and her water broke. The surges intensified as they waited for her cousin to arrive to be with the children. A few strong surges would pass, and they would notice meconium in the leaking fluid. Her midwife brain would click and shift her focus and alarm Evan.The pressure would set in, and she had to determine if they would stay home or go. Baby Chloe decided for them and arrived with additional support for Evan from the 911 dispatcher. They knew they would still want to go to the hospital, as it was the original plan. The baby was fine and vocal as they awaited their transport to the hospital. The EMTs arrived and helped them get situated for the ride; the energy shifted as they thought they were coming to intervene in complicated home birth. She informed them that she was a midwife.  Once they arrived at the hospital, Gianna would be in midwife mode and ready to be checked over and welcomed into L&D. Everyone was doing well except for a tear that would help her come back to her body and feel pain.Postpartum planning happened prenatally, and that was helpful for the whole family. Evan and Gianna worked through a plan and garnered the support they needed. They were intentional about getting what they needed most, including paying for a Mom's helper, nutritional meals from a meal planning company, and in-home support from the women in their family. Communication every few weeks as they determined what they needed at each stage was a key to maintaining their sanity with three young children. Although they had a great birth and supportive care, postpartum anxiety became evident through symptoms like irritability. She connected with her therapist and is still navigating those waters with grace.Connect With Gianna:Midwifay (Gianna Fay) | childbirth prep and consulting servicesMidwifay Youtube ChannelMidwifay Private Facebook GroupResources:BSiC Ep. 81 | Learn How to Overcome Your Fears About Childbirth & Birth Like a Boss - Dayna Ruben

MyLin and Lindsay started their lives together after marriage with the hopes of expansion. When they decided to have more children, they were not fully aware of the obstacles they would encounter. The sticker shock regarding Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) expense steered them towards traditional or old-school insemination with a known donor. Patience over almost two years and a devastating anembreyonic pregnancy would lead them to the full-term pregnancy and consequent birth of their first child together.Lindsay chose to carry the baby, and they managed their insemination personally with advice from a fertility specialist. The fertility specialist validated their concerns and guided them through the most straightforward ways to help them. Despite having PCOS, she could make adjustments in their fertility journey and conceive. Her pregnancy was amazing, and there were no issues until the end of the pregnancy. She presented with itchy hands and feet, which was one indicator of Cholestasis. Cholestasis can affect the liver and can be dangerous for mom and baby. An induction was ordered at 37 weeks to avoid complications to their health and after two days of labor, Lennox would join the family. Shortly afterward, Lindsay developed preeclampsia and would need additional monitoring.Postpartum for Lindsay included healing and challenges with breastfeeding. Thankfully, MyLin had started the induced lactating process prenatally with the hopes of sharing the work of feeding the baby. She was able to nourish the baby while Lindsay worked through latching issues with Baby Lennox.MyLin's pregnancy required more preparation as she wanted to deliver at home. They were able to have all of the birth-related services to make her dream homebirth come true with the generous support of the Victoria Project, a nonprofit organization serving Southern California. The Victoria Project provided full financial support for a midwife (not the deposit), chiropractor, pelvic floor therapy, hypnobirthing, and childbirth education.MyLin labored with her family and doula as they awaited the intensity of active labor. Lindsay busied herself preparing the tub for her but found her work was futile. MyLin found herself in “labor land” and talked her baby out as he quickly slipped out. The midwife would arrive later and attend to the newly expanded family. She had four postpartum midwifery visits and was able to spend a lot of time in bed, healing physically and mentally.Finding the right avenues to expand their family was pivotal in their birthing experiences. MyLin and Lindsay share their knowledge with other same-sex couples to make themselves an accessible resource. Patience, grace, and softness are essential aspects of their continued parenting journey. Resources:Victoria Project | supports access to holistic maternity care, specifically pregnancy, birth and postpartum services provided at home or at a birth centerSugar Heal | a collective of Black healers offering services in various disciplinesHypnoBirthing | classes for parents who strive for gentle, calm, and natural childbirth

Michah met pregnancy with sickness in the form of a heavy dose of Hyperemesis Gravidarum, also known as HG. It is a condition that presents in pregnancy as severe and persistent nausea and vomiting caused by hormone fluctuations. HG caused Michah to experience weight loss, food aversions, and anxiety about her baby's growth. She found comfort in the power of watermelon and OTC nutrition shakes.Despite her challenges, she moved forward with planning a homebirth with her partner. The midwife they chose was informative and supportive, helping ease any concerns. Everything was going as planned until the baby started measuring smaller than expected. She started having routine growth scans until her provider discovered an amniotic fluid leak.An amnioinfusion can treat an amniotic fluid leak. Unfortunately, this was not the case for Michah. She reported to her local hospital, where she would receive excellent care during her induction and subsequent labor. Michah delivered her baby with the help of forceps due to heart decelerations at the pushing stage to avoid a surgical birth. Her baby was sunnyside up, challenging her descent into the birth canal.Physical recovery from the forceps assisted birth added to her healing process, but she was supported by her husband. Michah has connected with herself on different levels as postpartum has taught her grace and patience. Her work has been affected as it has become the focus of her Master's degree program. Building supportive relationships and honoring boundaries to grow as human beings and build healthy, strong families, they manage life on the other side of birth. Stepping in to support each other without local family support has been challenging, but again grace is sufficient, and Michah is slowly coming back to herself.

Fear and triumph are two words that Ashlee Grant uses to describe her collective birthing experiences. She would navigate the uneasiness of a first pregnancy after miscarriage culminating in a surgical birth of her and her husband's choosing, solidifying their bond as partners. She found the still, small voice that strengthened their resolve. Ashlee entered the second pregnancy as a new version of herself. She had found her voice after coming to grips with previous trauma and made space to process the layers of her first birth. A deepened knowledge of her body and spirit's needs deepened as her second son grew. She would again seek the support of her sister-in-law as her doula; this time, they had both grown and prepared to bring Ashlee's vision to life. Her doula was now working with ROOTT and had added more perinatal education to her skillset. Complications with the pandemic's beginning presented uncertainty as Ashlee and her husband, Jerod, considered how they would manage if their doula were not present. Thankfully labor would ensue before the hospital's temporary ban on doulas would start.Ashlee labored at home with her family and doula as planned. The atmosphere was peaceful and undisturbed. They would leave for the hospital when the contractions (surges) were three minutes apart. She arrived in triage and consented to a cervical check that revealed she was 4cm dilated. Instantly defeated and whisked back to the same progression of her first labor Ashlee could feel a shift in her demeanor. Her doula quickly reminded her that it wasn't the same, her body was doing the work, and she would birth the way she wanted to this time. The redirection allowed her to connect to the present and continue balancing movement and rest in the labor room. She had the birth she wanted, delivering a healthy second son, this time without the epidural and minimal interventions. Despite having the vaginal delivery, she did have an intense vaginal tear leading into postpartum would be more painful than her surgical birth recovery. After her first delivery, she experienced postpartum anxiety that altered her sleep and mood. Breastmilk production challenged Ashlee, and her son did not tolerate formula. Her ROOTT doula would connect her with another ROOTT parent who educated her about human donor milk. Once she had an understanding, she started to research while balancing motherhood and pediatric appointments about failure to thrive—the saving grace for Ashlee and Jerod, the community within Human Milk, for Human Babies. Ashlee managed to feed her son for over a year with donated milk from other families.Today, Ashlee encourages women to find their voices, seek support, and be their own best advocates. She is the host of her own self-coined "preachcast," Planted, where she speaks to the heart of women and opens their eyes to their unique gifting.Resources:Human Milk 4 Human Babies | peer to peer milksharingPlanted | a podcast that encourages women of faith to show up as their authentic, pure, and organic selvesSponsors:Restoring Our Own Through Transformation (ROOTT) | reproductive justice organizationROOTT is a collective of concerned Black families, community members, advocates & interdisciplinary professionals dedicated to decreasing Black maternal & infant mortality in Ohio. ROOTT's mission is to comprehensively restore our collective well-being through collaboration, resource allocation, research & re-empowerment, in order to meet the needs of Black parents & families. If you and your family are planning, pregnant, or in your postpartum period, please reach out to ROOTT at www.roottrj.org. Financial assistance is available. You can also connect with ROOTT at 614-398-1766 or email general-info@roottrj.org

Visualization is a powerful tool, especially for preparing for labor; it can turn our hopes into expectations. Much was the case for Danielle Henderson as she and her husband, Jeff, began preparing for a home birth for their first child.She was healthy and did not feel that the hospital was the best setting for her birth. This idea was new for her family, as everyone else had birthed at a hospital, and they were unsure of the process but supportive of her choice. Her mother and her sister, Shandell, planned to support her by holding space for them on their porch to allow Danielle to keep her birth space private.Danielle created the environment she had envisioned by having calming music and lighting during her labor. The midwife arrived and was deeply committed to being present and supporting Danielle. She even had the support of her mother and sister as planned. Delivery drew out longer than they thought, and there was a family history of short or precipitous labors. However, a tilted uterus would make her work feel more intense and give the feeling that she had progressed. Her mother and sister would eventually leave as time went on. During labor, Danielle found herself coming out of her calmness and felt that hindered her progression. The next day Shandell returned to the porch awaiting the baby's arrival. Little did she know that she would be entering the birth space. Jeff would ask her to come into the home and support the team. Shandell recalls knowing how vulnerable her sister would feel, and she cautiously stepped in and avoided looking at her to help her maintain her mindset and not face her disappointment. In a word, she held a boundary for her sister while also holding space. Despite having a nuchal arm and double wrapped umbilical cord impeding his descent, Baby Jackson would make a healthy entrance earthside in his parents' bed.After her birth, Danielle could feel herself detaching from the experience as she would continue to live where she had delivered her baby. Connecting memories with spaces were hard on her mentally. The newness of motherhood was an adjustment, with full support from her family, and her husband has helped with the adjustment of new motherhood.Resources:The Birth Partner | a complete guide to childbirth for dads, partners, doulas, and all other labor companionsThe Womanly Art of Breastfeeding | nursing guide from preparation, pregnancy, expressing and storing milkHypnoBirthing | classes for parents who strive for gentle, calm, and natural childbirth

Before meeting her partner Tony, Brittany Turner didn't think it would be possible for her to have children. After suffering three miscarriages, she had been on a journey to understand the cause of her losses. There is undergoing bloodwork, genetic testing, and numerous ultrasounds, with no definite answer. So when she and Tony decided they were ready to expand their family together, they were pleasantly surprised when she became pregnant. But having both experienced the loss of children, they both were carrying an immense amount of anxiety, at times causing tension between them.At 34 weeks pregnant - the longest pregnancy she had carried, Brittany noticed that her Braxton Hicks contractions were coming quite frequently. There was an uneasiness that something wasn't right that she was holding. Brittany decided that she would sit with the feeling throughout the night and see how she felt in the morning. But in the morning, the contractions and feelings were still there, accompanied by a small amount of bleeding. Sharing this with Tony, they both decided going in for monitoring would be best.They did not expect that monitoring would shift to the need for an emergency surgical birth. Brittany reflected that nurses began rushing into her room without warning, explaining to her that due to her son's heart rate dropping, they were going to need to take her to the operating room (OR). Having to be entirely under anesthesia, the last thing Brittany remembers is saying a prayer to God to keep her and her son safe. She awoke, wondering what had happened and where her baby was. And when she was reunited with Tony, he placed their son on her chest - her son placed his little hand on her cheek. A sign that Brittany says was her son telling her that her prayers were answered, and they were ok. Resources:Maternal Health Support Group for Women of Color and Allies | online maternal health support group

For Vienna Fernandez, the births of her children have provided the most significant life lessons about who she was, who she is, and who she is still striving to be. As a birthing mother of three, each experience was different in its own right, pulling back new layers of learning each time.When pregnant with her first child, there was a sense of loneliness. She and her husband lived in a space that wasn't close to family, and working in the city meant a long commute for them—a distraction from being able to be present during her pregnancy. Vienna expressed that it wasn't something she was truly prepared for when reflecting on her birth prep. She knew she wanted to have an unmedicated birth, but when her water broke, and she arrived at the hospital, 4cm dilated, she realized there was much more to the experience than she knew about.She felt like her care providers weren't communicating well with her throughout her labor about the shifts happening and the interventions provided. As her son was having trouble descending during the pushing phase, her doctor proceeded with an episiotomy and vacuum support - an end to an experience that felt rushed to Vienna and left her confused.Vienna would hold this memory close when she became pregnant with her second child. From her son's birth, she knew that she hadn't got the support she needed and couldn't trust her care providers to provide the education and advocacy she wanted or deserved. With revelation would be tough as during her 30-week appointment, they discovered her daughter was measuring small, and close monitoring was needed. Vienna fell into a space of self-doubt and fear and didn't know who to lean to for support. Again wanting an unmedicated birth and knowing somewhat what to expect, she asked all the questions during her birth. And was very vocal about what her body needed. While her daughter came into this world weighing less than 6 pounds, Vienna felt that her voice had been louder and heard in this experience.Her third birth was the culmination of everything she had taken from her first two births. Navigating changes brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and the unexpectedness of being pregnant, Vienna hired a doula to help support her. With this birth and pregnancy, she was able to be much more in tune with her body and how this birth would look and feel. Each one of her births had been a deep lesson. Not only in how she wanted her births to be but ultimately how she wants to show us as a mother and for herself.Resources:The Efficient Mama | free download: the mama mentality: your step by step guide to self care

Letitia and Brandon Gordon discovered they were expecting their second child when she was in nursing school. She found herself in a season of busyness and wanted to complete as much schoolwork as possible while managing her own business and their family.Much to their surprise, Leticia started noticing signs of labor when she was 28 weeks gestation. After informing her doctor of her concerns, her provider assured her that it was not labor and shouldn't be concerned. Her doctor was dismissive; that's a common issue when we talk to Black women who have had complications in their pregnancies and labor. Unfortunately, Letitia was right; she was in labor and would report to the hospital the next day. Fear and panic kicked in, and her husband was a steady source of comfort and grounding as they prepared to welcome their second son unexpectedly early.Due to his premature birth, he would stay at the hospital in the NICU for five weeks. During that time, Letitia focused on making sure she could feed her baby with her breastmilk. He had received his first feeding with donor breastmilk, and it would be his last as Letitia built her supply through pumping. Postpartum was also a time of deep focus on her studies. She would return to the classroom the same week she gave birth.Letitia's birth experience altered her career path, as she planned to be a psychiatric nurse. She's now a labor and delivery nurse, trained birth doula, and a midwifery student. She brings hope, comfort, and support to expectant families with her own lives experiences and skills.Letitia opened up about a new battle, breast cancer, during our interview. She is undergoing treatment and maintaining her family and professional responsibilities. Many of you know the toll that cancer treatment can take on a family and their finances. We have an ask. If you feel moved to support Letitia and her family, please listen to her birth story, and donate to her GoFundMe account. Resources:North Dallas Doula Associates | DFW's first established doula practice that provides customized, boutique-style, experiences to the families that they serve

“It's not the baby. It's you.” These are the words that Jennifer Walton would hear from her medical provider as he determined with a quick cervical check that she would need to deliver her baby via surgical birth. He later told her that she would never be able to deliver vaginally because a baby couldn't fit through her pelvis. Jennifer didn't want a c-section and made that clear to her provider. But the cascade of interventions and the lack of informed consent would send them into a spiral that left little room to catch up mentally to what was about to happen to Jennifer physically. There had been no complications or concerns, but a lull in labor would drastically alter Jennifer and her husband, Sean's plans. Their first baby would be born healthy, but the trauma of the surgical birth would linger into their postpartum world.Postpartum anxiety marked Jennifer's experience. She struggled with intrusive thoughts and bonding with baby Sabella. Jennifer took critical steps by connecting with valuable community resources and people to guide her to a healthy space. Today, she can speak from a healed mind and spirit from her trauma as time has passed.The Waltons welcomed their second pregnancy while caring for a young toddler. Jennifer determined that this birth would be different. The first pregnancy had been easy, and they had the rug pulled from under them in the twilight hours of labor. Jennifer had changed; she had been fire tested and felt prepared to put in the work to change the narrative that the doctor had created about her body. The weight of his words pressed into her psyche. She knew that she wanted a VBAC and stacked the deck to support her goal. Jennifer selected a new OB/GYN; she was a Black woman and made her feel supported and heard. Her friend introduced her to the term doula, and where she could find one. She connected with her perinatal support doula, Jessica Roach, at Restoring Our Own Through Transformation (ROOTT). ROOTT is a collective of concerned Black families, community members, advocates & interdisciplinary professionals dedicated to decreasing Black maternal & infant mortality in Ohio. The heart of their work is the commitment and rigorous training of their perinatal support doulas. Jessica educated her about her rights as a patient, guided her family through a healthy pregnancy, and helped strengthen their resolve for Jennifer to deliver their baby vaginally.She would still experience some pushback as her provider became more cautious and decided she wanted Jennifer to labor at the hospital for close monitoring. Jennifer asked her ROOTT doula to attend her next prenatal appointment to provide advocacy for her birth plan. Jessica's expertise and skill assuaged the provider's concerns, and she was able to create a team that supported her dream and could build a bridge between the two birth workers.  The fear of a uterine rupture would still linger in her mind, but with the support of her birth team, she moved forward with planning her VBAC. While laboring at home, Jennifer recalled Jessica's words, “Stop fighting your body and let this thing happen.” She did stop fighting her body. She let go of the defeating messages from her first pregnancy, surrendered to the process, and found her voice and strength. She gave birth to another healthy and strong daughter, accomplishing her VBAC. Resources:Happ. E SexTalk | sex education consulting company (Erica Butler)Sponsors:Restoring Our Own Through Transformation (ROOTT) | reproductive justice organizationROOTT is a collective of concerned Black families, community members, advocates & interdisciplinary professionals dedicated to decreasing Black maternal & infant mortality in Ohio. ROOTT's mission is to comprehensively restore our collective well-being through collaboration, resource allocation, research & re-empowerment, in order to meet the needs of Black parents & families. If you and your family are planning, pregnant, or in your postpartum period, please reach out to ROOTT at www.roottrj.org. Financial assistance is available. You can also connect with ROOTT at 614-398-1766 or email general-info@roottrj.org

Ashlee Johnson's passion for birthwork grew from her first pregnancy and childbirth. She would bring forth life three times with a dedicated birth team. She welcomed being pregnant and can recall the first pregnancy as an enjoyable time despite hearing so many negative stories that people felt compelled to share with her. It would be a chance encounter, during her first pregnancy, with one woman that listened to her birth preferences and encouraged her to go for it. She let that affirmation set within her and committed to honoring her own plans.This foundation would serve her throughout the births of her other two children. Ashlee and her husband prepared by attending birth classes and feeling fully supported in a birth center and homebirth care. She describes her births as amazing because she felt educated, had a positive attitude, and had a birth team that met her expectations. In the early postpartum days, breastfeeding was challenging due to latch issues. Yet, Having set up a solid support system, she overcame the learning curves, focused on her healing, and addressed her postpartum depression. For Ashlee, preparation is vital, expressing that no matter if birth plans shift, if you've prepared, you're in a better position to steer things your way. Using her own experiences and skills as a birthworker she created Birth Class in a Box - a carefully curated childbirth class that comes to you! We fell in love with the concept and decided to join her affiliate team. Use our unique PROMO CODE: BSiC and receive $10 off your purchase. Check out this great resource here.Resources:Birth Class in a Box | childbirth education tool

During a global pandemic, Ashley and Adrian would welcome their first child while living in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The safety and travel restrictions limited their access to their family, causing Ashley to feel immediately dependent on her doctor. Despite being inclined to more natural resources for medical support, she felt that pregnancy made her want to stick to what the doctor said they needed. Ashley started to shift back to her first thoughts about her health, rooted in natural medicine. An unmedicated birth would be explored to match their personal preferences. She and Adrian weren't sure if a natural birth could be possible, as they didn't know if they could or if Ashley could endure it. After careful consideration, they hired a doula hoping to have support with their birth plan. Cesarean birth, epidurals, and a fear of dying in childbirth were the only knowledge Ashley started with as she and her husband started their first pregnancy. Their doula educated them about pregnancy and childbirth, which helped dismantle her fears and feel more empowered. The quest for knowledge began, and when Ashley shared mind shifts with her doctor, there was also a shift in the doctor's countenance toward's their birth plan. The doctor was dismissive and resistant to her preferences and started fear-mongering tactics to alter their plans. Adrian shared that he felt angry during the doctor's appointment because they had intentionally researched and devised their birth plan. He settled himself, and he felt his family was losing control of the situation. The birth team had to change, and it did change; they found a new doctor and hospital that could meet their needs.  Pregnancy became more challenging as their household tested positive for Covid-19 at 37 weeks gestation. A new fear presented itself, as she prayed the baby would not come while she was feeling sick and too tired to care for a newborn. Thankfully Adrian was asymptomatic and could complete the baby preparation tasks, and Ashley would feel better when she went into labor. Another issue did arise as her doctor attended to a family emergency, and they didn't know if she would make it back for the delivery.When labor day arrived, Ashley tuned in with herself and listened to her body as they managed the day. Nesting set in, and Ashley emailed her birth plan to the hospital as early labor began. She prepared her hair for delivery, as Black women do in preparation for a new baby. She labored at home with the support of Adrian and her doula throughout the next 23 hours. They decided to check in at the hospital and soon discovered that everyone on her service had a copy of her birth plan. Ashley would explore her options for comfort measurements with her supportive birth team. The labor had drawn out so long that exhaustion shifted her mindset, and Adrian hit his daddy doula stride to help her overcome. He stepped out in the hallway to talk to the nurse to support the plan. Ashley found herself in a meditative state as she wrestled with the tiredness of her body and the intensity of labor. She would grapple with decisions that were altering her birth experience that didn't reflect her true wishes. Calmness came from sinking within and tapping into God as a source that allowed her to go through it. She began pushing without prompting or permission. Ashley allowed her body to lead and deliver her son into the world after 32 hours of labor. She was amazed by her strength and the process of childbirth.The ride home from the hospital made space for anxiety to surface in Ashley, and the tears began to fall. She centered herself with a talk with her mother and shared her feelings with Adrian. She gave a name to her experience after her body experienced trauma. They would manage postpartum as a team, both basking in the wonderment of Ashley's strength and courage and their commitment to their growing family.

A seemingly normal pregnancy was quickly unraveled when Beatriz received the news that she had preeclampsia. She had been managing a plan to birth at home with a hospital-based midwife to support any medical challenges and a homebirth midwife to support the birthing space she wanted. A top of the list item was a midwife that spoke Spanish, as her husband is a monolingual Spanish speaker. Unfortunately, her blood pressure (BP) readings at 36 weeks with the homebirth midwife were too high, causing her to refer Beatriz to the hospital for care. She would no longer be eligible for a homebirth after it was confirmed that protein was present in her urine. Not only did her plan fall apart, but she no longer felt she would have the safety of her home because she was scheduled for an induction at 37 weeks. The homebirth midwife accompanied her and her husband for the induction, and she helped her manage the interventions. She didn't know how much she would need to self-advocate, but things took a turn as her care provider didn't align with her preferences.The messaging Beatriz had received from people in her circle had focused on a healthy baby arriving safely. Beatriz wanted to uphold the same priority level to how her baby would arrive safely. She went home for a couple of days by signing an AMA (Against Medical Advisement) form. Beatriz saw herself heading towards a surgical birth, and she pushed pause on the induction.The hospital midwife called a few days later while she happened to be on a call with her therapist at the same time. The hospital midwife told her she was pretending she didn't have preeclampsia but wanted to provide her support. Beatriz asked her what she could provide at that point with her midwife, stating that the call felt like a trap and reminded her she was risking her baby's life. The conversation was hard and Beatriz leaned into her own source as she communicated with her homebirth midwife monitoring her own BP and baby's heart rate at home. When she noticed a rise in her BP, she reported back to the hospital and started the induction over. The conversation of breaking her water came up again, but she refused and stated that she would wait for the next nurse on shift to check her cervix. The new midwife told her that the baby was too high and it would be dangerous to break her waters. Beatriz felt defeated as labor progressed slowly, even flirting with a cesarean just for it to end. But she had the love and support of her husband and sister and would eventually push her daughter out safely. She was no longer having to fight because she accomplished her goal while maintaining herself and the newborn child's health. She was able to have a hospital birth, but on her terms, at her pace, with a birth team that supported her fully. Most of her birth and postpartum team were Latina women who heard her and answered the call.

Adenike and Brandi have a strong connection with their ancestor's presence in their lives. So when they decided to expand their family, they weren't surprised when they showed up, guided, and protected them during the birth of their daughter.Their pregnancy journey involved five tries with Intrauterine Insemination (IUI). After two unsuccessful attempts at home, they decided to get support at a specialized clinic. They had a Nigerian nurse practitioner during the first two tries at the clinic (Adenike is of Nigerian and Haitian descent). Still, it would be the fifth try to become pregnant ultimately.For Adenike, the pregnancy itself would be pretty "straightforward" the most challenging part was managing her Sickle Cell Anemia. Individuals with this diagnosis can have low birth weight babies due to the birthing person cells being shaped differently and how their body carries oxygen. For Adenike, this meant the need to get red blood cell exchanges completed once a month. Due to Covid, she was attending these appointments alone, spending four to five hours getting blood pumped in and out of her body. While a tasking endeavor, Adenike expressed that care providers like to tell you what you can do with your body in terms of Sickle Cell care. That was not the route that she and Brandi wanted for her pregnancy and birth. They leaned into the research they had done and the support of their doula to ensure every step of the way, Adenike was able to support her body in the way she understood her needs.Adenike's pregnancy was considered high risk due to her Sickle Cell diagnosis paired with other health concerns. Taking that into account, her maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) doctor (also Nigerian) discussed with Adenike and Brandi that it might be safest to have an induction at 38 weeks. As the time came around, they could push this time frame back as her body and baby were managing well. After their appointment and returning home, Adneike and Brandi settled into their nightly routine, with Brandi taking their dogs on a walk. As she stepped out, she noticed a drizzle of rain, along with a woman she hadn't seen before sitting about 20 ft away. Brandi shares in a greeting with her, and the lady exclaims, "You know it's raining outside!" throwing Brandi off a bit as it wasn't raining that hard. Continuing on her walk, she was baffled when she saw the lady get up and begin walking away into the distance with no known end. Returning home, she shared this interaction with Brandi, but they both shrugged it off as they went to bed, but soon after, Adenike felt a sudden sharp pain and gush from her waters breaking.Labor would take its time, the rain increasing into a torrential downpour as they made their way to the hospital. As they moved through their birth, some shifts were required from their birth plan, along with hard discussions and push back from their care team. Through it all, Adenike stayed in tune with her needs, and when she was ready to push, she followed her intuition, bringing her daughter hearthside as the rain came pouring down a reminder they were covered and held.Resources:Hale's Medications & Mother's Milk | a manual of lactational pharmacologySickle Cell Anemia Disease | sickle cell anemia Facebook support group led by AdenikeSerene Journey Births | doula education and support in the Northern Virginia, Washington DC and Maryland areas

Dr. Vernette Kountz holds many titles, but she sums it all up as just "Black girl magic trying to create a legacy." As the mother of seven children - three biological, two bonus girls from marriage, and having birthed as a surrogate to twin girls in 2018, she has a pretty dynamic outlook on motherhood. This has been impacted by her call to birthwork; wearing so many hats within it; she's creating community support for others and herself.With many stories to share, Dr. Vernette reflected with us on her most recent birth, her seven-month-old son Hudson. Understanding her birth experience with him began way before now. At sixteen, she got pregnant; however, her family was adamant that the choice to be made was termination. This decision would include a deep grieving process but set the stage for the subsequent important choices in her life. When she got pregnant again at 20, her mindset was clear; she was keeping this baby, the beginning process of finding her voice, especially in her womb.Dr. Vernette had always known she had a calling to surrogacy, even before the birth of her first son - because she had "took life from her womb," she "wanted to give life." Working with a surrogacy agency, she was clear about the parameters of her surrogacy journey; staying clear about them allowed her to build an authentic relationship with the fathers of the twins. Upon meeting each other, they all immediately aligned, and in building a relationship that felt true for the three of them, she is still involved in the girl's life, with periodic calls and check-ins. Most notably, her surrogacy journey was the turning point for her about being intentional in setting intentions for the journey of carrying and birthing life. So in September 2020, when she became pregnant with her son Hudson she had a solid template to work from in building her birth team and navigating her pregnancy and birth.Her birth team included her doula, birth photographer, three black midwives, and a friend serving as a maternal figure (filling the space of her mother and godmother who had passed). She shared the sentiment with all of them that she needed "to be mothered" for this journey. Throughout the birth, they did this, a moment that she recalls vividly is laboring in the birth pool, and whenever she reached out for support or comfort, there was always someone there. That support gave her the freedom to listen to her body - laboring on the toilet, utilizing movement, and when she felt the need to push, doing it without hesitation. Following the guidance of her midwife, she took a deep breath and pushed Hudson out. The final push to a birthing journey free of limitations!Resources:Atlanta Birth Center | Atlanta's only birth center providing a safe and welcoming alternative to hospital birthDr. Vernette Maternal Wellness | prenatal & pediatric chiropractor, celebrity birth worker (doula & childbirth educator), author and International speaker20/20 Mom | visionaries for the future of maternal mental health

Ivory and Ernest welcomed their baby girl to their family this year as they managed the uncertainties of life as the pandemic has waged on. They opened up with us to share their journey through childbirth and the lessons they learned from their individual and coupled experiences.A previous miscarriage had introduced a fear of pregnancy loss that loomed for a while. Their healing has enabled them to share their story with grace and humility. As the pregnancy thrived, Ivory and Ernest began to manage and prepare for childbirth. They hired a ROOTT perinatal support doula to support their pregnancy. They were able to start working with their doula in the critical stages of the first trimester and all the way through labor and immediate postpartum. Ivory always knew she wanted to work with a ROOTT doula and found it helpful to process her feelings and birth plans in the early stages with someone else.Ivory utilized our podcast to listen to a slew of birth stories to learn what possibilities could present when labor started. An online childbirth education helped them learn even more about expectations and how labor could unfold. Ivory felt empowered with her newly gained knowledge. Ernest graciously shared that he was not emotionally invested in how the pregnancies would go, as he tends to stay in the now. His parenthood journey grew slowly as they got closer to their due date. Ernest started a grieving process of shifting his identity to make space for a new baby. Leaning into the voices of friends that are fathers, he learned to fill the gaps and help with managing stress for Ivory.When labor started, Ivory texted her doula and Ernest that she was cramping. She wanted to stay active and decided to take a walk and spend some time with her husband at home as she wanted to stay relaxed. Contractions picked up, and they chose to report to the hospital to see how labor was progressing. Labor would go on longer than anticipated, but with the support of Ernest and their doula, Faith, Ivory endured. She gave birth to their daughter and immediately began her breastfeeding journey.Ivory and Ernest shared that virtual communities, childbirth education courses, and educating themselves about the possibilities in changes with her health were critical in feeling empowered. Their commitment to work together through their courses and with their doula helped them manage their journey to parenthood.Resources:The Power of Now | a guide to spiritual enlightenmentMama Natural Birth Course | online & in-person childbirth education classesUpper Cup Coffee Company | coffee shop located in Columbus, OHWhat to Expect App | pregnancy & parenting mobile appSponsors:Restoring Our Own Through Transformation (ROOTT) | reproductive justice organizationROOTT is a collective of concerned Black families, community members, advocates & interdisciplinary professionals dedicated to decreasing Black maternal & infant mortality in Ohio. ROOTT's mission is to comprehensively restore our collective well-being through collaboration, resource allocation, research & re-empowerment, in order to meet the needs of Black parents & families. If you and your family are planning, pregnant, or in your postpartum period, please reach out to ROOTT at www.roottrj.org. Financial assistance is available. You can also connect with ROOTT at 614-398-1766 or email general-info@roottrj.org

Gianna Fay, a Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM), tapped into herself as a resource as she ventured into her pregnancies. She also called upon people she had connected with along her journey as a birthworker. She started her first pregnancy living and working in Alaska. Gianna had access to the military base for care and where she worked. Allowing her to try out "centering pregnancy" at the base and thought it was a good option for them to allow her to "be the person pregnant." "Centering Pregnancy" is the process of having private physical exams completed by CNM's and doing all the other care as a group with other pregnant people. Other preparation included working out and curating a birth team to support her preferences. At the end of her third trimester, introspection through journaling and reading lots of positive birth stories (as a CNM, this helped clear her mind of all the things she sees daily). Gianna knew that she wanted to be in labor land, wanted to be a midwife and experience birth in her body with no interventions if possible.After carefully planning and preparing for her pregnancy and labor support, she went into labor at 39 weeks three days with a huge gush of fluid in bed that woke her up. Labor moved faster than expected, and she welcomed her healthy son after managing her own choices. However, Gianna quickly noticed the shift in the room while her CNM was touching her perineum. Gianna turned back to her midwife brain; her CNM explained that she had a 4th-degree tear and needed to go to the operating room for repair. Her nurse brought baby Jacob to the operating room to initiate nursing, which was unexpected, but she was grateful for the provision. The immediate postpartum period was rocky, but her perineum tear healed better than she expected. Three months after giving birth Gianna, Evan, and Jacob drove nine days from Alaska to Michigan to start a new adventure.Gianna and Evan discovered they were expecting again at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. Gianna had planned a birthday trip to go back to Southern California and noticed she hadn't gotten a period. The day before leaving, she took a pregnancy test and confirmed their family was expanding again at six and a half months postpartum. They would welcome their second child as an unexpected blessing after experiencing the joy of their first child's birth. They were no longer living in Alaska and transitioning into new roles and responsibilities. Gianna desired to birth in a natural birth center, especially as she met most of the criteria to qualify for a low intervention experience. But her fetal growth ultrasound indicated severe intrauterine growth restriction. A wave of emotions began to move through Gianna as her midwife brain and birthing person brain started to conflict. She sought a second opinion and started to utilize her resources again to manage her care. However, she had unintentionally pushed the first domino, leading to a cascade of interventions. She would have an induction that tested her patience and will. She did not experience labor land or even feel like she was in her body like her birth with Jacob. Gianna had to pause and reset before going further down the road of interventions. The reset worked, and baby Elijah was born healthy and was not small, which confirmed what she knew in her heart. But she had coupled her knowledge of the medical system, her husband's feelings, and her self doubts after learning she had not been taking care of herself as well this time around, which all factored in her decision to move forward with the induction.The pandemic made developing postpartum support challenging. The addition of having a toddler created new challenges that they didn't experience before. Her mother-in-law and sister were present as Evan traveled overseas with Covid-19 protocols extending the time frames. Returning to Gianna and his family, healthy communication and mental health support proved to be the tools they needed to get into a groove as a family of four.Connect With Gianna:Midwifay (Gianna Fay) | childbirth prep and consulting servicesMidwifay Youtube ChannelMidwifay Private Facebook GroupResources:Birthing from Within | childbirth education, resources and doula servicesMidwifay (Gianna Fay) | childbirth prep and consulting services

Aureyl describes that when she found out, she was pregnant, and when her body began confirming, it was two different time frames. Late in 2019, her husband got a stomach bug while traveling, which resolved itself within a day. Aureyl started feeling sick a few days later and thought she had caught the same bug her husband had. Yet even after returning home from their trip, she was still feeling unwell and very nauseous. Her husband suspected she was pregnant, and after taking a couple of home pregnancy tests, it set in that she didn't have a stomach bug, but their family was expanding. For Aureyl though, her nausea and vomiting never subsided. Having had a chemical pregnancy before, Aureyl held onto a lot of fear about her health and its correlation to how this pregnancy would continue. Not feeling supported by her care provider, she reached out to two of her dear friends who also happened to be doulas at the time with the local doula organization Restoring Our Own Through Transformation (ROOTT). This additional layer of support gave her the tools to switch to a new care provider that was perfect for her family. Her doula also guided her in managing her hyperemesis gravidarum diagnosis. In a conversation with her doula, she realized that she had to address the fear she had about her body. Her doula explained that she couldn't "operate in both." She had to be either affirming that she was truly capable or sit alongside the fear. Aureyl realized she had to do the work and shared from then that her pregnancy and birth would have a theme of continued surrender - surrendering to her body, words, and thoughts about what her experience should be. On Sept. 13th, 2020, around midnight, Aureyl went to the bathroom and noticed some fluid with a pink tinge. Having done in-depth prep with her doula about what to expect when labor began, Aureyl was pretty confident her waters had broken. She informed her doula, her family, and care provider and went back to bed to try and rest. The following day with the support of her doula, they tried to help labor progress with movement, continued to monitor the amount of fluid she was losing (as she had a small leak), along with her temperature and baby's heartbeat. After 24 hours of this routine, they decided to head to the hospital. The hospital birth team informed Aureyl she would need to get a cervical check to confirm that her waters had broken and how her body was progressing. This check was extremely painful for her, and after hearing that she was only 1cm dilated, she expressed feeling a sense of deep discouragement, and the tinges of distrust of her body began rising again. Discussing options with her birth team, she decided to rest, and as she continued to move through her birth, the trust of surrendering she had put in her pregnancy would still ring true. Aureyl had to ask herself to surrender to the shifts of her birth; this included the support of Pitocin to help her progress. The guidance from her doctor in getting an epidural to ease her distress with cervical checks and the later part of her labor was supportive. And ultimately, meeting her baby on Sept. 15th through a surgical birth was what was aligned for them. Reflecting on her experience, Aureyl indicates that she could be at peace with each of those decisions as they were all made on her terms. And she looks back on her experience in awe of how beautiful it was for her. Sponsors:Restoring Our Own Through Transformation (ROOTT) | reproductive justice organizationROOTT is a collective of concerned Black families, community members, advocates & interdisciplinary professionals dedicated to decreasing Black maternal & infant mortality in Ohio. ROOTT's mission is to comprehensively restore our collective well-being through collaboration, resource allocation, research & re-empowerment, in order to meet the needs of Black parents & families. If you and your family are planning, pregnant, or in your postpartum period, please reach out to ROOTT at www.roottrj.org. Financial assistance is available. You can also connect with ROOTT at 614-398-1766 or email general-info@roottrj.org

Joining us for her second birth story share, Erica Maddox came back with a whole new set of skills as an experienced birth worker, allowing her to show up for herself in a way that helped her create an experience that helped her heal. Erica was a teen mom when she experienced early delivery with her first child. Twelve years later, she would deliver her son early, but she prepared herself for that happening, as she asked to have her cervix measured throughout the pregnancy. Awareness and preparation proved to be critical components of having the birth she wanted.Labor would be intense and quick, but it was familiar, and Erica had called her sister to the home as she made preparations for her oldest child, whom she hadn't planned for, to be there. Erica was intentional about not shifting the plan or boundaries with her daughter in which she had not prepared for that role. She and the baby went to the hospital, accompanied by her sister. Erica shared that she had delivered the baby at home and was coming to be checked out. The hospital staff greeted them with lots of questions and astonishment. They were ready to start their protocols, but Erica made them pause and advocated to maintain their bonding time. They relaxed a bit once they knew she was a birth worker. Her self-advocacy allowed her to maintain a gentle transition of environment for her and her newborn.In the spirit of intentionality, Erica created a plan for her postpartum care to protect her mental and physical health. Building a healthy support system has been the key to developing a healthy family structure for their family. Removing the superwoman persona and allowing her world to shift and change as needed with grace is proving to be the best practice.Resources:Trac-E Doula RI (Erica Maddox) | birth, labor and postpartum doula supportBSiC Ep. 16 Healing | Erica Maddox first birth story

A journey of many places and re-focus on perspective about her work and life, Rokhaya decided to see how life would be in Jamaica. With the help of a friend who happened to be a travel agent, Rokhaya made arrangements for her first visit there, one of those being set up with a tour driver. This tour driver would end up being her husband, and come March 2nd; they would be forced to make lasting roots in Jamaica due to the pandemic. With a history of irregular menstrual cycles, Rokhaya decided to download an app to help her track them better. In early December, she was surprised to get a notification that her cycle was three days late. Ignoring it for a little bit, but with time passing and no change, Rokhaya and her husband found out they would be expecting on Christmas day. Restrictions from the pandemic would require a 14-day quarantine and needed to get the COVID vaccine if they decided to travel back to Canada. Wanting to wait out her options, Rokhaya paused on that decision. With her first trimester having some challenges, her doctors recommended she should not travel if possible. Moving into her second trimester, she focused on preparing for her birth, but by the time things began reopening, she was past the point of travel being safe, and Jamaica became the place their birth story would occur. Rokhaya knew that birthing in Jamaica wouldn't necessarily have a "birth plan," midwives and doulas were not allowed, and the day of her birth, her husband would not be allowed to be present. Preparing for this, Rokhaya made sure her birth would include:Essential oils.Listening and watching positive birth stories.Utilizing hypnobirthing to help her use breathing and meditation to focus on working through the pain of birth. Five days past her estimated due date, Rokhaya began having light contractions about 7-9 minutes apart. With things progressing quickly, Rokhaya and her husband decided to head to the hospital. Upon being admitted, Rokhaya was 6cm, and her water broke shortly after. Reflecting on her birth, Rokhaya thought her son would have come earlier than he did. She had done so much work on focusing on coping with the pain; she couldn't listen to her body that her baby was ready to come earthside. It wasn't until the nurse told her her baby's head was out that she focused, and within three pushes, "prince" Ali was born. In the immediate postpartum, Rokhaya felt comforted by the community of women she was surrounded by - as, in Jamaica, there aren't separate quarters, and the women all stay together. Ali was born unresponsive, and after having a couple of seizures, the doctors wanted to keep him for monitoring. For Rokhaya, she could not have her golden hour and was discharged without him for ten days. The first 6-7 weeks were hard for her, navigating her healing, Ali's recovery, and breastfeeding. She and her husband found that when they were able to listen to Ali, the better they did, being able to communicate and figure out what he needed allowing them to find their footing in parenthood. Resources:HypnoBirthing | classes for parents who strive for gentle, calm, and natural childbirth

Chelsea always knew that her first child would be a son. However, she couldn't predict the circumstances of when she would become pregnant. A global pandemic would bring her aspirations of acting to a screeching halt as production stopped. She shifted gears as she needed to prepare for caring for herself and a new baby. Emotional issues developed as her relationship with her partner deteriorated. She felt alone. Depression set in, and conflict with friends and family grew.She focused on preparing for birth by reading books, exploring hypnobirthing, and watching natural birth videos. Her pregnancy was challenging, and her provider didn't support her plans.Elevated blood pressure, news that the baby was determined to be large for his gestational age, and gestational diabetes concerns overshadowed her birth plan hopes. Her provider started discussing a surgical birth before she had an opportunity to labor. She disagreed with her OB/GYN's preeclampsia diagnosis and decided to change from hospital birth to a birth center that could support her plans. She felt healthy for the most part during her pregnancy as she made sure she ate well, except for her sugar craving. The midwives at the birth center agreed to accept her for care. She didn't feel connected to them or fully confident about the birthing space, but she pushed forward as it seemed like a better option than the hospital.Chelsea's membranes ruptured, and she contacted the birth center. She was told to rest and give herself time, and she eventually went in to have her fluid tested for amniotic fluid. After two days of leaking and intense back pain, she contacted the midwives, and they told her to wait again. She reported to the birth center on the third day, and her rupture was confirmed. However, she had not dilated despite feeling like her body had completed a lot of work. She kept herself active and wanted to use water therapy to support her comfort. She would manage the labor, but her cervix did not dilate. She would eventually transfer to the hospital to manage the rest of her labor. The hospital shift was challenging mentally and physically. Chelsea reached ten cms and immediately started to push even though her son was still high in her pelvis. A surgical birth became her last option, and it was quickly discovered that her baby had swallowed meconium and had fluid in his lungs. In addition, she had nearly hemorrhaged. She reflected on the intensity and degree of interventions in the hospital; everything she had wanted for her birth had crumbled. She felt disconnected from the people caring for her and the space she was in.Carrying all of the trauma home with her new baby would be a rollercoaster. Therapy and group support have helped. She has also connected with the women in her family to help build her connections and heal. Healing comes one day at a time with intention.

Megana knew that she wanted a family, and before meeting her husband, she had even considered taking on the role of parenting without a partner. But soon after moving to a new city, she met her husband; they fell in love and began discussing expanding their family. They both wanted to have two kids before Megana got a bit older and had planned to start trying to conceive after getting married. But their March 2020 wedding was canceled due to the beginnings of the COVID-19 pandemic, leading them to move forward with a small ceremony and begin trying to conceive in May.As a healthcare worker (pediatrician), Megana was aware of the studies around birthing folks in her field having two times the rate of infertility than others. Many of her friends in residency with her had shared their struggles with infertility. With that in mind, she was emotionally prepared to have some struggles of her own with conceiving but was grateful that she was pregnant within three months of trying. The beginning of her pregnancy was layered with many parts. They were going to be moving cross country; she had lost both her grandparents, dealing with the pandemic and also working through the pandemic and didn't fully have care established where they were moving; Megana describes that time as "surreal."Once settled in their new home in Pittsburgh, Megana found an OB practice she trusted. As she continued to work, she also decided to move forward with getting the COVID-19 vaccine. Which at that time, few pregnant people were choosing to move forward with it. Reading and listening to the emerging studies on the vaccine, she elected to get vaccinated at 32 and 36 weeks pregnant, hoping to not only protect herself through work but hopefully be able to pass antibodies off to her baby. Amongst her preparation in that way, she was journaling, reading, and listening to positive birth stories and remained active, running up to her 39th week of pregnancy. Her due date came and went, making Megana uneasy as she knew she was losing time from her maternity leave. Her jobs maternity leave policy would give her 12 weeks, and she had already begun using some time waiting on the arrival of her baby. Taking that into consideration, Megana elected to support her progress with an induction.Megana was induced with two doses of misoprostol, moving her quickly into intense labor. Reviewing all her options and managing the frequency and intensity of her contractions, which had started putting her baby in distress - Megana decided to have an epidural to provide them some rest and allow her body the space it needed to continue to progress. After about an hour and a half of pushing, her daughter was born. Megana did suffer from a 2nd/3rd-degree periclitoral and labial tear, which would impact her in ways she wasn't prepared for.Within her great support village, Megana's sister would be the guiding light in helping her navigate all the new transitions. The reality of how debilitating her tear was, combined with the level of rest she needed and what maternity leave entailed for caring and bonding with her daughter Megana was falling into a postpartum anxiety/depression cycle. With the support of her sister, they established some concrete strategies to guide her through this time. Megana began pelvic floor therapy and found a community of friends and cousins who had also had babies. Within this group, they had similar work schedules and could relate to their day-to-day experiences and their Indian culture.Megana's journey with an extremely short maternity leave due to the American Board of Pediatrics policies has led her to be a driving force for changing maternity leave policy. She  wrote an oped that has changed policies in her department and has a postpartum group for other South Asian women to discuss some of the cultural misogyny and expectations they contend with. Check these essential resources out below.Resources:New York Times Article | a medical career, at a cost: infertility

Giánni and Ron expanded their family in 2019 and 2020, welcoming two beautiful daughters to fortify their new marriage. They were already parents building their blended family, but these pregnancies connected all of the dots and allowed them both to journey through the highs and lows of creating a new life together. They were both interested in having mature and intentional pregnancy experiences.Giánni began researching breastfeeding support, childbirth education, and doulas. They chose to work with Restoring Our Own Through Transformation (ROOTT). This local perinatal support doula organization centers the experiences of Black women and families across the childbirth spectrum in Columbus, OH. Giánni knew the role of a doula but didn't expect to connect with her doula the way she did. It felt personable and genuine to have an additional advocate, listening ear, and a source of knowledge in their corner. She and Ron both loved the inclusion of the whole family and the new community they were able to inherit through working with ROOTT.The first pregnancy was without complications, and Giánni was able to have the labor and delivery she had hoped for. Upon learning she was pregnant again shortly after her birth, Giánni and Ron paused and carefully considered if and how they would move forward with this pregnancy. She had made plans for her life's next steps and knew that committing to bring forth another life could prompt her to delay some of her dreams. They chose to maintain the pregnancy as their family members had recently endured the loss of an infant due to stillbirth. They felt called and chosen to accept this gift.Giánni's second pregnancy occurred as the pandemic was shifting the daily lives of everyone. It brought health challenges that would make the pregnancy hard on her physically and mentally - including not knowing if Ron would be present for the birth. He had fallen ill around the same time as her induction and was admitted to the same hospital. She had the support of her ROOTT doula but was thankful that Ron would be discharged, joining her for the birth of their child within a couple of hours of her delivery. She would continue to have to monitor her health to stabilize her blood pressure with the support of the doctor and doula as they continued postpartum care.Vulnerability was and has been the key to working as a team and building a solid foundation for their family. Ron articulated the need for fathers to have spaces to come without pretense or thought about who they are, their occupations, or social status. He also acknowledged the need for partners to create space for their wives to have time for themselves to recharge and work on their dreams. Giánni and Ron were able to come to each other with their needs by defaulting to the friendship they had before marriage. Giánni exclusively breastfed, and she found herself often feeling "touched out." Ron stepped in to help with researching and supporting Giánni until she was able to build herself up as well. Balancing four children proved to be challenging as they all needed something different from their parents. Breakdowns came, and they have kept up their communication and are persevering.Resources:African American Male Wellness Agency | providing prevention programming, health awareness campaigns, and community for African American malesTommee Tipee Postpartum Stories | Giánni's postpartum storyTommee Tippee Parent Diaries | Giánni's journey: dealing with pregnancy loss and chronic illnessSponsors:Restoring Our Own Through Transformation (ROOTT) | reproductive justice organizationROOTT is a collective of concerned Black families, community members, advocates & interdisciplinary professionals dedicated to decreasing Black maternal & infant mortality in Ohio. ROOTT's mission is to comprehensively restore our collective well-being through collaboration, resource allocation, research & re-empowerment, in order to meet the needs of Black parents & families. If you and your family are planning, pregnant, or in your postpartum period, please reach out to ROOTT at www.roottrj.org. Financial assistance is available. You can also connect with ROOTT at 614-398-1766 or email general-info@roottrj.org

Being the youngest of four siblings and having loved the role of aunt since the age of ten, becoming pregnant with her daughter had been a long time coming for Charlene and her husband.Charlene read, watched, and listened to anything she could to prepare for her birth. Knowing all the negative messages surrounding the birth experience for Black women, she wanted to make sure she was educated for her birth. As she started learning how hormones and the body worked together and the cadence of physiological birth, the layers of fear she was holding onto started to peel back, solidifying her decision to have an unmedicated birth. Other things that supported her during this time included hiring a doula and guarding herself against any negative stories or news about childbirth to stay in a positive mindset.Charlene described her birth as being "uneventful," so two days before the birth of her daughter, attending her routine appointment, she was thrown off that her blood pressure was elevated. It remained elevated throughout the visit, prompting her care provider to have her stay in labor and delivery for a while so they could monitor her. Considering the additional symptoms, Charlene was having - headache and seeing "sparkles" combined with a blood pressure that would not drop. The conversation shifted to signs of preeclampsia and her needing to be induced that day.The initial shock of such a significant shift in her birthing plans caused for pause for her. Utilizing the "BRAIN" tool (Benefits, Risks, Alternatives, Intuition, Nothing) she had learned in her childbirth education class, Charlene was able to walk through the process of next steps feeling fully informed and focused on trusting her intuition. As she moved through her induction, the rest of her birth plan became just as important; she made sure to use hydrotherapy and movement. She was trusting her body, and as she exclaimed: "blocking out the noise" from her care providers about how to listen to her body. So when her daughter made it earthside, she was still happy that she could have her birth her way.Resources:Supernatural Childbirth | childbirth book by Jackie MizeChristian Hypnobirthing App | providing spiritual empowerment for pregnancy and birth