To be held is an embrace. To hold is to be responsible for something or someone. 

Several characteristics define a community, including shared identity, interaction, shared purpose, shared norms and values, and support systems. This helps foster a sense of belonging and collective action among its members. The premise of ubuntu, "I am because you are," involves recognizing our shared humanity, practicing empathy, and acting in ways that benefit others. 

Birth Stories in Color is a community. In this space, we hold each other. Most days, we can access our email or social media accounts and be greeted by someone who wants to be held. We paused… and you understood. Life happened. We witnessed the unfolding of one of our own. We let it breathe. Then we opened the door. We offered to hold. Then we held her. We offered to hold it or share it. She offered it to you…

We met Ivory and Ernest together for the first time in 2021. They shared their miscarriage and the birth journey of their daughter, Zamya. Now in 2025, Ivory shared their story without her partner’s physical presence, and we welcomed his spirit in.  

A beautiful surprise of a second pregnancy between Ivory and Ernest was met with conflicting ideas about the timing and the physical and mental adjustments. A few weeks into the pregnancy, gratitude and excitement replaced Ivory’s early misgivings. Parenting a toddler while pregnant proved to be more of a challenge than Ivory anticipated. She laid the groundwork for a healthy pregnancy and prepared for a homebirth this time. Midwifery care, additional care with an obstetrician, chiropractic care, and regular massages allowed her to feel at ease as they prepared for birth. 

Towards the end of the pregnancy at 34 weeks, Ernest experienced a severe headache that led them to take a trip to the emergency room. He was sent home without a diagnosis. About a week later, he experienced a catastrophic aneurysm rupture while visiting his favorite coffee shop. He was rushed to the hospital. The prognosis was difficult as the doctors could not offer answers, but they explored all of the options. In those early hours, Ivory started to see gestures of care and intention moving through her community. She was faced with holding life in her womb, raising life in her home, and the fragility of life holding on in the hospital. She held on as she was held. 

Labor came. She prepared her space with affirmations, photos of her and Ernest filled the space, a friend facetimed from Ernest’s hospital room, and everyone on her birth team followed her lead. Baby Zenith was born peacefully at home.

Postpartum came with some ease as she was nurtured at home. Ivory struggled more emotionally with balancing joy and sadness. The hospital supported their family by moving Ernest to an area that would allow the baby to come with Ivory during visits. Ivory shared her experience managing care for herself, her children, and her husband. She attributes her practice of gratitude as a source of strength and community care through it all. 

Ernest Levert Jr. joined the ancestors on January 8, 2025.

Resources:

Eliza Kay | life coach and Certified Professional Midwife (CPM)

Kelli Blinn | Columbus, OH doula and educator

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 classes

The Birth Hour | birth story podcast

Evidence Based Birth | online childbirth resource

All About Pregnancy & Birth Podcast | parenting podcast

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.

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 time

Emagine Solutions Technology | tackling the U.S. maternal health crisis with remote patient monitoring for pregnancy care

Health 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 content

Black Maternal Health Center of Excellence | provides maternity care & support in Los Angeles County

Wolomi App | digital community that offers support to women of color to improve maternal health outcomes

SHERO | online prenatal program

Central Phoenix OBGYN | Dr. Sharon Thompson - supportive pregnancy care

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 organization

LG Doula | full spectrum doula, birth & postpartum photographer
 

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’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

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!

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 meconium

After 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 motherhood

Chamber of Mothers | a nonprofit focusing on uniting mothers as advocates to America’s priorities on mothers’ rights

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 girls

Spinning Babies | pregnancy preparation as well as labor activities to ease birth

Susan the Birth Doula|specializes in birth and postpartum advocacy, education, and support for expecting mothers

Love ‘N’ Touch (Sekesa Berry) | traditional community midwifery care serving the Atlanta area

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.

Kay’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

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 birth

Black Parent Initiative | culture-specific, community-centered organization, creating innovative, culturally-relevant and sustainable interventions and opportunities for families

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 area

Birthing Justice | black women, pregnancy & childbirth

Julia Chinyere Oparah | Birthing Justice co-editor, professor, and chair of Ethnic Studies at Mills College and a founding member of Black Women Birthing Justice

Sumi’s Touch | full spectrum pregnancy, birth, and postpartum support and doula training

Birthland | Oakland based, women of color owned midwifery practice

Marin Family Birth Center | provides innovative health and wellness services to all, with the goal of African American health equity

Kindred Soul | offers families support before, during and after birth through Doula Services, Midwifery Care, herbal products and more

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

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 babies

Silvie Bells |  nonprofit organization that provides care packages with heart rate & oxygen monitors to medically fragile NICU babies

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

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. Jose 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 dietitian

Your Badass Natural Birth - childbirth education

The Pelvic Docs - pelvic health support

Nurse Zabe

BodyFit by Amy

Nourish Move Love

Sara Beth Yoga

Resources:

Kellymom | provides evidence-based breastfeeding and parenting information to both professionals and parents

AZ Breastfed Babies | international board certified lactation consultants providing in person and virtual consults located in Arizona

Real Food for Gestational Diabetes by Lily Nichols | book providing effective alternatives to the conventional nutrition approach

The Birth Partner | a complete guide to childbirth for dads, partners, doulas, and all other labor companions

Natural Hospital Birth |a guide for navigating the hospital setting with minimal birth interventions

The Birth Hour Podcast | birth stories and pregnancy resources

Birthful Podcast | podcast talking to perinatal pros and new parents to inform your intuition

Built to Birth | online childbirth education

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

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

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.

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 US

Homecoming Podcast |black home birth stories

Doing it at Home Podcast | space for empowered, loving and real birth stories and conversations from home birth families

Mindful Birthing | training the mind, body, and heart for childbirth and beyond

The Bradley Method | childbirth education series

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 care

Pacify 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.

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 families

Sponsors:

Pacify Health | virtual, value-based maternal and pediatric care

Pacify 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 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.  

Resources:

The Milk Doula (Yasmin Baskin) | lactation and postpartum support

The Birthing Place | a center for health wellness and family

Sponsors:

Pacify Health | virtual, value-based maternal and pediatric care

Pacify 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.

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 care

Pacify 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.

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 chantell

God Within the Lily | the shawnise chantell story - the death and resurrection of me

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 companions

Birthing 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.

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 services

Midwifay Youtube Channel

Midwifay Private Facebook Group

Resources:

BSiC Ep. 81 | Learn How to Overcome Your Fears About Childbirth & Birth Like a Boss - Dayna Ruben

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 center

Sugar Heal | a collective of Black healers offering services in various disciplines

HypnoBirthing | classes for parents who strive for gentle, calm, and natural childbirth

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.

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 milksharing

Planted | a podcast that encourages women of faith to show up as their authentic, pure, and organic selves

Sponsors:

Restoring Our Own Through Transformation (ROOTT) | reproductive justice organization

ROOTT 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

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 companions

The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding | nursing guide from preparation, pregnancy, expressing and storing milk

HypnoBirthing | classes for parents who strive for gentle, calm, and natural childbirth

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

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

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

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 organization

ROOTT 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

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

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.

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.

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 pharmacology

Sickle Cell Anemia Disease | sickle cell anemia Facebook support group led by Adenike

Serene Journey Births | doula education and support in the Northern Virginia, Washington DC and Maryland areas

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 birth

Dr. Vernette Maternal Wellness | prenatal & pediatric chiropractor, celebrity birth worker (doula & childbirth educator), author and International speaker

20/20 Mom | visionaries for the future of maternal mental health

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 enlightenment

Mama Natural Birth Course | online & in-person childbirth education classes

Upper Cup Coffee Company | coffee shop located in Columbus, OH

What to Expect App | pregnancy & parenting mobile app

Sponsors:

Restoring Our Own Through Transformation (ROOTT) | reproductive justice organization

ROOTT 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

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 services

Midwifay Youtube Channel

Midwifay Private Facebook Group

Resources:

Birthing from Within | childbirth education, resources and doula services

Midwifay (Gianna Fay) | childbirth prep and consulting services

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 organization

ROOTT 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

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 support

BSiC Ep. 16 Healing | Erica Maddox first birth story

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

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.

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 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 males

Tommee Tipee Postpartum Stories | Giánni's postpartum story

Tommee Tippee Parent Diaries | Giánni's journey: dealing with pregnancy loss and chronic illness

Sponsors:

Restoring Our Own Through Transformation (ROOTT) | reproductive justice organization

ROOTT 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

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 Mize

Christian Hypnobirthing App | providing spiritual empowerment for pregnancy and birth

As they explored their family health history, Keneisha shared that her father had passed away at 32 years old due to heart failure, which concerned her doctor. He ran additional genetic tests that indicated some concerns. Keneisha was a carrier of a rare condition and moved forward with an amniocentesis, and thankfully their baby was not a carrier.

The surprises would not end there; at 35 weeks, Keneisha reported to the hospital and discovered she was 4 centimeters dilated. She didn’t feel like her body was ready to deliver a baby, but her medical providers were convinced otherwise. She wanted to go home, but she wasn’t feeling the contractions, which concerned her doctor because she may not make it back to the hospital in time. She dilated to 5 centimeters, but labor slowed down, and she could go home on bed rest. Keneisha began a weekly ultrasound check as the baby measured small.  By 39 weeks, Keneisha was 6 centimeters dilated and consented to a membrane sweep. A few days later, she would feel a mild contraction, and excitement started to build that this may be labor day. Keneisha went into her labor feeling fearless and managing her contractions at home. She and her husband would make their way to the hospital following her lead. The support of her husband, mother, and doula and allowed her body to guide the experience. They welcomed their son safely and under the attentive care of her provider. She had shocked herself and felt a wave of relief that the pregnancy journey had come to an end. She had gone into this pregnancy with a shorter time frame to adjust and plan but managed to educate herself enough to birth without fear. 

Sponsors:

Restoring Our Own Through Transformation (ROOTT) | reproductive justice organization

ROOTT 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

So when Derikka started having mild contractions, she just attributed them to having gas. Her mom suggested to her that they could be contractions, and they should begin timing then. Throughout her labor, Derikka had to make shifts to her birth plan but reflected that an integral part of her story was when she was trying to decide about pain management. She had hoped to have an unmedicated birth, and it would be her dad who would allow her to find her voice and do what felt best for her at the moment. Speaking with him over the phone, Derikka explains that he spoke life into her, affirming her and her decisions. For her, she feels that if she had had more support like her dad's on her birth team, many things would have gone differently and that it wasn't until after the birth of her son that she felt educated about birth. She is now using her experience and knowledge to support other families in her community of Montgomery, Alabama, as a birth and postpartum doula.

Resources:

Crowned Mommy | birth and postpartum doula services with Derikka Vaughans

Due to her history, her third pregnancy was heavily monitored. She worked with maternal-fetal medicine in addition to a regular OB as she was considered high-risk. They discovered that her cervix had thinned at 21 weeks and had a cerclage placed to help keep her from delivering her baby early. It was difficult to hear that if her water broke during the procedure, there would be no life-saving efforts for the baby due to "point of viability" gestational age, which can vary from 20-24 weeks in different areas. Her planning was minimal as she could only focus on having a living, breathing child at birth. The plan was survival.

Carrita reached 26 weeks and attended her regular prenatal appointment, and it was without incident. When she arrived home, she started to notice regular contractions and eventually lost her mucus plug. She called her husband for support and was taken to the hospital. The nurse at the hospital immediately dismissed her concerns and denied that she was in labor. The doctor on call completed a cervical exam and confirmed what Carrita already knew. Carrita had reported to the ER three times before that day and was angered at how she could have been better served by the staff and possibly prevented the premature birth. She had a brief encounter with her baby after his emergency surgical birth by way of a resounding cry. He was whisked away to the NICU for care, and Carrita remained in the operating room with her health issues. It was traumatic as she felt everything happening to her body as her epidural had started to weaken. A Black nurse was present with her in the operating room that she credits as being an angel to her and kept her safe from potential harm as her doctor was trying to manage her care.

Postpartum was stressful as she was pumping for her newborn and studying for her finals in her postgraduate program. The NICU stay began snowballing as her baby battled respiratory issues and infections that led to life support measures. The road to recovery and healing would be long for both Carrita and her husband while they were both on their trajectories. The space to pause was delayed for over a year as their family managed the health concerns. Today, Carrita can see not only where she was but who she is now mentally and physically. Their son Isaac, named after the promised son to Abraham and is growing, healthy, and strong after enduring multiple surgeries and therapies.

Carrita has founded the Premium Promise Project to serve more families walking through the NICU experience that spans from hand holding to actual policy advocacy. She is also the author of "You're Still Here," which seeks to help those navigating dark seasons with biblical scriptures. She is standing in the gap for other NICU families and provide meaningful support and education to help them manage the challenges before them.

Resources:

The Premium Promise Project | serving NICU families and families of children with special needs

You're Still Here | a piece of my heart partnered with scripture reflections

Alicia started with a previous hospital for care but added midwifery support as she considered birthing at home. After garnering support from Solomon, she began planning an intentional homebirth with a Black midwife for the pregnancy. Despite finding a Black midwife, she had difficulty finding Black birthers who had experienced a homebirth to offer additional support. They worked towards preparation for the birth by reading and leaning into the midwife to answer her questions. 

The pandemic kept Solomon from attending appointments when they were still in hospital care. But they found other ways to keep him connected. Alicia planned a Mother’s Blessing that included her four friends that were also expecting. The blessing included belly painting, creating scented bracelets, flower crowns, and personal letters written from each partner to the birthing person. 

Alicia admits that there were some unrealistic expectations about laboring at home that didn’t match the visuals in her mind or on social media. Labor started after a family walk through a petting zoo. When they arrived home, Alicia found herself unable to relax and move through the pain of the contractions. Her choices regarding food, music, and creating her environment ranked high on what she was thankful for. She contributes Solomon and Jesus for her ability to deliver their baby girl at home without medication. Her previous twin birth was a surgical delivery, and she had been numbed through the physical feelings of delivery. 

Preparation for birth was high on the list; however, postpartum planning took a backseat. Alicia found herself unprepared, despite the memories of her twin birth recovery. The physicality of birth was heavy on Alicia’s body. There was support from family, friends, and their doula in the first couple of weeks. After the first month, sleep routines and managing twin toddlers took over their world. Solomon and Alicia have managed their “new normal” with teamwork and genuine co-parenting. Alicia wants moms to maintain their sense of self and have an identity outside of motherhood that helps them experience the joys of life.

The next few months through her pregnancy would challenge her health and wellness and desire to be a "model patient." Because Petagaye is a physician, her provider did not follow AGOC recommendations which would have helped release her from being her own caregiver. There is a difference between being your own advocate and being charged with monitoring your own vitals and determining when you need additional care. Petagaye deserved to have a provider who took medical history into account every step of the way. She changed providers but still found herself back under that physician's care in postpartum. A birthing person deserves care that allows them to take off the hats they wear every time they enter a space to be cared for. Her provider honed in on issues that didn't match Petagaye's concerns and missed vital information that ultimately led her to change providers at 32 weeks gestation. Her new provider was focused and attentive to her medical care and monitored her closely. She was eventually scheduled for an induction.

The labor process proved stressful as her pregnancy had been shrouded with medical issues beyond her control, leaving her feeling robbed of some of the joys of pregnancy. Leading up to her delivery, she experienced anemia, hypertension concerns, and intrauterine growth restriction. She would deliver her baby after 40 hours of labor. But because her baby was smaller than average, she stayed in the hospital longer for bilirubin treatment and blood sugar monitoring. Unfortunately, she would return to the hospital for postpartum preeclampsia under the doctor's care she had fired at 32 weeks.

Dr. English credits her pregnancy challenges with shifting her practice in the care of her patients. She never wants anyone to feel the way she did during her pregnancy. She spent so much energy trying to be a "model patient" that her care from other medical professionals was neglectful and dismissive. Her advice is not to be afraid to seek care from somewhere else if the care you are receiving does not match your research and preferences.

Late in her pregnancy, Teairra traveled with her grandmother to support her as her grandmother's son was passing. Upon returning from the trip, her midwife noticed a large amount of swelling and encouraged her that she probably shouldn't travel anymore and start bed rest. But a week after her grandmother's son passed, having spent that time on bed rest and her swelling better, Teairra decided to join her at the funeral in Missouri. On March 12, 27 weeks pregnant, while getting ready to head to the airport to return to LA, Teairra felt her water break a little. She called her sister, instructing her to let her midwife know she was heading back to and prepare to meet her at her home for the birth. Teairra's sister encouraged her to go to the hospital as she probably wouldn't make it home in time. Teairra agreed and headed with her mother to the closest hospital to their home.

Teairra's intuition instructed her to express to her mom not to leave her alone. She was unsure how the hospital would treat her, and she knew she would need constant support. Her intuition would be something she came back to often as there were many points during her birth in which Teairra would have to press for the staff to honor or listen to her birth wishes, especially after her son was born.

She had decided to have a Lotus birth, which the hospital was not well educated about or had experience with. The nurses began using intimidation tactics to force Teairra to adhere to hospital protocols that did not serve her, her healthy son, or her birth experience. Standing firm in her choices, this medical harassment continued for two days. Speaking with her midwife in LA, she instructed her that she needed to leave the hospital or risk the hospital trying to take her baby. Her midwife walked her through what to say to hospital staff, what to get in writing so that she could sign out "Against Medical Advisement." Under immense stress and great haste, Teairra left the hospital with her mother, not expecting this fight to continue once she was home.

Being sent by the hospital staff, police began harassing Teairra's neighbors and family members of her whereabouts and surrounding her home for about a week, with DFS not letting up for an additional 30 days. On May 23rd, she was finally able to return home to LA with her son and fours years after still healing, but able to process and share while helping others on their journeys.

Resources:

Kimberly Durdin | IBCLC & Student Midwife

Kindred Space LA | a hub for midwifery care, doula support, lactation consulting, education, support groups, enrichment, meditation and movement.

Tribe Midwifery | midwifery care, doula support, lactation consulting, and childbirth education

This pregnancy would bring both mental and physical challenges for Alyestal to navigate. Her anemia had brought on intense exhaustion that would require continuous monitoring throughout her pregnancy. And while at times she would feel she had strong management of that, her mental health suffered quite a bit. Her prenatal anxiety was rising, with panic attacks about 4 to 5 times a week. She knew to be in a space to birth her baby the way she wanted to; she had to confront this challenge and be honest about it. So when she connected with her midwives, she was open with them about how she was feeling about her pregnancy. They were able to connect her with a therapist to unpack her feelings and fear. Therapy affirmed the challenges of being pregnant during a pandemic paired with not always having her husband present when she needed his support and advocacy. And that she was allowed the space to grieve missing and losing expectations that she had for this pregnancy.

Through that heart work, she gained clarity about staying centered in her strengths and weaknesses when birthing her children. Alyestal knew that her original birth plan of laboring at home as long as possible and arriving at the hospital when ready would not be the best choice under the COVID restrictions. Having a home birth would benefit her best, and she began preparing her home and support team for that shift.

With her first birth, Alyestal experienced a TV-worthy breaking of her waters. A concern she had this time around is that this wouldn't be the case, and she wouldn't know when she was in labor. However, a week before her daughter was due; she had another TV-worthy breaking of her waters. COntractions were a bit inconsistent, but she reached out to her midwives to keep them informed. As labor progressed, she and her midwives decided their arrival would be best. When they arrived at 1:30 am, they did a cervical check, and Alyestal was 2cm dilated. After some discussion about the next steps, she consented to a stretch and sweep. Her midwives left and instructed her to call when she felt they were needed again. That call came at 2:30 am with the midwives arriving at 3 am - and Alyestal soon after meeting her daughter 4 mins to 5 am. When describing her birth, Alyestal expresses that "birth was everything that didn't know she wanted it to be and birth was everything she wanted it to be." Feelings that she wishes for every birthing individual to feel - a sense of comfort and ease.

Ad:

The Birth Story Love Letter | a unique offering that captures your personal experience.

This offering is a keepsake or memento of sorts. A treasured capture of your sacred life memory. A love letter to yourself, your children born or unborn, your family and friends, community and ancestors.

This offering includes; recording space to share your story, edited audio of your birth story and transcription of your birth story in both a digital and custom created hard copy. This is our oral history gift. A story that should be honored by being heard, shared, and remembered. 

Stories shared in this manner are for the storyteller’s personal use, they will not be shared via the BSiC podcast.

Lauren was 42 weeks and two days when labor began. Ending a day of running errands, she started feeling her body "stretching," — throwing her into a routine of letting her body move from bed to the tub, to couch over and over, following the lead of her body. Using Buddhist chants to keep her breath in rhythm to the movement until she and her husband decided it was best to head into the hospital.

Lauren knew she wanted to get some rest and asked for pain medication to support her sleep efforts upon arrival. Not expecting to sleep from 6 am - 6 pm and to be awoken by her care providers that it was likely time for her to begin pushing - which was confirmed from a cervical check that she was 10cm dilated. But Lauren describes that in those moments, she felt she had lost her sense of control. During labor at home, she thought she could be present for her experience, and waking up in this state of shock; she expressed feeling "really scared" and felt like she had to submit and change her birth plans. She consented to an epidural and began pushing. After some time had gone with no change in her son's descent and with him showing signs of stress, her care providers began discussing options to help support him earthside. Taking time to think it over, Lauren and her husband decided to move forward with vacuum assistance - but before her care providers could even get it on, Lauren pushed her son out, he was placed on her chest. At that moment, she describes feeling such a sense of peace.

The sense of fear would remain, though, as she spent the first couple of days alone with her son due to her husband getting sick. Postpartum wasn't something she prepared for in her pregnancy; she felt lost and was very relieved when the village support of her mother-in-law and her sister arrived. They were able to cover her with their knowledge and love, allowing her to lean into the birth of herself as a mother.

Resources:

The Birth Box | monthly shipment of items that helps new parents

The First Forty Days | the essential art of nourishing the new mother

Motherly | a lifestyle brand redefining motherhood

Moss the Doula | trans & queer centered doula services

Lucia the Doula | queer full spectrum doula centering LGBTQAI2S+

Sponsors:

Restoring Our Own Through Transformation (ROOTT) | reproductive justice organization

ROOTT 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

Not able to turn her doula hat off, Annette was sure that her son would be coming past his estimated due date. Thanksgiving evening, she was surprised as she began noticing some early signs of labor but pushed them off as she could move through contractions with ease. That night she was even able to sleep through them. Over the next two days, she would fall into a rhythm of working through manageable contractions throughout the day that would subside in the evening and morning. Annette and her son's father took that time to complete the last preparation before his arrival.

Moving into day three, labor would begin to shift and become more intense, Annette needing to lean into the support of her son's father and doula. Staying present in her birth was very important for her - an anchor that allowed her to connect with her baby and body, serving as a technique for managing labor and allowing her to trust herself. This would be vital as Annette delivered her baby into her own hands with the support of her doula and midwife, who was providing guidance via phone (as she was still making her way to Annette). A moment she describes as feeling "guided, protected, safe and exactly how that labor was supposed to happen."

Resources:

Clearbirth | prenatal and labor support from Annette Perel

Clearbirth Podcast | focused on demystifying all things pregnancy, birth and beyond

Our Bodies Ourselves | comprehensive guide to all aspects of women's health and sexuality, including menopause, birth control, childbirth, and sexual health

Early in the pregnancy, Tiffany decided to continue the pregnancy without her child's father for her own mental and physical health. Due to inadequate finances, she did not start prenatal care until 5-6 months into her pregnancy. Accessibility was a huge obstacle to her care. She used public transportation for most of her prenatal appointments and, due to her insurance, had to deliver at a hospital that was far from her home. It would later lead to a time balancing act during labor. Tiffany is a twin, and her sister had given birth six months prior and served as a model for Tiffany. Despite the challenges, her excitement was growing as she would be joining the ranks of motherhood with the other women in her family.

Labor thrives best in an environment where the birthing person feels safe, secure, and supported. The environment should be comfortable and consistent with minimal interruptions. These factors were challenging to grasp for Tiffany as she didn't know where she would be or who would help her deliver her child. Tiffany's managed her labor at home as she leaned into family support. When contractions reached 5-10 minutes apart, she called the hospital, and she was encouraged to report there. Upon her arrival, she discovered she was dilated 2cm. She chose to stay at the hospital and walk until she felt a shift. She was rechecked with some progress and informed the provider that she wanted to stay due to how intense her labor felt and how far her home was. The medical providers were dismissive and wanted to send her home. Eventually, her sister took her home, and she continued to manage her labor at home on her own. Tiffany had the urge to push as she entered her bathroom, and she pushed her son out over her toilet - 3 hours of leaving the hospital. Tiffany managed to wake her mother and call 911, and they were instructed to clear the baby's airway and tie off the umbilical cord. Tiffany and her son were picked up by the ambulance and went to a local emergency room. Aftercare had to be taken over by the first hospital. The hospital stated they were full and led her to yet another hospital. Tiffany suspects that the initial hospital was full, and that's why they sent her home. She only wished they had informed her of that then, as she had not planned to give birth at home, essentially by herself.

Planned home birth with medical support or an unassisted birth planned is not the same as unexpectedly delivering your first child at home. Tiffany and her son were neglected and left vulnerable to adverse birth outcomes. Tiffany is still working on healing through the traumatic birth of her child. The intrusive thoughts of her value in this world haunt her. Healing is not a linear process, and we are thankful for her share. We hope that her story reaches the ears of those working in birth spaces, and they are convicted to not only think about their practices but also do the work and realign with what birth work should be.

Resources:

Irth App | "Yelp-like" review & rating app for hospitals & physicians made by and for Black women & birthing people of color

Preparation for parenthood centered on setting healthy boundaries and family dynamics and expectations were essential aspects of parenting that Lauren sought support within therapy. She hired a doula and leaned into the Bradley method to garner more coping skills for the labor ahead, especially because they were planning for a home birth.

The day her labor started, she started to busy herself but again felt led to rest. She eventually became restless and began to move through her contractions. Lauren's doula and husband helped her with position changes and comfort measures. She utilized her home to her advantage to maintain a relaxed state of mind. Allowing is a state of mind that releases our minds from overworking so the body can work during labor according to its design. Her son would come much faster than expected for a first-time birthing parent. The birth team was not there yet as she was "pushy." Realizing her midwife would not make it in time to catch, Lauren tapped into her connection with her son. She said, "Ok, we just have to figure this out now." Her doula Facetimed the midwife to provide virtual support as Lauren successfully delivered her son into her arms in the shower. Lauren credits her preparation with her birthing team and some of the books she read during pregnancy for how she managed her labor despite not marking the typical milestones that she has seen in labors. Allowing space for solitude was vital in keeping her labor moving forward organically.

The difficulty in healing was more challenging for Lauren than the birth itself, partly due to her expectations. Learning to rely on other people as she healed proved to be an important opportunity to learn to give herself permission to seek support. Birth teams are critical to the success and overall positive experience of labor. Access to out-of-hospital birth has some obstacles, but whatever is in your power to control, build your team to meet those needs.

Resources:

Birthing From Within | an extra-ordinary guide to childbirth preparation

Multifaceted Mama Podcast | candid conversations for & with multifaceted mamas about transitioning into motherhood & its impact on personal growth, health, career, and finding your rhythm.

Abound Chiropractic (Dr. Lauren Collins Practice) | supportive chiropractic designed for aspiring, expecting, and postpartum mamas and babies

Royal La Mére | birth and wellness support services

For Ingrid, pregnancy was another item on the list, coming together to round out how she had planned her life. But as she moved through her pregnancy, shifts would require her to release control. And in doing so, Ingrid would settle with an understanding that during this time, "It's the body that's in charge - your body is your body pregnant, and you are on that journey." No matter what you do or don't do.

Within her flexibility and going with the flow mindset, as she came closer to the birth of her daughter, she still felt like things would be textbook. So at eight and a half months, when she found out her daughter was breech, it wasn't something she felt prepared to handle. She gathered the information from the doctors and decided to move forward with trying to flip her daughter. Soon after the procedure, her water broke, and she would navigate three days of labor before her daughter was born. On the third day, reaching a point of feeling like she was tapped out, Ingrid and her husband decided to move forward with a surgical birth.

During the early parts of her postpartum, she had an extensive support system, but she found that she and her support system focused a lot on her daughter and not much on Ingrid's healing. At some point finding herself in what she described as a "fog" - but now knowing she was dealing with postpartum depression. Navigating it on her own with her husband, she slowly found her rhythm, and tides would change drastically after joining a mom's group. This group provided her community with others who were also working through their parenthood journey at the same time.

Joining this group would also be the beginning for Ingrid & Isabel. In a conversation in her mom's group, there was a discussion around products they all were using and whether or not they worked. Ingrid shared that she had created something - the Bellaband®. Seeing it and how it worked, the group encouraged her to move forward and make more. Taking advantage of nap time, Ingrid would use that time to explore fabrics and designs and, in November 2003, would have her first sale. The Bellaband® would become a product that brought her family together and has grown into a national company offering a full range of maternity essentials.

Resources:

Ingrid & Isabel | maternity essentials brand

By 40 weeks gestation, she had not started labor, and her provider was supportive in honoring waiting for any interventions until 41 weeks and not beyond 42 weeks. Charlotte found herself feeling anxious about the possibility of induction and the cascade of interventions. Fortunately, Charlotte’s body had spontaneously started labor, and her doula and doctor helped comfort her and ease her into the labor. Charlotte knew her membranes had ruptured but did not believe she was experiencing surges (contractions). She went to see her doctor after having ruptured membranes for 24 hours at her doctor’s request. Surprisingly, there was no physical evidence of progress in the labor, and the cascade of interventions began - cervical ripening, Pitocin, two epidurals, all over three days. Finally, her body relaxed and began to respond to the interventions. She called in her doula as they had managed virtual support due to Covid protocols at the hospital. After an hour of pushing, Charlotte was able to grab her baby and pull him out as he peacefully entered the world.

Postpartum sleep deprivation marked the experience once they went home. Charlotte made sure to step out for fresh air for walks with her husband. Family and friends were supportive by preparing and paying for meals and some limited in-person support. After a 12-week family leave, her husband returned to work, and things shifted for Charlotte and her son. He started having latch issues and losing weight. They tried a chiropractor, allergen tests (for dairy), and two lactation consultants. The second lactation consultant could meet “in person” and was the most helpful in addressing the issues.

Charlotte encourages birth preparation, and despite the shifts in her labor plans, she still used many techniques to center herself. She learned about all of the possibilities beforehand and offered herself grace to mourn the loss of the experience that she wanted.

Resources:

HypnoBirthing | classes for parents who strive for gentle, calm, and natural childbirth

Bianca and Dr. Shalon were best friends. They discovered they were expecting around the same time and committed to "doing pregnancy" together. It was an exciting time in their lives after they both had experienced sibling losses. They were able to see and feel the positive energy around them. Bianca reflected on the newness of how much information we now have about the experiences of Black women in birthing spaces. Today, it has been reported so much more, but they were not prepared for what lay ahead for them.

Dr. Shalon was due before Bianca, but it would be Bianca who welcomed her baby first due to showing signs of premature labor for a week and spotting after a week of labor symptoms that her providers dismissed. Dr. Shalon encouraged her to go to the hospital, and thankfully so as they discovered that her son's feet were "hanging out." Twenty-four weeks into her pregnancy, Bianca would deliver her son, and Shalon would not be present for her as she was preparing for her birth. Bianca and her son's recovery and healing process required all of her attention, but she managed to check in with Dr. Shalon as she was preparing for her birth.

Dr. Shalon would give birth via scheduled surgical birth to Soleil in January 2017 with no complications during the delivery. The best friends bonded in the newness of motherhood and leaned into each other for support. Three weeks postpartum for Dr. Shalon, they texted briefly while Bianca was still in the NICU. Later that day, she received another text stating that her friend was in the hospital because she had stopped breathing. Dr. Shalon had shared that her legs were still swollen, and she had low energy. She had also been receiving wound care at home as she was having challenges with her incision healing properly. She was a fierce advocate for her health but was pushed off by her medical providers. Dr. Shalon Irving passed away shortly after - her friends and family vigilant on her behalf.

The Believe Her App and Dr. Shalon's Maternal Action Project are projects birthed by Bianca and Dr. Shalon's mother, Wanda Irving, as a form of activism and memorializes Dr. Shalon's life and her legacy. Believe Her is an anonymous, maternal, peer-to-peer app created to fight extraordinarily high black maternal mortality rates and save lives. Dr. Shalon's Maternal Action Project works to remove barriers, biases, and disparate practices that impede access to equitable, quality care for Black women and women of color. Their work is based on the life philosophy of Dr. Shalon:

"I see inequity wherever it exists. I am not afraid to call it by name and work hard to eliminate it. I vow to create a better earth."

Resources:

Believe Her App | anonymous peer support app to increase awareness of the Black maternal health crisis while improvising health outcomes

Dr. Shalon’s Maternal Action Project | works to remove barriers, biases, and disparate practices that impede access to equitable, quality care for Black women and women of color

4Kira4Moms | advocacy, education, and peer support to the victims family and friends, promoting the idea that maternal mortality should be viewed, and discussed as a human rights issue

Tatia Oden French Memorial Foundation | foundation website with resources, videos, articles and more information on their work

Irth App | "Yelp-like" review & rating app for hospitals & physicians made by and for Black women & birthing people of color

Mahmee | HIPAA-secure care management platform that connects, payers, providers, and patients to coordinate comprehensive prenatal and postpartum healthcare from anywhere

Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021 | builds on existing legislation to comprehensively address every dimension of the maternal health crisis in America

Sponsors:

Restoring Our Own Through Transformation (ROOTT) | reproductive justice organization

ROOTT 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

At 39 weeks, around 9 pm, after watching a show with her husband, Dr. Amber got up and immediately felt her waters rupture. Her husband began organizing and preparing their things to allow birth to flow. During that time, she noticed that her contractions were intense and very consistent. Arriving at the hospital with her doula and husband for support, Dr. Amber was surprised to find that she was already 6cm. Settling in, she continued to move through labor and her birth plan. Labor continued to progress, but after 2 hours of pushing and her daughter not descending, Dr. Amber, with the support of her birth team, decided to move forward with a surgical birth.

The beginnings of postpartum would require an extended hospital stay as Dr. Amber did develop postpartum preeclampsia, a diagnosis she was encouraged to explore after a recommendation from her virtual community. It would also yield the transition of healing from her surgical birth, supporting her toddler and newborn, and reconciliation with herself around her birth. The transparency of "not liking having” a second surgical birth and “working through the what if's". Through those feelings, acknowledging that they are valid and not the sole determinant of her motherhood.

Resources:

Balanced Working Mama | support to help working mothers balance work, motherhood, and wellness

The early weeks of her pregnancy felt uneasy as she had early spotting that would significantly reduce physical activity. This proved challenging for Katya, a former collegiate basketball player, as she was accustomed to living an active lifestyle. The spotting was anxiety-producing, and she grew concerned about her ability to carry her pregnancy to term, especially since they were expecting twins. Katya described her prenatal care as excellent as she felt respected and heard during her prenatal visits. The spotting eventually subsided, but she needed to continue maintaining low physical activity. She felt fully supported by her husband during the whole pregnancy but especially in the first trimester. He assured her that "they" were good no matter what the outcome was. Katya viewed the third trimester as "crazy" as her husband and his team won the Super Bowl, moved into their new home, and began to prepare that space for the babies. 

Katya and Ndamunkong hired a doula team to help them prepare for labor and newborn care. The planning phase helped them bond and experience the joy of growing a family together. They watched online videos and read about birth as childbirth education classes were not held in person due to Covid. In that preparation, a challenge they needed to think through was with one of the twins being breech. They worked through different scenarios, making a plan for each possibility regarding how and where the twins would be born. Katya had a medical team ready in Tampa, where her husband plays football, and a medical team in Portland, where they maintain their home base.  

At 38 weeks, Katya consented to a scheduled induction. She was able to have both her husband and her mother present for the births, despite having been unsure if her mom would be allowed to attend due to the hospital's restrictions during the pandemic. Labor was intense, and she chose an epidural for additional comfort. Part of their birth plan was for Ndamunkong to stay with the babies if there were any issues. The first baby, Kingston, was healthy, and there were no complications for him. However, their second baby, Khari, had fluid in his lungs and needed additional medical support with a CPAP. Katya's husband went with Khari to be present during his treatment. After her deliveries, Katya experienced a postpartum hemorrhage - which resulted in her needing to receive two blood transfusions, and she has had a healthy recovery.

Katya has intentionally expressed her needs and emotions with her family and friends as she is still in the fourth trimester. She has learned to lean in for support and credits her village for how they are managing newborn twins — embracing her evolution in becoming a mother, both mentally and physically.  

Resources:

The Suh Family Foundation | works with communities to equip people with the resources they need to sustain long-term success

Katya Suh Youtube | connect with Katya on her Youtube channel 

Labor started at 41 weeks as Adriana and her daughter held their own “secret” that would be the beginning of her birth. She managed to labor at home all day long as her family supported her. Upon arrival at the hospital, Adriana discovered that she was not as far progressed as she thought. Adriana tried various labor positions until she landed on a stool, which allowed her body to do the work. Pushing for 2 hours left her exhausted, and she found herself birthing with her brain and not her body. Her baby girl was born as she yelled her out and garnered her anger to propel her body to complete the task.

Adriana’s postpartum was complicated by having visiting family who she treated as guests instead of her support. These feelings were paired with a perceived judgment of how she was managing herself. Breastfeeding was an additional stressor as her daughter had a lip tie. The challenges with the lip tie to a three-month challenge that led to exclusive pumping for six months. Releasing herself from chasing achievement opened space for her to “allow.”

We found ourselves sitting at the feet of a veteran birth worker who has managed to pave a way for women and birthing people to honor the space of their becoming. Adriana now powerfully describes birth as not an emergency but an emergence. Her podcast, Birthful, seeks to inform your intuition through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.

Resources:

Birthful | podcast talking to perinatal pros and new parents to inform your intuition

The Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth | childbirth education book, helping to compare and contrast your various options

The Bradley Method | childbirth education series

They had worked on their birth plan by hiring a midwife and a doula to support them to birth at home. This, of course, was after Sy felt more educated and felt comfortable and agreed to a Homebirth. They worked with a queer-inclusive provider but experienced challenges with transferring care from a doctor to a Homebirth midwife with additional support from a High-Risk doctor due to carrying twins.

Cristina attended a prenatal appointment at 35 weeks and was informed that her blood pressure was high and one of the babies was breech presenting. She returned at 37 weeks for a stress test and again had high blood pressure; in addition, there was protein in her urine sample. They immediately began to plan for a scheduled belly birth to mitigate additional health issues for Cristina and the babies. The twins were full-term, and Cristina’s body had started to show early signs of labor. But through all of their planning, this was not a scenario that they had considered. Nevertheless, they brought home their healthy children, both a boy and a girl.

Bringing home their babies came with additional challenges. Cristina still had to heal from the blood pressure complications and a surgical birth with twins. However, Postpartum was a timeframe that helped their family develop a deeper bond and evolved their communication styles. Cristina has channeled her energy to become a birth worker now. She has utilized her experience to support other families through childbirth and especially those having belly births.

Resources:

Vida | full spectrum birth services

@sy.the.gender.rebel | Sy Bernabei Tik Tok discussing gender identity, LGBTQIA2+ and history

Gender, Justice Nevada | statewide advocacy, education, and policy reforming organization

Taking Charge of Your Fertility | the definitive guide to natural birth control, pregnancy achievement, and reproductive health

Shay and Joshua chose to announce their pregnancy to a few select people. They managed to keep their happy secret despite Shay's work on social media that often finds her sharing much of her personal life. Their journey to parenthood was marked by detailed preparations that included observing other families, nutrition planning, hiring a doula and midwife, and taking deep dives into researching what felt right for them.

Shay spent time writing letters to both her unborn daughter and her husband, offering her reflections and gratitude for them. They serve as documents filled with the hope that their daughter would have a glimpse into who her mother is or was at the time of her pregnancy and their daughter's effect on their lives.

Their family learned that all of the best intentions could not stop a global pandemic from shifting aspects of their birth plan, like having a doula present in the hospital. But they were already determined to focus on the "controllables," as Shay coined it. They managed to labor at the hospital but shifted to a surgical birth with brought much anxiety for Shay. She was deeply aware of the challenges that Black women have had in birthing spaces. Joshua stayed positive as he expected all to go well. Relying on ancestral knowledge of Black women being the first birthing people.

Since giving birth, Shay has become more aware of her own needs and openly communicates with Joshua. She has been able to lean into his care and ask for it when needed. Communication has been the key to managing their new parenthood journey.

Resources:

Mine-R-T Doula Company | labor coach for pregnant individuals and couples in Charlotte, North Carolina and surrounding areas

Sharing on BSiC was the first time Hiwote would be reflecting on her experience aloud. Her story highlights the disparities of the Black and Immigrant community - how our experiences are not monolithic but often intertwined. The lack of research for treating mental health within the immigrant community. And how impactful our cultural practices and traditions can be to our healing and mental health.

Birth is sacred, and our birth stories live with us forever embedded in our very being. In finding the BSiC space, Hiwote was ready to release this part of her journey. What she received at the end of sharing was the beginning of healing—being able to start a new as she and her husband expand their family once again.

Resources:

Her Holistic Path | birth support and birth photography available for Maryland and D.C.

Dae worked through the waves of grief and discovered she was pregnant again; this time, it was during a pandemic. She gathered her team, created an active morning routine, and simply chose to enjoy the pregnancy. They planned for a birth at home and put in the work to make it happen by hiring a midwife and doula. After managing through over 20 hours of labor, they decided to transition to the hospital. She continued to labor without progressing and found herself at peace at how birth would unfold and welcomed her son via surgical birth.

Postpartum proved to be challenging after the unplanned surgical birth as healing required being in the space of stillness and relying on her husband. She eventually worked through the challenges and settled into accepting help. Dae began working on her body through chiropractic care and pelvic health therapy.

Dae has adopted a belief of motherhood as a joyous experience. She has developed a community online that has centered the scripture referencing beauty for ashes. She is now holding space for women who have experienced some form of loss and want to exchange that grief for a new experience of joy and beauty.

Resources:

Dae Hayes | mindset coach and spiritual strategist

Therapy for Black Girls | an online space dedicated to encouraging the mental wellness of Black women and girls.

When she began expanding her family again, she knew she wanted and deserved a different story. The moment she and her husband found out they were expecting, she began building her birth team - this included a doula from a local organization ROOTT and a black OB. The three of them worked together and filled in the gaps for each other when one couldn't hold a particular space for her. The support from her birth team surrounded her in not only care but also her whole family, allowing them to support Ashly in having the VBACs she had envisioned.

Throughout her journey, Ashly had to learn to extend grace to herself. In the moments that seemed out of her control, but especially in the moments that made her feel whole, and in each new stage of postpartum, she knows that has to be at the core - working on who she is outside of her kids, sharing " If I'm not whole, then what I'm giving them isn't the best of me." This being the part of her journey requiring the most grace.

Resources:

Luke Warm Ginger Tea | a holistic moms journey through love, motherhood, and walking in her very own divine femininity

Sponsors:

Restoring Our Own Through Transformation (ROOTT) | reproductive justice organization

ROOTT 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

Shanicia has channeled her pregnancy and parenting experiences from the lens of a Black woman into a career. Her latest project is a pregnancy book, Oh Sis, You’re Pregnant: The Ultimate Guide to Black Pregnancy and Motherhood, that flows through all of the ways we can prepare our minds and bodies for childbirth and the forever postpartum period. There are African birth traditions, detailed health concerns that tend to affect Black bodies more frequently, space for Black women to see themselves, and there is joy - a joy that fits the occasion of the blessing of a new life.

Resources:

Black Moms Blog | parenting, culture, and lifestyle from a Black mom’s point of view

Oh Sis, You’re Pregnant! | the ultimate guide to black pregnancy & motherhood

National Black Doulas Association | connects Black birthing families with Black Doulas nationwide

ROOTT | reproductive justice organization

Sista Midwife Productions | birth advocacy organization based in New Orleans, LA

Ancient Song Doula Services | international doula certifying organization

SMC Full Circle Doula Training | training in pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum doula care

And as she navigated her pregnancy, she knew that she didn't want to allow pregnancy and birth to happen to her - or enable the healthcare system to do whatever they wanted. As she had seen growing up, she needed to be the center of her experience, supported by those who could uplift her in that positioning. That return to the beginning would also birth Wolomi. The goal and mission of Wolomi is to provide resources and guidance that support black birthing people to own their perinatal journey, alongside others that look like them, and share in their experience. 

Resources:

Wolomi | digital community that offers support to women of color to improve maternal health outcomes

Leslie sought grounding and joy through the uncertainties of the environment. When her labor ensued, she committed to her affirmations, breathing, and leaning into her support. Learning to surrender to that space and moment allowed her to power through. And birth her baby into her arms. Leslie refers to her birth experience as a “posture of gratitude.”

Resources:

Joyfull Beginnings (Caryn Fields) | doula & Educator

The Business of Being Born | a 2008 documentary film that explores the contemporary experience of childbirth in the United States.

Nurture | a modern guide to pregnancy, birth and early motherhood

The First Forty Days | the essential art of nourishing the new mother

Mindful Birthing | training the mind, body, and heart for childbirth and beyond

Birthing 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.

In expanding their family, Tauri and Sarah found that Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) was the route that felt best. And after finding out they were pregnant, being the planner she is - Tauri began preparing for their birth vision.

They wouldn't have even known they needed to prepare for dealing with pregnancy and birth during the COVID-19 pandemic. After the 20 week scan, Tauri and Sarah would soon find they would be experiencing their pregnancy amongst just the two of them. Coming to the end of her pregnancy, Tauri was trying all the techniques to get labor started. After a night of nothing happening with castor oil, Tauri found herself a bit restless. Feeling a shift, she went to the bathroom and experienced a movie-style breaking of her waters. She shared the news with Sarah and went back to sleep.

Into the next day, there wasn't much change, and after 12 hours, Tauri and Sarah headed to the hospital. With the support of Pitocin, contractions began coming intense and fast. Working through the night and into the early morning, Tauri started to feel a new intensity. When her midwife arrived, her body had already begun pushing, her baby already crowning. And following her lead, pushing when she felt ready, Sarah caught their baby, placing her on Tauri's chest with all her "cheesy vernix" goodness.

Resources:

Expecting Better | pregnancy preparation guidebook

The Birth Partner | a complete guide to childbirth for dads, partners, doulas, and all other labor companions

The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding | nursing guide from preparation, pregnancy, expressing and storing milk

Spinning Babies | pregnancy preparation as well as labor activities to ease birth

In our conversation, we explore her work as a whole and ways in which history and community can serve as a powerful force in accessing our power to create change and birth liberation. We left feeling whole - it was full of lessons we will be taking into the continued celebration of Black Maternal Health Week 2021 and Black birth, Black life, and Black joy!

We share with you some of our favorite highlights;

There will be a second edition of Birthing Justice released in 2022!!!

"We cannot assume there is no historical precedent to the things we see today" examining our history allows us to "figure out necessary interventions to shift that paradigm so things can become better." ~ Dr. Alicia Bonaparte

The beauty of honoring our people (our community) when they are here with us earthside and giving them their flowers now. And not just in accolades and gratitude but showering them in their worth!

"Take really good care of yourself and focus on your joy and cultivating it." ~ Dr. Alicia Bonaparte

Resources:

Birthing Justice | black women, pregnancy & childbirth

Julia Chinyere Oparah | Birthing Justice co-editor, professor, and chair of Ethnic Studies at Mills College and a founding member of Black Women Birthing Justice

Jennie Joseph | British trained midwife, founder and executive director of Commonsense Childbirth Inc., and the creator of The JJ Way

The JJ Way | a patient-centered model of care

Perinatal Task Force | a program component of Commonsense Childbirth Inc. 

Black Mamas Matter Alliance |Black women-led cross-sectoral alliance. Centering Black mamas to advocate, drive research, build power, and shift culture for Black maternal health, rights, and justice.

Ayanna Pressley | U.S. Representative for Massachusetts's 7th congressional district

Keisha Goode, PhD | NACPM Vice President

The Birthing Place | Natural Birth Services in Houston

Black Women for Wellness | committed to health and well-being of Black women and girls through health education, empowerment, and advocacy.

South LA/South Bay AAIMM | coalition focused on Black infant and maternal deaths/health in Los Angeles County

Kristen Hanna is a BSiC Storyteller that encourages mindful motherhood in her work and daily life. Kristen and her partner have started an apparel line, Be Free Apparel, as an opportunity to not only clothe the body but inspire and encourage others to break generational patterns and heal to live and love as freely as God intended. She has graciously gifted our listeners with an offering of meditation.

The intention of this meditation is for reframing and centering as you prepare for and navigate your birth. The hope that this pause allows you to tap within yourself. And the affirmations curated from snippets of BSiC community storyteller's own experiences cover you in support. Pause. Tap in. Listen.

When labor began, Jefri felt as though it wasn't time. As things started picking up, she still disregarded the shift but followed her body's request for movement as she worked through contractions. After some time, she found herself returning to the toilet, her body signaling to her that their baby would be arriving soon.

With a sense of haste, she instructed Aigbokhai to call their midwife, and they both began hurriedly preparing for the baby to come. With their midwife still a bit of way from their home and things moving fast, they placed her and Jefri's mother on facetime. Both of them providing support and encouragement as the baby began crowning. And with another two contractions, their son was born into Jefri and Aigbokhai's hands.

Since her son had arrived early, Chanel was convinced that she would have the same experience for this pregnancy. At 41 weeks and one day, Chanel was starting to feel challenged mentally, but contractions would start developing some consistency, and she took that time to rest and move throughout her day. Their doula supported them in the early shifts and then transitioning to the birth center as things intensified. The birth centered provided Chanel with a sense of peace. Feeling like the "center of attention," which made her "feel covered, and protected and safe." A pivotal moment she expresses during her birth was as she was shifting into transition, feeling fatigued she took to solitude in the shower. She was spending an intimate moment in prayer with God, asking and reflecting on strength to continue. The moment she recalls fully surrendering - her baby arriving soon after.

Resources:

A Werking Mama | birth support, education & advocacy

And as they were riding the wave of joy, they would soon find themselves shifting to grief. Jordan was very close to her grandmother and was heartbroken with her passing a week after discovering they were pregnant. Jordan felt her close - the intuition that she was going to have a daughter, which they found out about on the day of her other grandmother's birthday, March 13th. Their presence deep throughout her entire journey.

Two days after her estimated due date, Jordan started feeling contractions and immediately about five minutes apart. Wanting to labor at home as long as possible, she found relief in the tub. And as things intensified, Rufus encouraged her that it may be time for them to head to the hospital. When she arrived, she found out that she was four centimeters dilated. Rufus and Jordan felt very supported in the hospital, and when labor slowed down at nine and a half centimeters, her birth team encouraged many positional changes to help her daughter make her way. And after 15 minutes of pushing, she arrived earthside, with Rufus catching the perfect photo and her extended family watching via Facetime.

Rufus expressed that one area he wasn't prepared for was the transition of postpartum, which was made more challenging with the restrictions of COVID. They couldn't fully tap into their community; being in sync with each other throughout it all continues to help them find and share in the joyful moments.

Resources:

Holy Labor | scriptural exploration of common conceptions about pregnancy and childbirth

Jocelyne’s husband, midwife, and parents surrounded her in love and support as labor ensued. Her midwife assisted her in maintaining movement and naturally stimulating her contractions. And her parents stepped away to allow for space and time. Jocelyne was able to progress and focus on the task at hand. They were able to achieve their homebirth after not even seeing this as a possibility for their family.

Homebirth.com was created in their response to wanting to share the beauty and joy of their homebirth story. Homebirth.com holds space for story sharing and helps others who wish to Homebirth find the birth teams that can help meet their birthing goals.

Resources:

Homebirth.com | providing knowledge and resources centered in homebirth

When early labor began at 38 weeks for Courtney's first birth, she spent most of that time in the sense of denial. As she moved about her day, her body and baby showed signs that his arrival would be soon. It took encouragement from her husband and midwife to help shift her mindset that the time had come. As she was having a homebirth, Courtney moved about her home and different positions to help with progression. It was a pivotal moment for her to feel her son engage in her pelvis, prompting her to have her husband get her birth pool ready and have her midwife join them. Being able to lean into her husband for support and having space to trust her body entirely, they welcomed their son soon after.

When she found herself experiencing the signs of labor again 16 months after her son's birth, the sense of familiarity with her body's response was strong. This progression was much faster, a surprise to Courtney, when she began pushing her "body, grabbed onto the energy," and her daughter began making her way.

For both of her births, early postpartum planning would be pivotal. After her son's birth, the time allowed her to take the pauses she needed and process her full experience. With her daughter having suffered with baby blues, she focused her care on herself, being honest with herself about what she needed, and knowing that in the moments when she wasn't ok, that was ok!

Resources:

The Equipped Mama | birth and beyond services

Knowing her mother's birth stories - all of her children's birth from start to finish being 4 hours, Ashley envisioned she would have a similar experience. So when her water broke three days after her estimated due date, she arrived at the hospital ready for the journey to be swift. Settling into the hospital at 9 am, Ashley was 2cm dilated, and by the afternoon, was told had progressed to 8cm. To her surprise, once her doctor arrived and did a cervical exam, she expressed that Ashley was only 5cm. Ashley was, of course, disappointed but knew that she had to stay in a serene and positive mindset. As she labored through the day and progression remained in the same spot, Ashley, her husband, and birth team tried many options, finally deciding that her son's arrival would be a surgical birth.

Leaving the hospital and returning home was tough; Ashley was managing her physical healing from a surgeryshe hadn't expected, working through nursing challenges and also the mental toll of this new transition. Creating with food had always been an outlet for Ashley; during her pregnancy, she prepared ready-made meals for postpartum that would be easy for her and her husband to make—having food in this way assisted with her body recovery and recovery mentally. But even with that, Ashley felt like she wasn't allowing a release for her thoughts or feelings from having postpartum anxiety and baby blues. Not finding what she needed, she decided to create a guided journal. A space that she could communicate her feelings with no pressure or judgments. A safe space serving as self-care, a reminder that as a birthing parent, "you are important.." and all parts of you "have a space in your baby's life."

Resources:

Chef Ashley Shep | simplifying meal time with tips, tricks, and ideas to make the most out of mealtime

New Mom Thoughts | guided keepsake journal

Sponsors:

March of Dimes | education, research, support & advocacy for moms and babies

March of Dimes, the leading nonprofit fighting for the health of all moms and babies, is observing World Defects Day on March 3rd. This is an annual event in which March of Dimes partners with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) to generate awareness among women of childbearing age and families about actions they can take to help prevent birth defects. Join the conversation about World Defects Day by following hashtag #Best4YouBest4Baby on social media and by visiting March of Dimes at marchofdimes.org/BSiC.

Natalie entered this pregnancy, being concerned about what happened to cause her miscarriage. She nervously started sharing her news as her family and friends expressed their excitement. She experienced the typical symptoms of pregnancy, but the pregnancy was without challenges. Natalie wanted to take it one day at a time with minimal planning.

During her 38 week appointment with her doctor, she had a cervical exam and learned, to her surprise, that she was nearly 10 cm dilated. She had labored over the weekend after she lost her mucus plug. She didn’t experience intense contractions over the weekend but had challenges sleeping. Things moved quickly to get her settled in the delivery room. Natalie still had her bag of waters intact, and she received a pitocin drip as recommended by her provider to speed up labor. After laboring with pitocin, Natalie knew she wanted additional support by way of an epidural. Reflecting on her birth and the speed of it, Natalie found herself wishing she had more of a plan. She was receiving medication; she couldn’t recall why she was taking it or what it was called. Her family arrived in full force, and she began to feel uncomfortable as the room was crowded and overwhelming, which deterred her focus and ability from being calm. Her birth space had made what could have been a smoother process complicated by the use of forceps, suctioning, and an episiotomy.

Natalie’s body had carried her child to term, she had naturally labored at home, and once she shifted her environment and mindset so swiftly, her ideal of a calm birth had started to slip through her hands.

One week into postpartum, Natalie found herself feeling depressed. She had limited support at home as her partner had to work, and her mother had been with her for the first week. Intrusive thoughts and breastfeeding challenges led to a lack of sleep and anxiety. She became suicidal and sought help. Natalie shared her feelings and thoughts with her partner and family. She began using antidepressants, but it wasn’t enough as the anxiety and highs and lows continued. Natalie was admitted to a mental health facility to protect herself. Listen on as Natalie shares her harrowing journey through postpartum depression, anxiety and how she was open to not just therapy but medication and continued support.

Resources:

Shades of Blue | breaking cultural barriers in Maternal Mental Health Globally

Postpartum Support International | provide current information, resources, education, advocate for further research and legislation to support perinatal mental health

Mindfully Well Rooted | mental health and lifestyle blog

Sponsors:

March of Dimes | education, research, support & advocacy for moms and babies

March of Dimes, the leading nonprofit fighting for the health of all moms and babies, is observing World Defects Day on March 3rd. This is an annual event in which March of Dimes partners with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) to generate awareness among women of childbearing age and families about actions they can take to help prevent birth defects. Join the conversation about World Defects Day by following hashtag #Best4YouBest4Baby on social media and by visiting March of Dimes at marchofdimes.org/BSiC.

LC knew that she wanted a doula again, but this time it had to be a black doula. LC connected with ROOTT. As she moved through her pregnancy, the relationships she had with her doulas opened space for honest conversations - LC was grieving, causing her to be disconnected from the pregnancy and shying from actually receiving the support she needed. Along with therapy, her husband, and the support from ROOTT, she was able to "feel grounded in the pregnancy even if it wasn't exciting."

Due to some concerns of Intrauterine Growth restriction, LC was induced at 40 weeks. Reflecting on her son's birth, she had prepped herself and her support team that things would move slow and she would be having her baby the next day. But things progressed differently this time around even though she was convinced that she was not in labor - her body and baby telling a different story. The feelings of anxiety and fear left LC in denial, and while she may not have been ready for her daughter to come, Karah was. As LC puts it, "she birthed herself."

Resources:

Zora’s House | co-working and community space in Central Ohio catering specifically to women of color

Sponsors:

Restoring Our Own Through Transformation (ROOTT) | reproductive justice organization

ROOTT 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

Najla was moved to stick to her convictions and honor her knowledge, intuition, and spiritual direction. Her birth unfolded and revealed more of who she knew she was. Najla continues to honor this practice of self-direction in pregnancy and birth through Maryam’s Womb - providing holistic birth support and womb health education for women and teens.

Dani describes her story as a faith journey to motherhood - a journey that has included pain, joy but also lots of hope. In 2010, a year into their marriage Dani and her husband found out they were pregnant. Yet early into this pregnancy, they would experience a miscarriage. Processing through that, they decided to wait before trying again, and three years later, Dani was pregnant. They found out it was a boy and knew they wanted to name him William Jr. after her husband.

At 20 weeks, Dani began having spotting and increased bleeding. She spoke with her doctor, they did testing, but no cause for the bleeding was found. Yet at 32 weeks, Dani was having severe headaches, and being someone who was very in tuned with their body, Dani knew something was wrong. Staying persistent with her doctors, they discovered she had preeclampsia and would need to stay at the hospital until she reached full term. But at 28 weeks, September 2013, her placenta would stop working, and William Jr. was born. But William's time earthside would be short, and after a hard fight, he would pass that November.

The passing of their son was extremely difficult for them. Working through their grief, they leaned into their family, friends, and support through therapy. During this time, they were connected with the March of Dimes. For Dani, March of Dimes provider her with the hope she needed. Connecting with other families with the same shared experience allowed them all to know they were not navigating this alone. Participating in the March of Dimes walk allows her and her husband to honor their son and the children they never met.

This support and hope carried them through another miscarriage in 2014 and then becoming pregnant with their daughter Harper in 2015. Understanding her health history, Dani and her husband decided with their care team to have a surgical birth with Harper at 35 weeks. As a result of being born premature, she was diagnosed with Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) - where audio fibers in her ear either didn't develop or did and died. Because of that, she does wear bilateral hearing aids. But as Dani described beyond that, "she is doing well" and a "sign that miracles can happen!"

Sponsors:

March of Dimes | education, research, support & advocacy for moms and babies

March of Dimes, the leading nonprofit fighting for the health of all moms and babies, is observing National Birth Defects Prevention Month in January 2021. This is an annual event in which March of Dimes partners with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) to generate awareness among women of childbearing age and families about actions they can take to help prevent birth defects. Join the conversation about National Birth Defects Prevention Month by following hashtag #Best4YouBest4Baby on social media and by visiting March of Dimes at marchofdimes.org/BSiC.

The issues with high blood pressure found her needing additional advocacy by her mother, an experienced nurse. Her mother refused to allow her daughter’s health issues to be brushed off or delayed treatment. She shared how her treatment shifted as her language matched those of the medical field. She was admitted to the hospital for further monitoring, which led to an emergency surgical birth at 33 weeks, as her baby didn’t pass the assessments.

Oriel had a feeling of Deja Vu as she carried her second child. Things were going well, and she treated herself to a maternity shoot as she surpassed the 33-week mark. However, she was met with more blood pressure challenges and needed to deliver her daughter just short of being full term at 36 weeks.

Preeclampsia is a potentially dangerous pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure that can continue into postpartum. Other common symptoms include swelling of the feet and hands as well as protein being present in urine. It can lead to preterm deliveries and health issues for the mother or birthing person if it isn’t detected and treated appropriately. Challenges with preeclampsia marked both pregnancies and influenced some postpartum life changes that have led the way for a healthier life for Oriel. She shared her journey as a NICU parent and how she never paused for her healing, as is common for parents with special needs children. Now Oriel stands by scheduling time for herself and has the support of her partner to honor it. Listen in for a story about the incredible power of advocacy and resilience.

Before becoming a birth worker, Destiny had always been interested in holistic care. At that time, with her first child, she had a birth plan but wasn't able to find a doula she connected with. That pregnancy was fine, but unfortunately, her birth did not go as planned and did include some birth trauma. Having experienced that, she was more diligent in planning and building her birth team, allowing her throughout the whole process to feel supported and empowered to make informed decisions about her care.

At 37 weeks, due to pre-eclampsia symptoms, she needed to be induced. Destiny would need to tap into that part of herself. After some time to re-center and regroup from this unexpected turn, Destiny knew moving through the induction, she wanted to take her time, introducing medical interventions very slowly and always starting at the lowest dosage available. Doing this gave her the space to work through challenging and tiring labor. To make the call to get an epidural because she knew she needed to allow both the mental and physical parts of herself to relax. And when it was time to push, she knew, and delivered her baby in a position that felt most comfortable for her, caught him and her hands were the first to lay him on her chest.

Sponsors:

Restoring Our Own Through Transformation (ROOTT) | reproductive justice organization

ROOTT 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

Due to hospital administration issues, in the midst of this, Anese would lose her black OBGYN's care and begin seeing another doctor. An older white woman who not only dismissed Anese's concerns but didn't think she needed to receive the cerclage. But with the support of her doula, a family friend who happened to be an OBGYN, and the careful eye of a black sonographer during an appointment, Anese was able to advocate for herself and at 23 weeks was rushed to L&D, where she received medication to stop contractions and place the cerclage.

Anese would be met with the unexpected again, at 31 weeks when her water broke, resulting in a 2-week hospital stay, and at 33 weeks going into spontaneous labor. While labor wasn't long, pushing her son earthside did take an extended amount of time, and after 2 hours and birth vacuum assistance, she and her husband got to meet their 3lb baby boy. When reflecting on her experience, Anese shared that she was thankful to have had a birth team that gave her the space to try. Many plans for her birth had changed; she hadn't thought about that impact until she was in the moment having it all unfold. But her birth team made sure she was informed, and all options were considered.

This type of support would continue as her family adjusted to life in the NICU. After five weeks, they were able to bring their son home. And as they celebrate year two of his life, healing continues and is just beginning for some family members. The layers of healing have allowed Anese to create support systems for other mothers with her similar experience. It has created a deeper bond for her husband and son and created space for her father to share his experience. Lastly, it sheds light on just how impactful full family-centered and focused care can be.

Resources:

Postpartum Support International | provide current information, resources, education, advocate for further research and legislation to support perinatal mental health

The Breakthrough Mama | mental health and postpartum preparedness counseling

In 2006 she wrote the Mocha Manual. This book allowed BIPOC individuals to see themselves in the modern maternity conversation. While also bringing to the forefront the realities and disparities of pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding for BIPOC individuals. Kimberly continued to peel back the layers, writing five books total, The Big Letdown being her most recent, a look into the systems, society, pediatricians, and doctors hindering the infant feeding journeys of families. And through that exploration, affirming to nursing parents that they are doing their best in a structure not created to see them succeed.

In her work, Kimberly has had a front-row seat into the experience of many birthing parents and knows sharing our stories holds weight. Reflecting on her birth, she remembered when a hospital was highly recommended to her as an option for care. Yet she walked away from that hospital traumatized. There hasn't been a space for birthing people to have the opportunity to hold the care system accountable. And so Irth was born. The Irth app is a “Yelp-like” platform where individuals can leave reviews on care providers and hospitals to inform each other of where they are receiving good care and where they aren't.

If you are a birthing parent or even a doula/support person, you can share your experience. As Kimberly expressed, "We may not be able to stop all the harm, but we have to be prepared to help heal."

Irth App | "Yelp-like" review & rating app for hospitals & physicians made by and for Black women & birthing people of color

Mocha Manual | pregnancy guide by Kimberly Seals Allers

The Big Letdown | how medicine, big business, and feminism undermine breastfeeding by Kimberly Seals Allers

Tia described the moment when faced with an X-ray needed after a cough sent her to the ER. She was informed that it was cancer after a follow up with a pulmonologist. Leading her down a road of testing, treatment, and specialists. All moving at a fast pace to provide immediate treatment. Tia uses her experience as a social worker to help her garner the severity of her medical situation. Tia was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma, and she immediately felt herself come outside of her body. The tears flowed, and she remembered that she was carrying life within her. Her maternal health team leaned towards aborting the pregnancy, but they weren’t in agreement. She moved forward, knowing that she and her baby would be ok and covered within God’s will. She began inpatient chemotherapy treatment for the cancer. She also started developing a blood clot and need further hospitalization. She was the first pregnant patient in their hospital to receive chemotherapy while pregnant and quickly became “the talk” of the hospital. They utilized all of the medications, including those that would cross through the placenta, because she didn’t just want to survive the pregnancy and raise her child.

Tia and Martino’s birth would culminate with an emergency surgical birth at 31 weeks pregnant due to the baby having repeated heart decelerations after mom passed a large blood clot. Their hospital stay was brief due to her weakened immune system, but she quickly returned the next day due to a fever that would later be determined as lung inflammation.

Postpartum was challenging, as one might imagine. Their family stepped in to visit Baby Chance in the NICU as Tia healed and Martino took care of her and their other daughter. Yes, the baby was named Chance because they gave him a chance at life. Tia and Martino’s story goes beyond birth; it is a testament to their faith, strength, determination, favor, and love.

Resources:

Hope for Two | the pregnant with cancer network

Fruits N Rootz | a sustainable provider of high quality fruit

When Kia and her partner found out they were pregnant last April, they were ecstatic. As they settled into the first trimester, Kia began struggling with some complications that included intense nausea and early spotting. And while her OBGYN assured her that her symptoms were routine and what most birthing people experience. Kia's intuition told her something wasn't right.

When thinking about what could be wrong, the possibility of having a miscarriage didn't come up. It wasn't something that Kia had heard anyone having experienced and associated it with only begin a concern in the early part of pregnancy. So she was surprised at 14 weeks when she went into labor. Sharing her story, Kia walks us through the intimate moments of giving birth and the loss of her son at home.

Healing for Kia has been intense but centered in reminders that she was not at fault and not holding on to guilt. Staying focused on what her baby taught and brought to her life emotionally and mentally. That while she didn't get to hold him and experience him physically, she was his mother, and there was hope for her being a mother again.

Resources:

Supernatural Birth | experiencing the promises of God concerning conception and delivery by Jackie Mize

Labor ensued slowly as she started dilating on a Monday and would have her membranes naturally rupture (water break) on Thursday. She took her time to prepare herself to leave. She followed the hypnosis scripts that she had been listening to in her sleep, which allowed her to stay calm despite when her surges (contractions) were 5 minutes apart as they left their home. Dayna arrived at 10 centimeters dilated, and her support team was ready to receive her. Unfortunately, they weren’t receptive to her requests, which was frustrating for Dayna. She delivered her baby feeling empowered and knowing she could have done it at home. Her first birth would lead her through a journey of self-discovery and influence her second birth.

Having two births grounded in calm and connection to her body, Dayna now supports other birthing persons in achieving a blissful birth experience without fear. To connect with Dayna, head over to her website at From Fertility to Delivery.

Resources:

Pebble | postpartum support program

BlissBorn | comprehensive program to prepare mothers and partners for a more confident birth experience

From Fertility to Delivery (Dayna Ruben) Youtube Channel | dedicated to helping women on their motherhood journey

The New Contented Little Baby Book: The Secret to Calm and Confident Parenting | parenting book by Gina Ford

Marissa's estimated due date was July 4th, but her intuition told her her daughter would make her arrival on July 6th, so when labor began on July 6th, it wasn't a surprise. With her husband and doula supporting her, Marissa labored at home until they all felt that the contractions had reached a good point to head to the hospital.

Marissa attributes her birth team for really guiding her in the moments when she thought she couldn't do it. Her doula and husband continuously reminded her of her strength, and her midwife was talking her through her options. Whenever there might be a shift from her birth plan, she always made sure to check back in with Marissa and her husband about what they wanted to do. With that support, eight hours after arriving at the hospital, Marissa and her husband met their daughter.

In postpartum, their community support would be just as vital as their birth team. Navigating the newborn parenting fog, Marissa relied heavily on the check-ins, meal drop-offs, and any other filled request. And as things arose with breastfeeding, her doula, birth coach, and lactation consultant were always there with advice. Marissa is grateful to have a community to lean on and in every step of the way.

Picture this, it's 1989, and Deidre found out she was pregnant between 4-5 months gestation after multiple negative tests. The moment she found out became a learning experience for a nurse eager to share the news. Deidre flatly reminded her to work on her delivery as you don't know how a person feels about the pregnancy.  The pregnancy moved forward, and she discovered that she was losing weight and often feeling tired, which made her grow agitated with pregnancy. Deidre states that she was young and wasn't aware of what was proper nutrition for herself. She was working at a fast-food restaurant and made changes the best that she could. She worked with her provider to discuss options to increase her weight.

When she finally went into labor, it proved challenging as the doctor on call was aggressive and had problems in his communication style. He lacked respect and empathy for a laboring person. Not to have her voice silenced, Deidre made sure he knew how inadequate his service was to her in the moment.

Postpartum care with her nurse home visitor helped her overcome the impossible feelings of providing for her son as a single parent. She was thankful for the words of encouragement and for someone to see her plight.

Today, Deidre has been hearing the stories of Black women giving birth, and it has opened her eyes to the experiences of lack of care and attention plaguing Black Maternal Healthcare.  Her self-reflection triggers the things that could have gone wrong, and she shares that her experience shows, "That we are blessed even when we don't see it in the moment. There is always humor somewhere. That is what I find in reflecting on my story. Listening to the stats and stories about negative outcomes for black women makes this clear to me."

Upon switching providers, her requests for testing and concerns were supported, and based on results; they decided that at 37 weeks, Sharita would be scheduled for an induction. Moving through the early stages of the induction, they expected a similar experience to their sons but soon realized that it would be a different story after a day of no change. They weren't expecting over the next five days were the tactics of aggressive intimidation and the assault on Sharita from their care team.

And while they left the hospital with a beautiful baby girl, they spent the beginning of their postpartum trying to piece together and heal from the trauma they endured during her birth. Sharita and Anthony are on the up end of their healing and what keeps them grounded is that for them, they did everything right - the assault was not their fault! Their story sheds light on the most straightforward fact, everyone deserves informed, consent focused, family-centered care because our experiences live with us forever.

Resources:

HypnoBirthing | classes for parents who strive for gentle, calm, and natural childbirth

ParentPhiphany | an innovative learning platform for parents

Doulas of Phoenix | doula support

When Dalaine found out she was pregnant with her third child, it wasn't something she was expecting and not something she was looking forward to. Her pregnancy came at a time when she was moving through a tumultuous relationship, work demands, and still trying to find her footing of being a mother of two. These stressors would show up in ways she wasn't prepared for - both mentally and physically. So much so that her doctor recommended she go on bed rest to slow down preterm labor hopefully.

Unable to follow those guidelines and find balance among it all, at 35 weeks, she went into spontaneous labor. With her baby being premature, ten-day NICU support was needed. During this time, Dalaine would begin the work of forgiving and healing herself - that even though her journey was bumpy, she still was the parent her daughter needed. Her daughter's birth taught her that to be the best for her children; she had to ensure she was being the best to herself! 

Alishia Anderson shares that motherhood has stretched her in ways she didn't even know she could be stretched. That the lessons she has taken from her journey are that "motherhood is very unpredictable, and having living children is an underrated blessing!"

Her motherhood journey was turned upside down as within her first pregnancy at 28 weeks, during a routine ultrasound appointment, they discovered her son no longer had a heartbeat. Needing time to process, Alishia and her husband decided to move forward with induction for the next day. That evening they prepared to meet their son, researching what it meant to lose a baby this early, the name for their experience, and trying to gain some sense of what to expect. After three days of labor, she gave birth to her angel baby Derrek Jerrell Anderson Jr., aka DJ. The groundwork that a supportive nurse provided in helping her understand the reality of what postpartum would look like as a stillbirth survivor was something Alishia found to be fundamental in finding healing and also navigating becoming a parent again.

A year later, Alisha and her husband would add their rainbow baby Grayson to their family and their golden baby Gavin two and a half years after that. And each story bringing its twists and turns but embracing everything within them. For Alishia, DJ brought her purpose, and she hopes her story and work provide other families with guidance and a sense of community support as they find their own healing. You can connect directly with Alshia on her website or on Instagram and Facebook.

Resources:

Still Here | a memoir of love, loss, and triumph after loss by Alishia Anderson

The 4:8 Principle | the secret to a joy-filled life by Tommy Newberry

Still Birthday | bereavement doulas and resources

But that work also encouraged her to be prepared for her birth. Working with individuals who came to her when they were experience issues or problems with their pelvic health, she wanted to do all she could to be on the preventive side. She hired a doula, surrounded herself with a care team that fully supported her vision for a low intervention, unmedicated birth, and educated herself on all her options. And at 38 and a half weeks, she was thrown into precipitous labor. Not being able to reach her doula, she relied on her husband to guide her through her comfort measures. Unbeknownst to them, she had dilated to 10 cm while at home, and upon arriving at the hospital and into a delivery room, her son was born 4 mins later.

Sara describes postpartum as being "harder than I ever expected." While her birth was amazing, she realized that centralized postpartum support was non-existent. She had questions about breastfeeding, tongue ties, bottle feeding, and navigating the unknowns of parenthood. There was never a direct line of where to get the support from, and what felt like always receiving another referral to someone who may or may not be able to help.

Sara and her husband eventually found their rhythm, but her experience also highlighted a lack of discussion around how important pelvic health was in that recovery. Her platform of the Vaginina Whisperer has shifted from just a social media account of pregnancy, postpartum, and pelvic health tips to family and friends to serve as a comprehensive resource focused on improving access to pelvic health physical therapy and education for individuals worldwide. The Vagina Whisperer treats individuals of all genders in both in-person offerings from their office in New Orleans, Louisiana, and online services to support those afar. No matter where you are on your pelvic health journey, seeking care from a pelvic health therapist can be beneficial. To connect with Sara, head to her website, or find her on Instagram.

Resources:

The Birth Partner | a complete guide to childbirth for dads, partners, doulas, and all other labor companions by Penny Simkin

Pelvic Rehab | directory for patients searching for pelvic rehabilitation practitioners

Academy of Pelvic Health | pelvic health therapist directory

Marise Angibeau Gray shared with us her journey of birthing her three angel babies and her daughter Memphis. A story she hopes can be instrumental in helping other people navigate their own. 

When Marise and her husband found out they were pregnant with their first son, there was a sense of shock, but soon followed with overwhelming joy and excitement. In the early parts, Marise did experience spotting, a concern she brought to her care provider, who was pretty dismissive about it—contributing that it was normal and pretty common. Come 11 weeks, Marise had begun having cramping and her spotting, again she brought this to her doctor's attention, an ultrasound was done, and everything seemed to be okay. Yet as the week continued, things began to worsen, and by the end of the week, she was having a spontaneous miscarriage. Something she wasn't prepared for - her water breaking, having contractions and having her baby pass through her womb. After her loss, her life spun into survival mode.

These feelings of confusion, heartbreak, grief, and processing through healing would continue on a cycle - as, in the next two years, they would become pregnant twice more and lose two more sons. 

Marise and her husband found strength in each other and their village. She also extended her support system and began meeting with a therapist and monthly support group. And when they found out they were pregnant again, they didn't want to put pressure on themselves and took the pregnancy day by day. A mantra Marise carried with her often, "I am a birth giver. I'm able to carry another life, no matter how short or how long." kept her grounded throughout the pregnancy. At 39 weeks, she elected to be induced, and her daughter Memphys was born amongst peace and calm. This is a story of healing, hope, and joy! 

Resources:

Irth App | "Yelp-like" review & rating app for hospitals & physicians made by and for Black women & birthing people of color

Sisters in Loss | digital media platform dedicated to replacing silence with storytelling around pregnancy and infant loss and infertility of black women

Still Birthday | bereavement doulas and resources

Star Legacy Foundation | stillbirth prevention and research

Far As The Curse Is Found | searching for God in infertility, miscarriage, and stillbirth by Abigail Waldron

The First 40 Days | postpartum preparation and support book by Heng Ou

The Fourth Trimester | a postpartum guide to healing your body, balancing your emotions, and restoring your vitality by Kimberly Ann Johnson

Taylor gathered herself and all of her knowledge as she embarked on her second pregnancy. She knew what she wanted and how to get it. A Black midwife supported this pregnancy, and it was a planned homebirth. Taylor didn’t have the support from her parents regarding homebirth, but she pushed forward because it was her desire. Their concerns were based on their personal health experiences. She successfully labor at home and delivered in her home with her partner and birth team.

Taylor found healing in her homebirth experience after having challenges in her first pregnancy. Her voice was heard and honored. Taylor’s births have led her to serve in a space for Black women through birthwork.

Resources:

Mama Mangos Care | Austin, TX family support

Mama Sana Vibrant Woman | free pregnancy, birth and postpartum support in Austin and Travis County

Black Mamas ATX | holistic care for black women before, during and after childbirth

The Woman’s Earth | global sisterhood for women of color

Erica opened up about both of her pregnancies. The first pregnancy was without complications and only mild nausea but eventually led to an emergency surgical birth. Her personal connection to a local doula organization, ROOTT, allowed her and her husband to envision birth with a new lens during her second pregnancy. She found herself healthily losing weight as she shifted her diet with her doula's support and recommendations. She managed a gestational diabetes diagnosis with her diet as well. Identifying stressors during pregnancy helped Erica to understand how her body worked. Despite her best plans and she was met with placenta previa that would lead to a scheduled surgical birth. The delivery went well, but the postpartum experience was met with low blood sugar levels, lactation issues, medical provider issues, and anxiety. Erica and her husband, David, leaned into their own strength and village for support to help them.

Resources:

Sex Positive Families | education and resources that help families raise sexually healthy children using a shame-free, comprehensive, and pleasure-positive approach

AMAZE | provides young adolescents around the globe with medically accurate, age-appropriate, affirming, and honest sex education online

Guttmacher | leading research and policy organization committed to advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights in the United States and globally

Bedsider | free birth control support network for women ages 18–29

Dr. Lexx Brown-James l couples clinician and sex educator

Sponsors:

Restoring Our Own Through Transformation (ROOTT) | reproductive justice organization

ROOTT 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

Shenee eventually agreed to stay at the hospital until her baby was born to keep them both safe. There was a period of surrender that led to a month-long hospital stay. This was followed by a feeling of body shame and grief for the pregnancy experience she had expected. Her husband and daughter would visit every other day and enhanced their bond during their time together. Shenee dug deep and started each day with intention and positive affirmations that would later inspire her counseling work. The low intervention birth plan had made some significant changes, but she managed to maintain some of her choices. Tune in to hear how her birth culminated and meet the new mother birthed in adversity.

Resources:

Postpartum Support Internation | online postpartum support, education, and local resource information

Pregnancy Therapist (Shenee Bend, LPC) | pregnancy and postpartum counseling

Nicole began a new search and did find a provider group that she thought would work, but again a shift would need to be made. Their care was focused on using race as a risk factor, and outlining care plans that didn't fit or match what Nicole wanted, so she started her search again.

A tip from her prenatal masseuse encouraged her to seek out doula support. There was an instant connection between her and Fatima, and in hearing Nicole's struggles to find a care team she trusted, she backed Nicole in reaching out to the GW midwifery group late in her pregnancy was worth trying. Nicole stayed her course, and things began moving into alignment. At 32 weeks, she began her care with GW, and the day before her son's arrival she was introduced to Anayah Sangodele-Ayoka, CNM, a black midwife from the practice. The care from her felt so familiar, a connection not only for her health concerns but also to just who she was.

When her son's birth came around, she felt her birth team fully encouraging and cheering her on. Everything she had done to prep had come full circle to have a VBAC. She shares from her story for others moving through their journey, "set your intentions, believe it's going to happen, and don't be afraid to change."

Resources:

Oasis Birth Doula | doula support

Anayah Sangodele-Ayoka, CNM | George Washington Hospital Midwife

At 26 weeks, Tash began having Braxton hicks and, at 36 weeks, started having prodromal labor. As time continued to past, Tash consulted with their doula, and she and her husband focused on helping their baby girl earthside. She suggested positional changes, long walks, lunges, movement, and all the twerking. Labor began progressing, arriving at the hospital, Tash stayed in alignment with her birth vision. With a good twerk playlist, hip squeezes, counter pressure from her husband, and the support of her birth team, Paris was born.

Motherhood for Tash has required her to work through postpartum depression, discover a new Tash, and adjust to the highs and lows of supporting children diagnosed with Autism and also a potential diagnosis for herself. Tash is adamant that she is always true about her motherhood journey. Especially as a mother of two neurodiverse black girls, she wants to ensure that other mothers, especially those with a similar story, have an honest representation of what their journey may look like. You can continue to connect with Tash on Facebook, Instagram, or SupernovaMomma.com.

Talitha shared her experience balancing being a birth and postpartum doula and leading Claris Health as the CEO. She was first introduced to Claris Health as a patient after a pregnancy loss. The care and attention given to her led her to want to work for the organization and support women’s health. Their comprehensive services list includes prenatal care, mental health services, volunteer doulas, pregnancy loss support, adoption support, and a newly added mobile health clinic. They focus on information gathering and helping clients determine what they need when they arrive for their first appointment going beyond a pregnancy test. The conversation centers on the unique needs of each individual when they walk into the space. 

Claris has made some shifts during the COVID-19 pandemic by using the mobile clinic as a means to distribute food and care kits. If you are interested in volunteering, please connect at https://www.clarishealth.org/get-involved/.

Her daughter’s birth led her to start Blissful Birth Yoga, focusing her practice on prenatal support. She uses her personal experience and skills to support women and birthing people for the physical, mental, and emotional portions of labor. Kristen and her partner found themselves expecting another child and are preparing by letting the pregnancy flow, knowing that anything could change along the way.  We look forward to part two of Kristen’s journey through motherhood after her son arrives.

If you are looking to connect deeper or book a virtual meditation session with Kristen you can connect with her via Facebook, Instagram, or email her directly at yoginikristenvictoria@gmail.com. 

Heather's postpartum journey has had its hills and valleys. Dealing with postpartum depression and anxiety for about three and a half to four years, a diagnosis that she didn't get until her son was two and a half - " I knew I was in it, but I didn't know what it was, I just thought this was my new normal." While also working through her mental health, she was navigating her nursing journey. Due to the forceps, her son needed cranial sacral therapy to get his jaw back in alignment, impacting his beginning of nursing. But they were able to find their rhythm until he was about five and a half. A dance they worked through continuously figuring out what worked for them. All of this is a testament to her spectrum of life, an aspect that Heather takes into her work.

Heather considers herself a full spectrum photographer - documenting all facets and stages of life, from the time you enter the world, through the life you lead, and upon your transition into death. Understanding the vulnerability and trust needed for capturing these experiences with authenticity, Heather's work is "extremely inclusive, empathetic and intimate" aspects that she also takes to support families as a full spectrum doula again honoring life and death.

Photography has always been a part of her life, really moving forward out of necessity to communicate with her mother - who was diagnosed profoundly deaf. Being a deaf Chinese immigrant, gaining access to and learning ways to communicate came slowly for her mother, and they both had reached a point where communicating was not happening. Finding that her sketch drawings weren't working, Heather began taking polaroids, snapshots of what she was doing, wanted, or needed. With these creating literal storyboards to bring things to life for her mom. Which became a real breakthrough for them and also for Heather - photography is how she connects and communicates. She is hoping that with her new project within Life's a Spectrum, she can unveil new parts for people about themselves. An ability to look at the layers of their life, the emotions they have carried, where they set their boundaries and limits, but most importantly, what's their center and where they always come back to.

Resources

Heather Gallagher | full spectrum photography

Life’s a Spectrum | Heather Gallagher full spectrum doula services

A couple of days after her estimated due date, Chelsie went into spontaneous labor - arriving at the hospital dilated to two centimeters. As she and baby moved at their own pace, Pitocin was provided to help continue to move things along. However, due to her membranes' length of time being ruptured and not dilating further, Chelsie and her husband decided the safest option was to bring their son, Wade, earthside via a c-section. Chelsie attributes that decision as her first big parenting decision, and as they navigated the first month of their son's life, she and her husband would soon need to make another big decision.

Chelsie had been noticing Wade was always eating. Beyond the regular cluster feeding, this observation and an irregular breathing pattern that her mother in law had picked up on were a nudge for her to bring their pediatrician aware. While he had been doing well during all his regular checkups, their pediatrician did find a slight heart murmur and referred them to a specialist to see at a later date during a follow-up appointment. Yet again, following the encouragement of her mother in law, they decided to fast track his care. They went into Children's Hospital for in-depth testing; assessments during their visit provided them with a diagnosis that their son had a heart defect - aortic coarctation. If receiving care was prolonged, he would go into organ failure. Without an extended amount of time to consider the news, Chelsie and her husband found themselves preparing Wade for heart surgery.

Wade is currently thriving; beyond the scar from his surgery, you wouldn't even know the extent of his journey - the extent of their journey as a family. Sharing her birth, her postpartum healing, and the role of her village support Chelsie reminds all us, parents, that while our children are meeting their milestones, we are as well. Growing and changing alongside them, and even in that growth's roughest patches, things always get better.

The third delivery was different in that Jessica was informed of all of her options and could choose what felt right for her at the time. Her doula met her at home as her labor progressed and helped her with positional changes to help the baby come down. After laboring through her typical day as long as she could, she finally arrived at the hospital and was 7cm (active labor). The doctor arrived when her baby was crowning and requested that she turn around to deliver her baby. She refused and continued to push her baby out in an upright position on her bed; he adjusted to her desire. Jessica had accomplished her VBAC without an epidural with the support of her birth team! After all of her birthing experiences, Jessica deemed herself a "Birthing Expert," and we whole-heartedly agree.

Jessica was fully supported by her husband, family, OB/GYN, and her doula. She recommends women choose and hire a doula to help them make informed decisions about their bodies and delivery options. Jessica encourages women to build a team of people who look like you and understand your body and lived experiences. Trust yourself.

Sponsors:

Restoring Our Own Through Transformation (ROOTT) | reproductive justice organization

ROOTT 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 a www.roottrj.org. Financial assistance is available. You can also connect with ROOTT at 614-398-1766 or email general-info@roottrj.org

Answering the call of family-centered care has led her down the path of wanting to own and open a free-standing birth center in Clairemont, California. Centralized care within the community and directly for the community. While it will be a space of inclusive reproductive health focus, she also envisions it as a community hub. A space offering education, resources, mental health support, donation-based services, mental health support, and collect support for anything you might need in a particular season of your life — a space full of abundance and accessibility.

If you would like to connect with Nikki for any of your reproductive health, birth, or postpartum needs, head to her website. To learn more about the birth center and to support, head to the GoFundMe here.

With a relatively easy pregnancy, six weeks before her EDD, she didn't automatically think the cramping she was feeling, and an abnormal gush of water was her being in labor. Throughout the next couple of days, she went about her routine but did schedule an appointment with her OB to ensure all was well. Her doctor instructed her that her day would be taking a turn during her visit, and it was best she head to the hospital. At the hospital, Bianca and her husband were shocked to find that not only did her water break at some point, and she was 5cm dilated.

Taking in the information, they settled in and began moving forward that even though this wasn't what they planned, they would not let this limit their ability to have the best experience. Throughout the day, they found the staff supportive and receptive to her fiance being a strong advocate for Bianca. It wasn't until the shift change, and when they decided to move forward with an Epidural, that care began to shift. Bianca and her fiance started feeling rushed by the nurses, and a lack of attention to details. During the placement of her epidural, the tech created a chaotic situation. That not only caused stress and fear for Bianca and her fiance but was overly dismissive of the harm they caused and the effects that had for the rest of Bianca's birth.

Her story is a reminder of the sacredness of birth. That those who have the honor to be a part of that space treat it with respect it deserves. No matter how many births as birth workers, support systems, and care providers we have attended or supported, each one is new for each family. It is a privilege to hold space for them because your birth is an experience you carry for a lifetime!

With her history of work and reflecting on her overall journey, Bianca wanted to create a space that would make it easier for other birthing people to find the community they needed. A central place where they can find trusted and evidence-based resources for their individual needs. Thus Blooming Mamas Wellness was born. You can connect with Bianca at her website here, or on social media @theofficialbiancamarie.

When submitting her story, Nicole was concerned that she wouldn't have "enough" to share. That her story would be unrelatable to others, but of course, that's not the case! Nicole had been apprehensive about being a parent and knew from the beginning that she would need to prepare herself not only physically, but also mentally and spiritually. Prep began with creating a birthing team that could support her fully. She immersed herself in birth videos and birth. She continued with her active lifestyle and took extra precaution and care by seeing a Chiropracter to ensure her body and baby were in alignment. Nicole also relied heavily on affirmations, whenever fear or distractions would come up she would affirm aloud that her baby knew what to do, she knew what to do, and they both were going to be able to do this together.

Labor began on Mother's day - and the word that arose for Nicole in describing her story was "surreal." Throughout, there was a deep connection to what her baby needed. Almost like a pull, "I felt like I was somewhere trying to retrieve my baby." After laboring at home for 10 hours, she felt an intense urge that her baby was ready to come and arrived at the hospital at 9 cm dilated. Nicole would stay tapped into her connectedness and intuition until her baby was earthside in 3 pushes.

From her journey came support to others. As her friends began expanding their families, they sought advice from her on how to prepare for an unmedicated birth. Nicole started writing her story and is working on a book, exploring intergenerational trauma and how that impacts our experience of parenthood, but also sharing the steps she took to manifesting the birth she envisioned for herself. Her story is an excellent reflection of what birth can be, a time of trusting your body and trusting your baby.

Resources:

Oasis Birth Doula | doula support

Stroller Strides | functional, total-body conditioning workout designed for moms with kids in tow

Pregnancy soon became challenging for Milan, both mentally and physically. Dehydration became a weekly struggle and depression compounded the physical drain on her body. She was sick during her entire pregnancy, even leading up to labor.

Milan prepared for birth with her partner by attending a childbirth education class, which they found helpful. She set in her mind to have an unmedicated birth after learning of the potential effects on her baby. When Milan finally went into labor, she contacted Labor & Delivery when her contractions/surges were 3-1-1 (3 minutes apart, lasting 1 minute, for an hour). The nurse didn’t believe she was in labor and told her to stay home. She waited a few hours and went to the hospital when she could no longer speak during contractions/surges. When she arrived, she had not dilated, the doctor gave her morphine without her consent and sent her home. When she arrived back home, things shifted so quickly that an unplanned home birth became imminent. Milan’s experience is not unique as some women dilate quickly, and even more common is a provider not performing a proper cervical check. She spoke up and advocated for herself but still had challenges being heard. Milan encourages women to continue to speak up for themselves.

Crystall and her husband spent the next months getting to know their son and soaking up as much of the time they had with him in joy. Malachi was born 7lbs, eyes bright and open taking in his parents. After some time in NICU, he transitioned with his father rocking and singing to him. Crystall is honest that it was tough and painful to try and go back to what was. As she put it, how do you explain to people what you went through and what you're going through - "There is no baby in me and no baby in my arms."

Crystall attributes that the place she is currently on her journey is due to finding community and other families that had walked in her shoes. Others allowed her to share her truth, all parts of it without question, and with lots of love. There is healing in community, there is support in community, and there is always space in community - in whatever capacity you may need it.

Resources:

Sisters in Loss Podcast | digital media platform dedicated to replacing silence with storytelling around pregnancy and infant loss and infertility of black women

When they went in for the birth of their twins, Alicia and Solomon did not expect it to be three days - three days filled with all the emotions. As they worked through multiple induction methods, a failed epidural, and a lengthy pushing time, Solomon could feel in his spirit that something was off. In discussions with the doctor on the third day, Solomon's suspicions were confirmed as the doctor indicated the trajectory they were on was unsafe. A surgical birth would be the best option for Alicia and the twins.

Healing from their experience didn't happen immediately and took community support. Alicia and Solomon tapped into their families, supported each other through individual and couples therapy. And maintaining the foundation, they had created of always checking in with each other and speaking on their feelings. As we learned during Black Maternal Health Week, statistics show that up to 20 percent of birthing parents develop a perinatal mental health illness, such as depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or psychosis, either during pregnancy or the year after giving birth and sometimes beyond. For black birthing parents, that risk is doubled. With Alicia and Solomon's story, we also hear the impact and ways mental health can have on partners. As we prepare to grow our families, we must also remember that it's not just about the physical shifts but also the mental.

Resources:

Shades of Blue Project | maternal mental health advocacy, treatment and support

Barbers Get Mental Health Training to Aid Black Communities | news article

Building Endurance PLLC | mental health group

From the beginning, Gabrielle and her fiance knew with the birth of their son; they were going to do things differently this time around. They hired a doula, hired a midwife, and began preparing for their homebirth. Yet seven months into their pregnancy, they were hit with the news that their midwife wouldn't be able to support them, and they had to go back to the drawing board. They visited different hospitals until they found one that felt right and enrolled in a nine-week intensive birth class. In this class, not only did they learn about childbirth but how to control their care, work with sand speak with their care providers to ensure that all decisions were based on and from informed consent. The lessons learned from this class would be vital in their advocacy and care during and after their son's birth.

Gabrielle went into spontaneous labor and, for the most part, was progressing well. However, during a cervical check, it was noticed that he was breech - her sons positioned was never checked during their last appointment or even upon their arrival to the hospital. The on-call midwife advised her that they would need to move forward with surgical birth. With hesitation, they sought a second opinion and, after talking through their options with family, decided to continue with the surgical birth. Her son was born, but not breathing - care providers eventually revived him, but due to the length of time he was without oxygen, they were unsure if he would make it through the night. Gabrielle made that doctor eat his words, pray with her and her family, and demanded that no stone go unturned in her son's care. Her experience highlights the dark parts of birth, the parts we hope never happen, and yet it brings forth what can happen when you have the pieces to be empowered and use them fully.

In this episode, Mabel walks us through her infertility journey, a pregnancy with fibroids, advocating for a trial of labor after laparoscopic myomectomy, and a redemptive vaginal birth. At 26 years old, she found out that she had fibroids, which she would never have expected. Researching and working with her care provider, Mabel decided the best option for her would be to get her fibroids removed through surgery. Knowing that she and her husband would want to expand their family, she decided to move forward with laparoscopic myomectomy. A minimally invasive procedure to remove fibroids, but also provides a better chance for having vaginal births. 

Whether it be abdominal or laparoscopic, most myomectomy candidates are not offered a trial of labor. When she found out she was pregnant, Mabel was aware of the odds, but standing firm in her wants and needs, she went through a dozen no's before meeting a doctor who was willing to step out of his comfort zone and support her. This episode covers a myriad of topics; diastasis recti, pelvic floor health, fibroids, blood transfusions, hemorrhaging, drawing boundaries with family, but most importantly, advocating for ourselves as Mabel puts it "having the nerve" to stand up and demand what we want. 

Resources:

Within Her Birth Services (Mabel Bashorun) | birth doula services

The Birth Hour | birth story podcast

Mama Natural Week by Week Guide to Natural Pregnancy and Childbirth | pregnancy & childbirth book by Genevieve Howland

Supernatural Childbirth | childbirth book by Jackie Mize

VBAML (vaginal birth after laparoscopic myomectomy) | research articles & information

• Pregnancy and Delivery After Laparoscopic Myomectomy (Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology)
• Pregnancy and delivery after laparoscopic myomectomy (National Library of Medicine)
• Pregnancy Outcome and Deliveries Following Laparoscopic Myomectomy (Human Reproduction Volume 15, Issue 4)

Legaci always wanted to have an unassisted home birth but had refrained from moving forward during her previous pregnancies to help her husband be more comfortable and at ease during labor and delivery. She understood his apprehension as she states, “Most women don’t know how capable they are… He didn’t yet know what I was actually capable of.” They began preparing their home by creating a checklist of items and prepared their minds by watching “free birth” videos. Legaci continued to work with a midwife for general prenatal care while making decisions that didn’t include some of the usual standard procedures or practices. She made a point to note that she didn’t recommend an unassisted homebirth for everyone as there are factors to consider regarding health, safety, and an understanding of one’s self. Knowledge of self and sharing who she was and her personal beliefs with her provider early on created space for her to follow her instincts. She shifted the narrative in her experience by not allowing her medical chart to be the only information provided about who she was.

When the time came for her labor to start, she stayed in tune with her body and kept her husband abreast of how she felt. He joined her in preparing and documenting the experience. Legaci shared how accomplished she felt the moment her son was delivered. Her sons were able to witness her birth, their baby brother into her arms. After choosing a lotus birth, Legaci was able to take her time and move slowly in the first few days of postpartum. Life with two older children would prove to be a test on her need to rest and heal. As you tune in to listen, Legaci wants to encourage women to know how strong they are, feel safe during birth, and maintain control of what they can.

As birth workers, we were ecstatic that Shannon would be sharing her experience with her Doula Sharea. When prepping for her birth, Shannon listened to lots of birth stories. Prepping in this way showed her there were many ways birth could happen and the importance of laboring at home as long as possible. Even with a plan, there would be a point of necessary surrender and the value in doula support, specifically from a black doula. Having that be a theme of many of the stories, she listened to Shannon, sought out a black doula in her community, and found Sharea. Upon meeting Sharea it was an immediate connection, and she added her to her birth team on the spot. 

As a doula, when you support someone during their birth, you hope that the birthing person sees their strength. That when they reflect on that experience and see just how powerful they were and that it held moments that will bring them joy forever. With the support of her birth team, her husband, her prep through research and curiosity, Shannon looks back at that time and speaks without hesitation that it truly showed her, "there is nothing I can't do!"

Resources

Evidence Based Birth | evidence-based information on pregnancy and childbirth

Mama Natural | resources and guides for pregnancy and childbirth 

Supporting Hands Doula Care (Sharea Jenkins) | doula support

Learning all they could to help plan for their child's birth was very important for Cass and her husband. Yet they felt that when their questions and concerns were brought to their care provider, they were either ignored or dismissed. Her provider's attitude toward her wanting to explore traditional birthing methods against the usual hospital protocols proved to be a deciding factor in the shift of her care. Making a tough decision, at 33 weeks, Cass and her husband transferred their care to a midwife. Their plan shifted to a birthing center that allowed her to create an environment and team that met the needs of her birth vision. Cass focused on how important it was to sit with her midwife, go through her transferred records, how much it meant to her to be heard, and have her time-honored. Join us and listen in for an empowering story of controlling what you can, educating yourself, and building your birth dream team.

Resources

Le Tote Maternity | maternity fashion

Mirlande “Mimi” Casseus (Mimi MyMidwife) | licensed midwife

Tiquana Williams (Milk Made Doula) | doula support

Hollywood Birth Center | birth center

The business of Being Born | documentary centered around childbirth in America

Zara & Ziggy | children’s book

Inspire Many | Coach Cass Love Coach

While she knew she shouldn't make comparisons, around 37 weeks, Cassandre began questioning what to expect. Around this time with her first, she was already showing signs for his arrival. An earlier incident in the pregnancy had caused some uneasiness, a feeling that didn't fade, and by 39 weeks at her regularly scheduled apt, she made sure to advocate strongly that every test be ran to ensure everything was ok. Results yielded that nothing directly was concerning, and showing no signs of being in labor Cassandre went home. Little did she know that in a couple of hours, they would be headed to the hospital via ambulance, and upon arrival birthing her son in one push - but there were some complications. He was not breathing, and due to not knowing how long he had been without oxygen and other symptoms, he was placed in a medically induced coma for three days to preserve brain function. It was a wild ride of anticipation of would this work, but he was able to recover and come home with his family. Cassandre describes their experience as a miracle. While the early journey of postpartum was an adjustment, it welded many lessons for their family, all rooted in leaning into their intuitions and the unexpected. Cassandre's wish is that all who listen to her story, don't see it as a scary experience but a source to remind you always to trust yourself.

Cassandre is also the creator and host of the podcast Be Well Sis, a podcast centered around wellness for black women. When speaking about wellness, black women tend to be erased from those conversations. Be Well, Sis, black women, their voices, and experiences are centered. To connect in community with Cassandre's head over to her website (Be Well Sis) or follow her via social media (@bewellsis_podcast)

Resources

BabyBuddha Breastpump | portable battery-powered single and double breast pump

My Darling Doula | Femetta Darling, doula & childbirth educator

Barakah Sahaiel is a multi-faceted artist and birth worker who shared her personal experiences with pregnancy. Barakah was aware of her pregnancy within a week of conception and sought another elective abortion due to the unstable and traumatic relationship with her partner. She saw her provider and was advised that a miscarriage was underway. Barakah had a public passing of her fetus that she kept a secret for two years - personal shame kept her from sharing until she started Birthing Our Ancestors with her best friend. Sharing her stories of abortion and miscarriage (spontaneous and elective abortions) and finding new language to describe her experiences helped her release and begin to heal. Barakah was able to reframe her mindset and release herself from the shame that some mothers who have miscarried continue to carry with them.

Birthing Our Ancestors was born and became Barakah’s healing space. They invited women and men to engage in group therapy and conversation surrounding pregnancy loss. The sessions include a meal, group therapy, open dialogue, and an art project that supports womb trauma. Birthing Our Ancestors celebrates the connection between the spiritual and physical world of birthing both life and death.

Moji found a new midwife and began planning for her homebirth at her family home. When her labor started, she found herself still needing to grab last-minute items. She recognized the signs of labor but continued to work and complete her tasks. She took her time and allowed herself to adjust mentally. Moji connected with her labor support, which she handpicked for specific reasons to be present. She stayed mobile and utilized her tub to relax and bring her baby earthside.

Postpartum would bring on brief depression, and Moji utilized her encapsulated placenta to brighten her mood. She had time to bond with her baby alone, which she enjoyed. Her mother came to provide support and offer traditional West African postpartum care. Childbirth has helped Moji know herself, trust her body, and be comfortable with who she is. This has prompted Moji to return to Benin and learn more about the mother's postpartum care from within her family’s traditions. She is actively working to decolonize birth with her Wise African Woman Retreat. The Wise African Woman Retreat offers women and their families space to study, environment to explore, and community with whom to gather, learn, play, and expand knowledge.

Resources:

The Wise African Woman | birth education retreat

Divine Birth Wisdom | doula and lactation services - pregnancy and postpartum herbs and nutrition

This series, My Black Fatherhood, is an honor to those truths. In collaboration with Heather Gallagher (photojournalist Heather Gallagher photographer) were highlighting and amplifying the voices of black fathers in our community. In this episode, the voices you hear will be Heathers, holding space as host and the voices of black fathers sharing, a little bit of who they are, what their father figures have meant to them, and how they show up as fathers. These voices are a gift, and we are truly grateful and honored to share them with you all.

Ashley has always used her platform (www.watermeloneggrolls.com ) as a way of uplifting women, especially black women, focusing and highlighting how our everyday lives of being in our black body and experiences are something that should be celebrated. This work of celebration is also in how she raises her daughters. Ashley created the Beautiful Beautiful Me book and campaign as she noticed her eldest daughter wanted to look like her. While embracing that she also wanted her daughter to celebrate her appearance. Not finding anything that fit her needs, the book was manifested to show an array of children. Ashley is vocal in that she discusses with their children that they are multicultural. Through that highlighting the beauty of all sides of them. That even in their blackness as a reflection from their mother, their experience of being black and holding space in this world is different than hers. And as Ashley so eloquently states in this interview that teaching our children to love themselves first and fully makes it much easier for them to do the same for others. In her book, her work through Moms in Color and, most importantly, her daily life, her daughters get to see women of color working together, empowering each other, and loving each other. A true representation of our beauty and joy!

Resources:

Beautiful Beautiful Me Book | created to celebrate people of all colors and races

Moms in Color | a collective created for Black moms to celebrate diversity + motherhood.

This combination of care would turn out to be exactly the right setup.  When Tonya began labor, her OBGYN informed her that he was in the bay area celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday with his family. Meaning there was a strong possibility he would not be present for her birth. Even with his absence, Tonya, her husband, and midwife were able to walk into the hospital with confidence. Especially since the hospital and nurses were familiar with her midwife. Not only familiar with her presence, but in how she approached her interactions to ensure her families were thoroughly cared for. Tonya attributes her midwife's active role in assisting her in having a successful hospital birth. For her, that teamwork allowed "My birth team to advocate for me the way I would if I wasn't in such a vulnerable space.

Navigating postpartum, Tonya felt herself slipping into postpartum depression. Adjusting to the transition of what life with a baby entailed, she felt a sense of loss for the freedom that was once there before. There was also the adjustment to new sleeping schedules. Tonya and her husband quickly found that their son didn't get much sleep unless he was close to them, which affected the amount of sleep they were getting. Trying a variety of sleeping arrangements, they eventually decided to attempt co-sleeping. While a controversial decision for some, Tonya and her husband did their research, weighed the pros and cons, and created a sleeping environment that would be safe for their son. This change was effective for them - not only because they were able to sleep, but Tonya expresses that it allowed her to trust her intuition more, not parent out of fear, but parent freely in a way that made sense for her family.

As black-birthing people, we are continually receiving negative messages about our births and their outcomes, especially when we choose to birth in hospitals. Tonya's birth story is a testament that we can have happy, healthy and healing births.

Tonya is the founder of two amazing platforms. My Fab Finance is a financial education platform, providing tips, tools, and resources to help people tap into financial freedom to live a life they love. Wanting to offer more leverage for her community and an extension of economic freedom, she created the Maternal Health and Education program. With this, mothers have access to resources and financial support to experience pregnancy on their terms. We encourage you to connect to either of these platforms and if felt led to donate to the Maternal Health and Education program. You can also connect with Tonya via Facebook and Instagram.

Resources:

Crimson Fig Midwifery | Racha Tahani Lawler, CPM, LM

Kindred Space LA | a hub for midwifery care, doula support, lactation consulting, education, support groups, enrichment, meditation and movement.

She and her partner prepared themselves for birth by creating a playlist to foster a peaceful and joyous environment in their birthing space to help with her emotions and physical movement. They wanted to capture the birth in video form to have as a memento for their family. Their plans came crashing to a halt as Karabo arrived at the hospital with her parents and awaiting her partner’s arrival. The door attendants simply stated, “This is where your journey ends, and hers begins.” They took her bags into the hospital, and while in labor, she separated from her loved ones to take on the task of giving birth to strangers in an unfamiliar space.

She would later learn that her partner would be able to visit for one hour per day, but the visitation time would conflict with his work hours and the city’s newly implemented curfew to help reduce COVID-19 exposure. Every step further, she took into the hospital required a shift in her mind and spirit. She would come out of her labor delivery as a new being with tremendous strength, and her postpartum recovery continued to bring about change.

The dismissal of her journey also showed up during the birth of her daughter. Leading up to her birth Tara recalls feeling as if something was off. When she and her mother went into the hospital, her care providers explained that she was in labor, but that, based on how she was progressing, her baby probably wouldn't come until the morning and sent her family home. While this was the message conveyed, her doctor had different intentions. Soon after her family left, he broke Tara's water to "speed" her birth along. Her doctor and nurses from there continued to ignore Tara's wishes and were forceful in their approach, resulting in Tara's explaining a traumatic birth experience. 

Feeling a sense of loss from who she was before her baby, both physically and how she could live her life, Tara is clear that she suffered from postpartum depression. After an incident, Tara knew a change needed to happen. In a Facebook mother's group, she began sharing her story, finding that she wasn't alone in her experience and that others connected with her. She shared more, hoping that by doing so, others wouldn't go through the same thing, but she also found healing in sharing. Tara has turned her healing and reflection into becoming a community doula supporting families in the Mississippi area through the Jackson Safer Childbirth Program if you would like to connect with her head to her Facebook page or Instagram page. 

We leave every episode with lessons, and Tara's were;

• "Don't allow your truth to be silenced because it makes other people uncomfortable." - Tara Clifton
• The importance and value of community birth workers with similar lived experiences working under a lens of reproductive justice.

As we navigate the COVID-19 pandemic and the tighter lens of racism, the lessons learned from Tara's are even more important! 

Resources:

Evidence Based Birth | evidence-based information on pregnancy and childbirth

Throughout her life, Kimberly was told and thought that as long as you strive to do your best good things would happen to you. So she did that, followed the rules, followed the order of things - got an education, fell in love, got married, and then pregnant. In her mind, there was no reason for her to think that this next phase of her life wouldn't go "right." With no early indication, in 2014, Kimberly and Aaron Novod's son, Saul, was born prematurely at twenty-eight weeks and six days. He was whisked to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Initially, they thought he was going to do well and would be bringing their baby home. Yet, baby Saul passed after twenty days in the NICU due to a brain bleed. In that experience, Kimberly realized that there was no "justice"; her previous mindset had shielded her from the mass inequities of the world. There were limitations to medicine, to doctors, to life, and she fell as she describes into the "rabbit hole of grief."

As a way to process through their grief and work on healing, Kimberly and her husband Aaron created Saul's Light. During their time of need, their community surrounded them in love and support, which was an integral part of their healing process. Thus, making it their mission to provide the same outpouring to all NICU and bereaved families. A vital part of the support provided to families is through mobilizing people, organizations, and resources directly from their community. Families are offered social-emotional support through peer and whole group support groups and events. Partnering hospitals have cooling cots that allow families who may lose children to create and have memories with their babies. They also have established patient assistant funds allocated towards parents' need for transportation, food, and other expenses that might arise. Along with educating families, there is education provided to hospital staff about being culturally responsive and preparing them to have end-of-life discussions.

In the sharing of her birth story, Kimberly makes it clear and points that we cannot ignore the disparities that black and brown babies are overrepresented in the NICU and the graveyard. When parents are present for their babies and present in their care, they have better outcomes. Saul's Light allows for families to have that, responsive to the whole experience of NICU and also addressing infant mortality. It is a communal embrace, reminding families that their community cares about them, and they're not alone!

Resources:

Nicole Diggins CNM, MSN, MPH | midwife and founder/CEO of Sista Midwife Productions

Dasia’s homebirth was going well when her midwife arrived she came in quietly and respected the birth space. There was a shift in her daughter’s heart rate that alarmed her midwife, and she shared her desire to have the baby monitored at the hospital. Dasia and her husband prepared to transfer to the hospital armed with her homebirth midwife and doula. Once they arrived at the hospital, her body started to mentally and physically come out of the peaceful calm of her home. She began to feel like she was disconnecting and handing over the reins of her birth to the hospital staff. She requested an epidural to help relax her body and allow the physiologic process of birth to continue. The anesthesiologist started to insert the needle in her back, and she began to feel a hot and tingly sensation going down her back. This would go on six-eight times before her epidural was placed correctly. The experience would mark the shift in her labor that would have lasting physical and mental repercussions for Dasia. Her story is one of resilience, strength, and determination that we easily connect with those who choose to serve. Unfortunately, there’s no medal for surviving obstetric violence and gaslighting. Dasia takes us with her as she rehashes how her postpartum experience unfolded immediately after her labor and delivery.  

Resources:

Mama Slay Life | motherhood transition coach

Mamas in Color | a space for mamas of color - birthing photos, travel, pregnancy, postpartum, everything mama

Kayla described being diagnosed with hyperemesis, which made pregnancy physically challenging as she worked to stay healthy and maintain good nutrition. Hyperemesis is a severe type of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. Rarely, morning sickness is so severe that it's classified as hyperemesis gravidarum. Symptoms include severe nausea and feeling faint or dizzy when standing. It can also cause persistent vomiting, which can lead to dehydration. This condition can require hospitalization and treatment with IV fluids and anti-nausea medications.

After going past her due date, Kayla was faced with learning that she would need to be induced due to her baby having heart decelerations during a prenatal exam. The induction was the catalyst to the cascade of interventions that would eventually lead to a surgical birth being introduced as an option. Kayla started to build her resolve to change the trajectory of her birth - reaching out to her support people and praying. She was able to avoid a surgical birth after giving herself time to progress. Kayla listened to her voice, which would guide her through her next pregnancy.

Armed with a new resolve and self-trust, Kayla set out to have the birth she wanted with her second son. She pushed back and questioned everything. However, her pregnancy journey led her to another induction. Her baby was diagnosed with Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR), a condition in which a baby does not grow to average weight during pregnancy. This time she was able to pause and prepare her mind, body, and family to start her labor.

Postpartum depression would mire her experience as a mother in the months after her birth. She sought support through therapy and was able to come out of it after becoming pregnant again. Kayla's grandmother helped her by acknowledging what her granddaughter was going through. She opened her home to her for respite during the day and watched her son during therapy sessions. Her family gave her time, space, and resources for a time to herself to help relieve anxiety.

Kayla wants women to connect with themselves to build self-trust before pregnancy to help them be self-advocates in their care. Find your voice, speak up, and be heard.

While Codie and Tommy had planned to birth in a birth center, a turn of events would have them shifting to have a home birth, supported by midwife Heather Schwartz and student midwife Kim Durdin. As we know, birth plans change, and Codie went from a homebirth to a transfer to a hospital with an epidural and a c-section. While she was ecstatic to have a healthy baby and be a mother, a thought that did linger in the back of her mind was that those who said this would be her story were right.

When she found out, she was pregnant the second time, and with twins, there was a mix of excitement but also fear that she wouldn't be able to have a VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean). From the beginning, she was intentional about her support and ultimately built an empowering birth team, with care providers who supported her in trusting and believing herself to do that. 

Resources: 

Kimberly Durdin | IBCLC & Student Midwife

Kindred Space LA | a hub for midwifery care, doula support, lactation consulting, education, support groups, enrichment, meditation and movement.

Black Love | a docu-series created to highlight love stories from the Black community.

Tayo knew for her third pregnancy and birth; she was going to need to facilitate her experience with intense intention. From her previous births, birthing at a hospital was not an option, so with the support of her mother and husband, she prepared to have a family homebirth, absent of a midwife. Yet, this pregnancy was opposite from her others, and there was a point where she thought her homebirth wouldn't come to fruition. Along with balancing her children, work, being a business owner, and her relationships, she also loss her father 13 weeks into the pregnancy. This emotional rollercoaster showed up both physically and mentally for Tayo. It also brought to the forefront everything she hadn't addressed from her previous pregnancies.

Before, Tayo relied heavily on her mother for support throughout her birth journey. This time around, her mother pushed for Tayo and her husband to create a stronger bond they could depend on and believe in each other as a support unit. That bond allowed Tayo's husband to show up for her. Taking the reins, he built their support. Reaching out to specific people, he assigned them roles, gave them space to select what felt right for them in showing up to support Tayo throughout her birth and postpartum.

Reimagining her village, she let herself to be fully loved and cared for, throughout the pregnancy, her birth, and at the beginning of her postpartum and still currently. Everyone showing up for her makes her show up for herself.

Tayo and Toni have a beautiful bond; they have now created a space to support and uplift the families in their community in that same sacred love. The Chicago Birth Collective is the village, a collective of birth workers, healers, and wellness practitioners serving and healing Black families across Chicago.

Tayo and Toni laid the foundation on what it means to create a village you can depend on, and find solace. As a family and the work of Chicago Birthworks Collective, they are embodying that to the fullest.

Tayo knew for her third pregnancy and birth; she was going to need to facilitate her experience with intense intention. From her previous births, birthing at a hospital was not an option, so with the support of her mother and husband, she prepared to have a family homebirth, absent of a midwife. Yet, this pregnancy was opposite from her others, and there was a point where she thought her homebirth wouldn't come to fruition. Along with balancing her children, work, being a business owner, and her relationships, she also loss her father 13 weeks into the pregnancy. This emotional rollercoaster showed up both physically and mentally for Tayo. It also brought to the forefront everything she hadn't addressed from her previous pregnancies.

Before, Tayo relied heavily on her mother for support throughout her birth journey. This time around, her mother pushed for Tayo and her husband to create a stronger bond they could depend on and believe in each other as a support unit. That bond allowed Tayo's husband to show up for her. Taking the reins, he built their support. Reaching out to specific people, he assigned them roles, gave them space to select what felt right for them in showing up to support Tayo throughout her birth and postpartum.

Reimagining her village, she let herself to be fully loved and cared for, throughout the pregnancy, her birth, and at the beginning of her postpartum and still currently. Everyone showing up for her makes her show up for herself.

Tayo and Toni have a beautiful bond; they have now created a space to support and uplift the families in their community in that same sacred love. The Chicago Birth Collective is the village, a collective of birth workers, healers, and wellness practitioners serving and healing Black families across Chicago.

Tayo and Toni laid the foundation on what it means to create a village you can depend on, and find solace. As a family and the work of Chicago Birthworks Collective, they are embodying that to the fullest.

They became intentional about their preparation. Researching birth outcomes for black women, being clear on Anique's health, receiving support from a black care provider, and support from a black doula. That intentionality provided them the tools and confidence to find power in their voices and their family's story.

We are genuinely passionate about our storytellers being the complete voice for their stories. One way we carry this through is by asking them to create the titles for their episodes, asking them to reflect on what name is evoked from their experience and how they want the world to recognize it. "Our daughter's name means Bringer of Light. During my second pregnancy, I gained peace with my birthing process. I learned so much information regarding black maternal health, what it means to have a doula, my body, and a wonderful breastfeeding journey thus far! I feel I have a light that I am ready to pass on to other mama's!!" - Anique

We are grateful for the sponsorship of this episode and other ROOTT activities this week. We would also like to acknowledge the Black Mamas Matter Alliance and all the Kindred Partners and collaborators for dedication to Black Mamas and families.

Resources:

Black Mamas Matter Alliance |Black women-led cross-sectoral alliance. Centering Black mamas to advocate, drive research, build power, and shift culture for Black maternal health, rights, and justice.

Too Good Eats | gourmet frozen pops

Sponsors:

ROOTT | Restoring Our Own Through Transformation (ROOTT) black women-led reproductive justice organization dedicated to collectively restoring our well-being through self-determination, collaboration, and resources to meet the needs of women and families within communities.

Lavita has always been open with her children about her experience as their mother. It was important for her that she speaks openly and with transparency about her own birth experiences. She was allowing them to see themselves in her story and prepare for their parenthood journeys.

Recounting her own birth stories and experiencing birth as a grandmother with her daughter Laurel, brought to the forefront the generational shifts that birth can provide. Knowledge of how our families experience pregnancy and birth strengthens generational bonds—a picture of how the world has changed around birth and how our families have changed as well.

Beyond her work as a mother and business owner, Lavita strives to inspire others through her life stories and mentorship. Her book, A Father's Love, self-published in 2009, was written to share her experience of growing up fatherless. If you would like to connect with Lavita, head to her site Lovies Inspirational Blog.

Her birth stories highlight the importance of representation in care and understanding your rights as a patient. During her first pregnancy, Mela was supported by midwives and planned to have her baby at the birth center. As with many of our birth stories, her plans shifted. After going into spontaneous labor and arriving at the hospital, she learned that there was meconium (a baby's first poop). The doctors informed her that because of this, they were giving her 24 hours to deliver her baby, and would need to start her on Pitocin to help her labor progress faster. What stands out to Mela, is that she didn't know what was happening throughout her experience, including never consenting to the episiotomy she was given. Her second pregnancy allowed her to connect the dots from her first, and she prepared to have a birth led by her voice.

Beyond sharing her birth stories, Mela also brings to light her co-parenting journey. Working through those dynamics inspired her to create a supportive corner for other mothers on a similar path as hers. Her platform Let's Talk Mother came out of sharing her co-parenting journey and being a single mother - a physical form of the community she had been building. Mela has found strength in her journey and story, those experiences have given her the tools to be the mother she is today, and to support other mothers to feel empowered as well.

Her journey as a birth worker began after the birth of her second child, when she trained as a doula with the International Center for Traditional Childbearing (ICTC), under the founder Shafia Monroe. In the early days of work, the sentiment that resonated with her was being a resource for other mothers. With the age of her children, she moved as they moved. She was finding ways to incorporate them within her birth work and being creative within the many facets of supporting families on their parenthood journeys. Divine started her nonprofit - community birth companion, becoming a doula, certified lactation counselor, and now with her children being older working towards becoming a midwife. It was essential for her that on her journey, she also honored her children's childhood.

Being a foundation of support rooted in the Southern Tradition of healing is etched throughout Divine's family. Her 6-week in-person and online workshop Grandma's Hands Pregnancy and Postpartum Herbs & Nutrition in the Southern Tradition is a reflection of that. It is an ethnobotany course based in the folk, historical healing traditions of the South and particularly Black Southern Midwives. A modality of healing that focused on how we feel about sickness, where do we think it comes from, and focused on healing the whole person.

Divine's support and teachings are intended to be a reminder to the community - a reminder that we have the tools for our healing. She reminds us that to hold onto those tools and traditions; we must pass these on. Sharing our stories creates a connection and lineage to do so. To connect with Divine, you can find her on Instagram and Facebook @divinebirthwisdom. To find out more about Grandma's Hand workshop or to register head to Divine Birth Wisdom.

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Ray had a different vantage point as a father of two and having watched Danielle’s growth as a woman. He was excited to welcome his first son and take on his role as a caregiver during the postpartum period. Ray was grateful to have the support of the doula team for prenatal appointments and home visits. Allowing him to relax and know that Danielle was well taken care of, and she was in good health. Fathers often have unspoken concerns. Ray had not anticipated how long they would labor at home or how things would go for trying an unmedicated birth after choosing epidurals for the first two births. Needless to say, he garnered a whole new perspective for the work his wife does with other families.

Sponsors:

Restoring Our Own Through Transformation (ROOTT) | reproductive justice organization

ROOTT is a Black women-led reproductive justice organization dedicated to collectively restoring our well-being through self-determination, collaboration, and resources to meet the needs of women and families within communities. To connect with ROOTT go to www.ROOTTRJ.org.

After having her son, she expressed that physically she healed well, yet struggled healing mentally. When considering what postpartum might look like, she didn't think postpartum depression was something that would affect her. Looking at all the risk factors, in her mind, she didn't fit the mold. Her experience with postpartum depression required her to process her birth, examine how she was taking care of herself, and reflect on her expectations of what parenthood should look like. In doing that work, she acquired the tools to navigate that part of her postpartum journey.

Briara found power in telling her story and wanted to spread awareness while doing so. She founded Melanin Mommies, a Philadelphia based nonprofit and safe space for pregnant, new and seasoned mothers alike. Lowery noticed that the mothers in her community did not have as much access to resources as other mothers in more affluent areas, and so she decided to make a change. It is a space for mothers of color to connect, find healing, and discuss navigating the realities of motherhood.

To connect with Briara, you can find her on Instagram @_melanin.mommies or @briaralowery. Head to Melanin Mommies to find out more about the nonprofit and upcoming events.

SPONSORS:

Unspoken Stories | A March of Dimes Podcast

Honest stories of pregnancy, parenthood and loss are too often left unshared. We are here to tell the real stories. Join mom, actress and advocate, Tatyana Ali to hear real stories about the joys and humor of parenting to the heartbreak and loneliness of miscarriage and loss in a new podcast from March of Dimes. Each episode features a parent’s honest story about the realities of starting a family. It only takes hearing one story like your own to know you are not alone. To join the conversation, go to UnspokenStories.org and MarchofDimes.org. Follow them on Instagram and Facebook @MarchofDimes.

The views, information, or opinions expressed during the Unspoken Stories series are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of Birth Stories in Color.

Brandy shared the pregnancies and births of her three daughters. As you listen, you can connect with the intentionality of the growth she has achieved through her parenthood journey. Her first birth, she wasn't prepared, and it manifested not only how she took care of herself during the pregnancy but also in her birth. Knowing that wasn't what she wanted, with each new experience, she added preparation elements, to ensure she could walk away from her experiences empowered.

It was beautiful to hear how using conscious parenting or as Brandy describes it "teaching lessons while parenting," she is breaking generational traumas and cycles. Her children can see the growth of their parents and echo it in their development and relationships.

A key component of Brandy's growth is how she has engaged her elders — speaking to them about their births and childhood. Using the gift of storytelling to dig deeper into her healing while also creating stronger bonds. She left us with a plethora of tools on navigating how to hold space for ourselves and our families.

If you would like to (and we highly encourage it haha) connect with Brandy you can follow her @mymotherhoodmagic or at My Motherhood Magic.

SPONSORS:

Unspoken Stories | A March of Dimes Podcast

Honest stories of pregnancy, parenthood and loss are too often left unshared. We are here to tell the real stories. Join mom, actress and advocate, Tatyana Ali to hear real stories about the joys and humor of parenting to the heartbreak and loneliness of miscarriage and loss in a new podcast from March of Dimes. Each episode features a parent’s honest story about the realities of starting a family. It only takes hearing one story like your own to know you are not alone. To join the conversation, go to UnspokenStories.org and MarchofDimes.org. Follow them on Instagram and Facebook @MarchofDimes.

The views, information, or opinions expressed during the Unspoken Stories series are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of Birth Stories in Color.

In this situation, it was even more critical that Uriah was trusting and listening to her needs, both physically and emotionally. In listening to her share her experience, Uriah could truly give a whole seminar on what that entails. An aspect of her mental health that struck us was her process of letting go of who she was before the birth of her daughter. As she put it, "I had a funeral for my old self." This was important in allowing her to connect into who she would be after her daughters birth.

This introspection continued into her postpartum as she entered back into the space of intimacy and sex — not only for her relationship with her partner but also herself. Taking the time to rediscover what her body looked like, could do and enjoyed. It was refreshing to speak candidly with Uriah about how vital communication and vulnerability were in stepping back into that healing.

Sponsors:

Unspoken Stories | A March of Dimes Podcast

Honest stories of pregnancy, parenthood and loss are too often left unshared. We are here to tell the real stories. Join mom, actress and advocate, Tatyana Ali to hear real stories about the joys and humor of parenting to the heartbreak and loneliness of miscarriage and loss in a new podcast from March of Dimes. Each episode features a parent’s honest story about the realities of starting a family. It only takes hearing one story like your own to know you are not alone. To join the conversation, go to UnspokenStories.org and MarchofDimes.org. Follow them on Instagram and Facebook @MarchofDimes.

The views, information, or opinions expressed during the Unspoken Stories series are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of Birth Stories in Color.

For many of our guests, sharing their story on this platform is the first time they have processed out their experience. Sharing the parts of their story that they may have kept tucked away or didn't even realize had an impact on them. As we listen to Dr. Stephanie Mitchell CNM, MSN, DNP, reflect on her inaugural birth, we see how her birth set the tone for who she would be as a care provider.

Her own experiences of parenthood and working within the healthcare system highlighted the opportunity for change when we respect the connections made through storytelling. Dr. Mitchell supports her patients with the intent of guiding them to resources and information. As she put it, "not letting my office day define the information that I give." When we think about the care and our relationship with our care provider, we envision someone like Dr. Mitchell. Someone willing to go outside of the box. Finding the balance of mixing their own lived experience, training, and our lived experience within our care. That at the end of our time together, we know we were heard and seen!

If you are int he Providence, Rhode Island area and looking for a care provider we highly encourage you to connect with Dr. Mitchell. For everyone else you can find her on social media at @doctor_midwife.

Sponsors:

Unspoken Stories | A March of Dimes Podcast

Honest stories of pregnancy, parenthood and loss are too often left unshared. We are here to tell the real stories. Join mom, actress and advocate, Tatyana Ali to hear real stories about the joys and humor of parenting to the heartbreak and loneliness of miscarriage and loss in a new podcast from March of Dimes. Each episode features a parent’s honest story about the realities of starting a family. It only takes hearing one story like your own to know you are not alone. To join the conversation, go to UnspokenStories.org and MarchofDimes.org. Follow them on Instagram and Facebook @MarchofDimes.

The views, information, or opinions expressed during the Unspoken Stories series are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of Birth Stories in Color.

That diagnosis led them down a path of navigating a fertility clinic and the process of Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) LINK, a form of fertility treatment. Unfortunately, this process was unsuccessful and after many attempts and feeling discouraged from her doctor. Natalya knew she had to advocate for herself. She and her husband found a new fertility clinic and got a second opinion about how to move forward. The doctor recommended trying the process of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), and they were able to conceive after the first round of treatments.

It is essential that we discuss and celebrate the variations of creating our families. By sharing her story, Natalya is hoping it highlights the journey of IVF and establishes a support resource for others who may be going through the same thing.

Sponsors:

Unspoken Stories | A March of Dimes Podcast

Honest stories of pregnancy, parenthood and loss are too often left unshared. We are here to tell the real stories. Join mom, actress and advocate, Tatyana Ali to hear real stories about the joys and humor of parenting to the heartbreak and loneliness of miscarriage and loss in a new podcast from March of Dimes. Each episode features a parent’s honest story about the realities of starting a family. It only takes hearing one story like your own to know you are not alone. To join the conversation, go to UnspokenStories.org and MarchofDimes.org. Follow them on Instagram and Facebook @MarchofDimes.

Disclaimer : the views, information, or opinions expressed during the Unspoken Stories series are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of Birth Stories in Color.

The history of their relationship with their identities made it essential for HunterDae to be very informed with their body so that they could support the transitions to come. They were very intentional in understanding the surges in their body, the hormone shifting and charting that was necessary for helping support their body in becoming pregnant.

When HunterDae became pregnant with their twins, it was a spiritual awakening. They realized they had received double the blessing and were now carrying three hearts. What their care provide saw was an individual that was checking off all the boxes for a high-risk pregnancy. This narrative continued into HunterDae's birth story.

As you listen to their story, you realize how imperative it is that when we are caring for individuals through their parenthood journeys that we acknowledge their lived experience. Care cannot be a one size fits all, and it has to come from a place of understanding the whole person.

HunterDae's name is a tribute to their children. As a way to honor the bond they share, HunterDae took their middle names. In their work now they help support families to feel present in their pregnancies. Using that to teach them to enrich and nourish themselves through it. If you would like to connect with HunterDae, you can find them at https://comfortacrossthespectrum.com/.

A Call to Action from HunterDae:

They encourage you to support Community Doula in NY in the fight for Equity by contacting your assembly and senate to stress amendments be made to bills A00364B and S-03344-B). These two bills would create a state certification for doulas and narrow the definition of “certified doula” to only those certified by NY State. Not only do these bill undermine the work of many community based doula it also excludes the voices, work and communities that need the support the most. If help identifying who to contact, you can connect here. To contact Governor Cuoumo at fax: 518-474-1513 or directly here). You can learn more about A00364B here and S-03344-B here.

Resources:

Ancient Song Doula Services | doula collective

Q/TPOC Birthwerq Project | creating more access to reproductive education for two-spirit/ed, transgender and queer people of color

QTPOChomecoming |

Black Youth 100 | member-based organization of Black youth activists

Center for Anti-Violence Education | develops and implements violence prevention programs

Childbirth Education Association of Metropolitan NY | nonprofit organization of childbirth professionals and consumer advocates

NYC Doula Collective | collective of birth workers serving the New York City area

Postpartum Support International | provide current information, resources, education, advocate for further research and legislation to support perinatal mental health

She knew from the birth of her three children that she wanted something to look back at. To be able to reflect on her birth experiences and also be able to share with her children. Chinelle loved photography and birth. Taking that into consideration, she wanted to be able to offer other families the opportunity to commemorate their birth experiences. She shot her first birth in 2011, and from there the rest is history.

Chinelle soon realized that there was a lack of diversity of both photographers of color and those represented within the imagery. She created Melanated Birth to bring awareness to women of color of the options available to them through the imagery of birth. Using it not only as a medium for families to document their birth stories but also as a way for future birth photographers of color and allies to learn about the importance of documenting birth in this way.

For Chinelle, it is essential that photographers who are capturing these moments for families of color have an understanding of the history of our community. In her efforts of research, she discovered that there were not visual accounts that she could find of birth during slavery. In her photography series "Unto Us, a Slave is Born," she took what she could find on the subject and created her own interpretation to honor that experience of our ancestors.

"This imagery is important to ME because it sheds light to what has been left in the dark. Not only were we fierce birthers, we were fierce mothers. Not only did we mother our own, but we mothered "massa's" children, too. We passed on, from generation to generation, the art of midwifery before midwives even had a name."

If you are a birth worker of color or a birth worker ally and want to become a member of The Melanated Birth directory head to the website.

To view Chinelle's "Unto Us a Slave is Born" photo series, a perspective on birth during slavery, click the link here.

It was wonderful to explore with Olivyah some aspects of parenthood preparation that sometimes go without focus. The mission behind her support of families and what she shares is the role of the mind-body connection. We currently live in a space where medical culture isn't valuing the power this connection possesses — realizing that it is essential that we discuss the role food and nutrition play in our pregnancy, birth and postpartum. That the most crucial preparation we do for birth starts in the mind, accepting and releasing the fear that we incapable of sitting in our strength.

Her Holistic Path began when Olivyah started posting intentionally on Instagram as a way to document her journey of holistic freedom. It has now shifted into a shared community space for other women doing the same!

In honor of Mother's Day, Olivayh will be highlighting the issue of Mommy Shaming. Using this to challenge us to help put an end to mommy shaming and create a space where we can share our journeys without being attacked or attacking others. Through May, she is discussing different aspects of motherhood and posing questions encouraging the community to answer.

If you would like to connect Olivyah, gather support or join the #noshame challenge head to Her Holistic Path for all the information.

Resources:

Her Holistic Path | Instagram account

Inclusive-tee | #noshame challenge t-shirt

For Jessica this work began from the experiences she had birthing her children. Through them discovering her internal power but also that of the black community. The work of ROOTT is to remind families of where their history is and where they come from. Understanding that they have all they need in creating their stories and their families.

This interview we delve deep into what taking back our reproductive choice and care can indeed look like — the work it takes to sit in our communities truth and power.

We must always go back to the root! - Jessica Roach, MPH

To connect with, support and find our more about the work of ROOTT, head to their website.

We are grateful for sponsors of this episode and other ROOTT activities this week. We would also like to acknowledge the Black Mamas Matter Alliance and all the Kindred Partners and collaborators for dedication to Black Mamas and families.

Black Maternal Health Week - Hosted by ROOTT & Partners

Friday, April 12th 6:30 pm - Birth Stories in Color 'Ubuntu' (Birth Story Circle)

Saturday, April 13th 11:30 am - ROOTT Village Circle: Inaugural Family Gathering

Sunday, April 14th 1:00 pm - ROOTT Perinatal Yoga (all stages)

Wednesday, April 17th 10:30 am - 'Getting to the ROOTT' Community Discussion (Guest Speaker: Joia Crear-Perry, MD)

Wednesday, April 17th 6:00 pm - An Evening with ROOTT at The Pelican Room (Special Guest: Joia Crear-Perry, MD /Performance by Liquid Crystal Project with Dre Peace)

Sponsors:

Black Mamas Matter Alliance | black women-led cross-sectoral alliance

Replenish | spa services

NARAL Pro-Choice America | reproductive rights organization

Commonsense Childbirth | comprehensive prenatal and postpartum care

Kirwan Institute | institute for the study of race and ethnicity - The Ohio State University

New Voices for Reproductive Justice | reproductive justice organization

CelebrateOne | greater Columbus Infant mortality task force component

Resources:

National Birth Equity Collaborative | reproductive justice organization

Birthing Beautiful Communities | reproductive justice collective

Afiya Center | reproductive justice organization

Mamatoto Village | reproductive justice collective

Sistersong | reproductive justice collective

Ancientsong | international doula certifying organization

What sets Abide apart from other facilities in their area is their focus of care centered in culture humility and addressing systematic racism. All those who volunteer, work or have any contact with families through Abide will find that culture humility/competence and implicit bias is embedded in their training — ensuring that care is easily accessible, holistic, evidence-based and free from judgment. Beyond these facets, co-founders Cessilye and Bethany are the foundation of upholding these standards, requiring each other and their community to have uncomfortable conversations to make the change.

A gem that Cessilye left us to sit with, think on, and process is that "As long as whiteness is the standard, black women will continue to die." Listening to this episode, you can feel the power in the mission of Abide and know that the work they are doing is shifting that narrative for their community!

If you are in the Dallas area or want to support their work click the link, Abide. To learn more about Cessilye and Bethany you can connect with them via their social media pages , @cessilyersmith and @bethanystrickermidwifery.

Resources:

West Sound Birth Services - Laura Kuhs | midwifery and massage support

Jennie Joseph | British trained midwife, founder and executive director of Commonsense Childbirth Inc. and the creator of The JJ Way

The JJ Way | a patient-centered model of care

Perinatal Task Force | a program component of Commonsense Childbirth Inc.

As birthworkers, we try to emphasize the importance of early bonding with our children. One way we encourage this is through nursing. It was a great learning experience to listen as Lauren shared how her nursing journey with her daughter helped her to heal from past traumas and especially during her postpartum. In times when she was struggling she would reflect and sit in that space with her daughter using that time to anchor herself from what she was feeling. While we emphasize how nursing can be vital for our children it can also be just as pivotal for the birthing person(s).

Beyond nursing, another avenue that Lauren has used to process and heal is through her art. Soon after the birth of her first child, Lauren began supporting families as a birth/postpartum doula. Inspired by the births of her close friends, she felt moved to get back to her art. Using it as a vessel of storytelling and reflection for them. Lauren has always loved art, but now she’s found a new love for her craft as she's painting black women in the way she has always wanted to paint them!

Being a doula has helped her to understand her own experiences. Currently, she and her doula partner Chanel are supporting families in the Baltimore area. if you would like to learn more about them and their work head over to Empowering Your Birth to connect.

Laurens advice to us all is to do more art. Visual accounts of birth are just as important as oral accounts. We are excited to see her art added to other birth experiences. To learn more about her work and purchase head to Ren the Doula.

Becoming pregnant with her daughter was a surprise for Barbara. Throughout her pregnancy, birth and postpartum, the community was a vital part of uplifting and supporting her. She discusses that during her pregnancy she was depressed, yet her community called her home and surrounded her in love. At her birth, her church family gave her shoulders to lean on and continued that support as she navigated the postpartum transition. That experience pushed her to keep being a doula and into becoming a midwife.

As we learned from speaking with her, there are only 2% of black midwives in the birth world. Taking that information and combining it with the fact that black women have higher rates of maternal mortality than their white counterparts it highlights why this statistic must change! One way we as a community can help with that change is providing our student midwives with sustainable access to resources. Barbara hopes that by 2020 she will be a midwife and we are here for it! There are a couple of ways to help support Barbara on her goal. Head over to her website (Tiny and Brave) to learn more about her work and services. Follow her social media (Facebook & Instagram) pages to stay up to date on her journey and places she'll be speaking. Lastly, if your looking for some fantastic merchandise check out her t-shirt site. Your purchase and/or donation helps her, but also continues to open the door wider for other birth workers of color to serve their community!

Resources:

Efe Osaren | student midwife

Kia Shatteen-Jones | student midwife

Paige Jackson | student midwife

Lifecycle WomanCare | birth center

Nya Memaniye Cinque, CNM | midwife

Motherbloom Midwifery | personalized midwifery & home birth care

Doula Trainings International (DTI) | training registration (10% discount code: DOPE)

Sponsors:

Doula Trainings International (DTI) | the birth world, reborn

Doula Trainings International is an educational body and professional community certifying doulas, childbirth educators, and lactation specialists. They believe today's birth workers deserve an accessible and appealing learning environment - one that is positive, inclusive and provides a quality experience. A movement, a community, a purpose. Beyond their courses, DTI is also an international network of doulas - united as advocates for social justice, reproductive justice, and professional growth. Together they are on a mission to revolutionize the birth world, to find out more and to connect go to www.weareDTI.com

To help her process this fear and prepare for birth she relied on three components. The first being prayers and affirmations, to help her get in the mindset that her body and baby were going to be able to work together. Second, being flexible with her birth plan, understanding that even with all the planning, things may change. Staying grounded in that if there were changes those changes were what was best in that moment of time. Lastly shutting down others birth stories that could potentially elicit more fear. While it was vital for her to hear from others, she understood that there were specific stories she wasn't in a place to connect with.

This preparation, her husband and her midwife supported her in her birth. Specifically, in the moments when her birth plan shifted, and she needed an episiotomy and vacuum assistance. Because she had prepared in trusting her body and being flexible, Alyestal explains that she found her power through her daughter’s birth and continues as she navigates postpartum.

Something that we love about Alyestal postpartum journey is her MoMo’s Mama Monday’s series. Being a spoken word poetess, she’s using that gift to help realign herself in her new identity, using her voice to spark honest conversations about motherhood and how we can evolve through the journey. To join the conversation and ignite your fire head over to her IGTV.

Tatia's story began like many, she had a healthy pregnancy, she and her family were excited to be growing, and when they went in for her induction, they were expecting to walk away with a healthy baby. However, things did not go as planned and sadly both Tatia and her baby Zorah died in the operating room.

We had the honor of having Tatia's mother Maddy Oden to share Tatia's story with us. Maddy and her family knew that they didn't want others to go through the same experience. From their loss, they developed the Tatia Oden French Memorial Foundation in March 2003 to continue Tatia's memory and provide education to others.

"It gives ALL women of childbearing age complete information concerning medical interventions and drugs which are administered during childbirth. We do this hoping that women may then be able to make FULLY informed decisions regarding the birth of their children." - Tatia Oden French Memorial Foundation

This experience highlights the importance of informed consent, the medicalization of birth specifically with the induction drug Cytotec and infant/maternal mortality. We hope that as you listen, you don't sit in fear from their story, but instead take in the information, share it with others and help extend the mission of the foundation.

We can't control birth, and we can't predict outcomes, but we can gather information to ensure decisions are lead by our informed voices!

Resources:

Tatia Oden French Memorial Foundation | foundation website with resources, videos, articles and more information on their work

Tatia Oden French Memorial Foundation | Facebook page

Sponsors:

Fringe22 | Design & Creative Strategy

Today's programming is in partnership with FRINGE22 design & creative strategy. A design studio focused on brand development and creative strategy aimed at connecting with people who are committed to social impact. For sneak peaks of their work, you can also follow them on Facebook and Instagram at @fringe22studio.

During the conference, we set up a mini recording studio and invited attendees to come and share their birth stories. In doing so we met Myra Barnes, and she allowed us to hold space for her experience. It's such a wonderful feeling when you can feel the stars aligning! As soon as we began talking with Myra, you could feel that shift.

Myra's story was an accurate reflection of the conference. It highlighted the power in healing ourselves. Especially for women of color. When we can tap into the work (whatever that may look like) in making ourselves better, we can heal while adding in stopping cycles of trauma. To do that, we have to be ok with being vulnerable and transparent with our friends, our families and ourselves. Myra said it best, "I'm hoping that we can do a better job of supporting each other to be better givers of life. Better leaders and advocates, especially for ourselves in a world where we have been conditioned to be silent."

Sponsors:

Doula Trainings International (DTI) | for the modern doula

Doula Trainings International is an educational body and professional community certifying doulas, childbirth educators, and lactation specialists. They believe today's birth workers deserve an accessible and appealing learning environment - one that is positive, inclusive and provides a quality experience. A movement, a community, a purpose. Beyond their courses, DTI is also an international network of doulas - united as advocates for social justice, reproductive justice, and professional growth. Together they are on a mission to revolutionize the birth world, to find out more and to connect go to www.doulatrainingsinternational.com.

Once her daughter made her arrival, Erica found herself struggling to navigate postpartum. A sentiment that many birthing parents can connect with. Breastfeeding was difficult, she was working through feelings of self-doubt and not being a good enough mother. While she was able to put on a face for everyone around her, internally, she knew something was wrong.

Now 11 years from that time and reflecting on it, Erica knows she was suffering from postpartum depression. Currently studying counseling psychology and supporting families as a doula, she's working to help other birthing parents navigate their journeys. Erica is hoping that by being open about her experience and sharing her story, she's helping to normalize conversations of postpartum struggles. If you are looking to connect with Erica for doula support find her Trac-E Doula RI on Facebook and Instagram.

Studies show that first time birthing individuals over the age of 35 can have increased risk for potential complications. These include excessive bleeding during delivery, prolonged or stalled labor, high blood pressure, premature delivery, and increased risk of genetic disorders in the baby (Evidence Based Birth). As with any process of birth, that doesn't mean that is the case for everyone. This sentiment is highlighted by Evidence Based Birth, "Certainly women of advanced maternal age go on to have otherwise completely healthy pregnancies and deliveries—increase odds by practicing healthy lifestyle choices and seek out a care provider that doesn’t automatically classify you as high risk simply based on your age."

As we discussed with Derrin, all birthing individuals should be given the opportunity to place themselves in a box, not the birthing system. When Derrin found out she was pregnant with her rainbow baby, she felt that stigma immediately. Her doctors saw her age and could only see the risk. Derrin even had family members tell her that a cesarean birth was the only option for her delivery. Knowing that she was having fear about birth and needing lots of medical interventions, she prepared in ways she thought best.

Being a gymnastic and circus instructor coach, she felt fit and kept working until she couldn't. She hired a doula and sought out additional support. Derrin's birth did not go exactly as she planned and that's ok, that's birth. From her story, we realize how impactful society's view on our expectations of our bodies can be. To all the cesarean birth parents, you, your body and your birth journeys are powerful!

One of the reasons that Birth Stories in Color was created, is because we knew our community needed space to allow families to process, learn and sometimes heal from their birth stories. We witnessed Derrin do that work in this episode. Our discussion with Derrin was the first time she fully shared her story, and we are incredibly thankful for her vulnerability!

Resources:

CooperRose | advocates for cloth diapering, breastfeeding, baby-wearing & natural product in communities lacking support

Evidence Based Birth | online childbirth resource

To prepare for the birth of her children Kimberly and her husband took the Bradley Method childbirth education classes along with the Hypnobabies series. Kimberly explains these as being very beneficial. They provided her with the tools to help alleviate the fear of birth and allowed her to find peace with the experience.

As you listen to her stories, you find this to be very real. Her first birth was 17.5 hours, with the rest of her children coming into the world much faster, especially her fourth child with her labor only being 2 hours. Many families hope for speedy births, but what we don't realize at times, is that these types of experiences require families to birth on their own, unintentionally and for them to trust the process.

We hear all the time that birthing bodies know what to do, it's the mind we have to convince! Kimberly's experience is an excellent example of letting the education around birth elevate your mind to the level it needs be.

Another way of tackling that is for us to change what society has taught us about birth, and that begins with educating our children, normalizing birth for them. To include her older children in adding a family member, Kimberly would accompany them in watching birthing videos and explain to them what was happening.

During the birth of the new baby, her children went about their regular routines but were always welcomed to join her as she labored throughout the house. We love that after the birth of her daughter, Kimberly sons, snuggled next to her on the living room couch and just observed her postpartum care and their new sister. Taking it all in, for them, this is birth, at home surrounded in love!

Kimberly has currently begun training as a doula, if you are interested in connecting with her find her at Mama Bean Birth Works and Black Mamas Parenting Naturally.

While her pregnancy and birth were healthy and easy to navigate, postpartum required more of Lara. She fell easily into her routine before baby but soon realized that she was starting to feel the weight of this new transition. Lara sought out support from her midwife and realized that what she was experiencing was affecting not only her relationship with Alfredo but also her bond with her daughter Layla. Lara got serious about her journey with postpartum depression and acquired professional help. She notes that it's on ongoing, she still has flare-ups, yet the most important and valuable thing for her is recognizing the time when she needs extra support and honoring that!

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) report that Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs), which include Postpartum Depression, affect 1 in 7 pregnant and new mothers. Whether you are a birthing person who is struggling, a concerned friend or relative, reach out for support from a healthcare professional. A great resource is the Postpartum Health Alliance which can offer support and referrals to resources that can help.

Resources:

Empowered Birth Project |birth censorship campaign
OSU Midwifery
Stop Censoring Motherhood |social media platform

Sponsors:

Fringe22 | Design & Creative Strategy
Today's programming is in partnership with FRINGE22 design & creative strategy. A design studio focused on brand development and creative strategy aimed at connecting with people who are committed to social impact. For sneak peaks of their work, you can also follow them on Facebook and Instagram at @fringe22studio.

When Laurel and her husband began discussing the birth of their son, they knew that if it were a healthy pregnancy, the best space for their birth would be a home birth. Much of the preparation was finding a village to support them. With the guidance and support of her family, doula and midwives, their son was born surrounded by love. This space of love entirely defined by them.

Her journey required her to be mindful of the way she approached bonding during pregnancy, overcoming her fears of birth and walking in the ebb and flow of postpartum. Our take away from this episode is that we all in our everyday walk of life find ways to be mindful and present.

Resources:

ROOTT (Restoring Our Own Through Transformation) | black woman led reproductive justice organization

Columbus Midwife Collective | group of professional midwives

Ren the Doula | doula & birth affirmations creator

Aliayo Waistbeads | handmade jewelry

As you listen to Simone's story, you realize that even when we prepare to the fullest extent, pregnancy and birth can still cause anxiety. As a doula, Simone had to remind herself to get out of her head constantly. Trusting the process of birth and being entirely in touch with her body and baby. The day that her son was born, she did that, as she states, her knowledge and experience couldn't prep her for everything yet when she was present in what was happening "she felt labor, she felt the birth" of her son.

A big piece of Simone's story we feel should be a take away for everyone is postpartum planning. We love that Simone share's that families should create a postpartum plan, the same way they would their birth plans. Standing firm in their community and no matter what asking for help!

Resources:

Doula Trainings International (DTI) | doula training and childbirth education training

Sakina Midwifery | midwifery services in NY

Just for You Doula | birth and postpartum doula services in NY

There were many aspects of her birth that Isabella expected. However, the speed at which her son arrived, caught her and her husband by surprise! Soon after her water broke, contractions began coming fast and fierce. She explains that when her midwife arrived, she looked at both her and her husband and told them she could feel the baby's head. Isabella followed the intuition of her body and birthed her son in their bedroom, squatting with the support of her husband.

A valuable lesson we took from Isabella's story is the way in which she listened to her body not only during her sons birth but also in her 4th trimester. While postpartum for her was both physically and emotionally tiring, she remained patient and in contact with her body to assure the best recovery she could have!

Resources:

La Leche League International | breastfeeding support

Birth Without Fear

As the shop has grown, Cheyenne realized there was another need. While sitting in her OBGYN's office, she noticed that many of the magazines lacked diversity. She realized she wanted to create something that would touch families one-on-one providing them with information about pregnancy, birth, and parenthood. Cheyenne explains that "Everyday Birth Magazine is my love letter to the birth world, and also to the world in general. It says, "Whoever you are, you belong here."

If you would like to connect with Cheyenne for doula support, design, photography or writing work head to her website.

To learn more about or purchase your educational materials from The Educated Birth, click here.

Interested in purchasing the Everyday Magazine, head over to the website where you can purchase both print and digital copies.

Resources/Kickstarters:

Richmond Doula Project | collective of full-spectrum doulas in Richmond, VA

Richmond Doulas | nonprofit organization of independent doulas

Mother May I? | documentary
Consent begins at birth
"I thought I was crazy." One-third of women describe their births as traumatic. They're also saying they were shamed and silenced afterward when they tried to talk about how they were treated or how they feel.

"I didn't even know I was allowed to say no." This situation is urgent. Every day, more women and birthing people are failed by a system that hurts and traumatizes them--especially women of color and other marginalized groups.

Original Body of Pain | documentary
For pregnant women facing addiction, recovery is a family affair – rife with judgment, stigma and plenty of obstacles along the way. Original Body of Pain portrays the American opioid epidemic in an immersive, longitudinal fashion, following families stricken by addiction and Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome - when babies are born exposed to substances - for over a year of their lives.

In her story submission, Amy revealed that the unique perspective her stories offered to the Birth Stories in Color community was that "I feel that the absolute command of my birthing choices could bring much hope in other mamas and I hope to spark their memory of the warrior goddesses that are within them." We couldn't agree more with this sentiment. This episode is raw, funny, and informative!

Sponsors:

ROOTT | Today's episode is in partnership with Restoring Our Own Through Transformation (ROOTT) black women led reproductive justice organization dedicated to collectively restoring our well-being through self-determination, collaboration, and resources to meet the needs of women and families within communities.

As a kindred partner of the Black Mamas Matter Alliance, ROOTT will host several events during the inaugural Black Maternal Health Week, April 11th -17th. These events are part of a coordinated, national effort to raise awareness and increase advocacy for Black Mamas, their children, and families of color. In Franklin County, Ohio alone, Black infant mortality rates are three times higher than white infants (15 per 1000 and 4.9 per 1000, respectively), with a largely unreported Maternal Mortality and Morbidity rate. ROOTT seeks to address the issue of these devastating health disparities informed by our collective voices in experience and evidence through Full Spectrum Doula services, provider training, advocacy, community engagement, and events.

Resources:

The Business of Being Born | documentary
Unassisted Childbirth - Laura Shanley

The Pounds had planned to have a homebirth, and their birth began that way. However, within laboring at home, their midwife informed them that due to babies heart rate they would need to transfer to hospital. At the hospital, they found out that their baby had flipped to breech. While this was the case, they were steadfast in their decision to have their baby vaginally, and they did! When sharing her story, Chae exclaims that she still had her homebirth. She reminds us that "having a baby is a natural, normal process until it's not." With the birth of her daughter, she was successful in all aspects of that statement.

Chae is a full spectrum doula and student midwife serving the New Orleans area. If you are looking to connect with Chae, check out her website, Mawiyahs Village.

Resources:

Sista Midwife

The First Forty Days | the essential art of nourishing the new mother

BBC is a team of community-based doulas supporting expecting mothers and families from pregnancy and through a year of postpartum. They offer training, classes, support groups, partner support and a wide range of services to ensure the success of babies and families. Something that we truly admired about this organization was their strong relationship with the communities they are serving. If you would like to connect with BBC, you can find them here.

Resources:

Mothership Connection | BBC fundraising support

Wright State Women's Center | Wright State Univ. parenting support

Yolanda’s postpartum journey started off a little rough as she, her husband and new baby were somewhat homeless due to issues with buying their new home. Yolanda also tells us that due to how long and her induction method, during recovery she was very swollen from the waist down. These factors did take a toll her on her recovery and breastfeeding journey. She relied heavily on not only her family but also a small group of friends. They would get together and discuss their breastfeeding successes and struggles. Soon they realized that for the community it would be great to start a group in their area where families could get to know each other personally and find support in each other. The Black Lactation Circle of Central Ohio (BLaC) is 400 strong, focused on sharing evidence-based information and resources. To connect with the group, you can find them here.

Resources:

POEM | postpartum support & services

Due to her symptoms, Nicole's labor was started via induction. She labored with her daughter for 30 hours with her husband by her side. Bryan was able to keep Nicole at peace, as they were concerned about there being no empty NICU beds available during the labor within the state. During this time Nicole states that God began to speak to her husband. He started thinking of the scripture Philippians 4:6-7 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Upon delivery of baby Ariyan, a NICU bed became available, and the family did not have to leave the hospital.

Nicole shares for families that could find themselves in similar scenarios;

"Make sure that you tell your doctor how you're feeling every step of the way because I went from feeling fine my prior appointment to feeling awful by the next and He was able to detect the issues and place me under the proper care. I wouldn't be here today if it weren't for this."

"Also, keep the faith and when you feel discouraged, envious, or the desires to complain rising from within, do your best to resist by being thankful. There are multiple testimonies of things that happened during this whole ordeal, so we learned that by applying our faith in God's Word to our situations His Word did not return void."

Nicole loves to share their story as an opportunity to teach other families about the onset and complications of preeclampsia and navigating the NICU. For families who may find themselves in a similar situation, she began a blog specifically dedicated to providing information and resources. Check out her blog here. The Braddy family was able to endure a harrowing experience that left them feeling victorious and strengthened as a new family.

During her first birth, Dasha explains that part of her experience involved "Birth Rape". This is a term being used that highlights the act of intimidation, threats, and coercion that occur during birth. It is a care provider ignoring a birthing person's refusal of procedure or allowing the opportunity for consent. No matter where you decide to give birth, the care provider you choose or the choices you make throughout your birth, your experience should always be led by your voice!

Dasha has taken the lessons she learned from her stories and uses them to help provide support to families as a birth and postpartum doula. For those in the community who are looking to support families in this way, Dasha wrote a blog piece providing details of trainers and organizations that provide doula training specifically for people of color. Check out this wonderful resource list here. If you are looking to connect with Dasha for doula support, check out her website, Faithful Birth.

Sponsors:

Fringe22 | Design & Creative Strategy
Today's programming is in partnership with FRINGE22 design & creative strategy. A design studio focused on brand development and creative strategy aimed at connecting with people who are committed to social impact. For sneak peaks of their work, you can also follow them on Facebook and Instagram at @fringe22studio.

Caitlin describes her relationship with her doula as a pivotal asset to preparing for her second birth. Something she loved that her doula brought to the table, was her own personal experience with VBAC. This was very helpful as her doula was able to show her and her husband specific techniques during her labor to use, but also provide important information specific to her goal of a VBAC.

This experience inspired Caitlin and she recently began her own doula journey with the Mount Carmel St. Ann Doula program. The same program that supported her during the story she shares on this episode. If you live in the Columbus, Ohio area you can find out more information about the program at, Mount Carmel Doula Services. If you are looking to connect with Caitlin for doula support, check out her website, Birthing Beautifully.

For the first episode, Danielle will be sharing her two hospital births. While her first birth was overshadowed by her health history, she still finds confidence in its success. That self-confidence and knowledge helped her power through her second birth.

Along with her stories, Danielle shares about the importance and power in knowing your own birth story. Finding time to talk to others in your family about what their birth experiences were like can help you in understanding and piecing together your own thoughts about birth. In May, Laurel wrote a blog piece Story Time on this subject. Check it out to find out more about this topic.

We hope that all who share and listen find this to be a community near and far, and an invaluable resource for navigating their own journey.