I don’t believe in fear mongering as a form of public health messaging, so here are some helpful considerations if you’re pregnant or nursing and concerned about potential impacts of COVID-19. ⁣
⁣
If you are having a hospital birth soon, it could be helpful to check with them to see how COVID-19 protocols may affect your birthing experience (number of visitors, entrance locations, etc.)

I know, there’s a lot going on and things are changing daily but one thing is for certain—you gone get this support! Now more than ever it’s critical to educate yourself, tap into your intuition, and know how to advocate for the best birth experience possible. ⁣
⁣
Many hospitals are restricting visitors and #saferathome protocols may limit in-home prenatal sessions, so I’ll be offering some of my services virtually:⁣

• Virtual birth goal setting;

• Prenatal education sessions (including comfort measures and positions)⁣;

• Labor and birth support; and

• Postpartum support sessions
  ⁣

Last week, I missed my first birth and I was devastated. ⁣
⁣
I’m naturally an empath and think of myself as a really good problem solver but this was just the perfect storm that I couldn’t make work. ⁣
⁣
Enter the guilt. I felt so bad for not being able to be there (even though we’d already discussed contingency plans since I knew I was traveling close to baby’s due date) and I could feel myself going into a space where I was trying to force something that just wasn’t meant to happen. ⁣
⁣
Then I remembered that, like I tell my mamas, the body already knows what to do. I’m grateful for my friend, sister and fellow doula @vanyacamille and the supportive relationship that we have built over the past few months (thanks @thelola_women!) because there was no hesitation when I asked her to step in to support my laboring mama. Little did she know, she was supporting me as well ✨ ⁣
⁣
There are many times where I think I can do it all alone. Because I-N-D-E-P-E-N-D-E-N-T. Then life happens and I’m humbly reminded otherwise. Doula work can be exhausting and emotional, but building community makes it so so sweet.

If you place a newborn on mama’s belly or chest immediately after birth, they’ll instinctively pull themselves to the nipple. This is called the nipple or breast crawl. Baby mainly uses smell and what little eyesight they have to navigate—which is part of the reason that your nipple color darkens during pregnancy! It’s a bullseye for a hungry baby ✨

This week is dedicated to raising awareness about lactation disparities in Black families and communities.

⁣There are snuggles.⁣⁣ Nights that turn into morning.⁣⁣
Cracked and bleeding nipples.⁣⁣
Pumping.⁣⁣
Tongue ties + tears⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Now pair all of this with being black...⁣⁣
⁣⁣
There is systemic racism.⁣⁣
Bias.⁣⁣⁣
A history of wet nursing.⁣⁣
The over sexualization of black bodies.⁣⁣
The disregard of our bodies. ⁣⁣
The lack of breastfeeding support. ⁣
The under representation within the lactation + motherhood community.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
This is why #BlackBreastfeedingWeekis necessary. Because WE need to see US, joyFUL, loved, and Blacker than ever... #MadeByStereoLove 

Launching Flora & Fauna has been an extreme lesson in vulnerability, the uncomfortable and scary kind (is there another type?). I decided to create a space where women of color could gather with the idea that we all have vulnerabilities that would be better shared. Because we are all going through something. And connection heals. ⁣
⁣
This was my way of changing just a little piece of the world. We talked and sipped lots of wine. We shared stories about our wombs and reproductive experiences. We cried and laughed. We made new connections and supported other black women. ⁣
⁣
Sometimes we're pushed to do things before we really understand the true why. Me? The woman who has mastered the art of deflecting attention for the sake of caring for others. Put myself and my visions out to the world? How? Why? To heal. To change. To care for self. This first event was so special and I cant wait for the next. ⁣
⁣
Special thank yous to @antylc and @forkeepsbooks for opening her space for us, to my sisters @mellimelatl and @mayatable for showing up and showing out, to @__rita.p for your camera skillssss, to @thisishermarket for contributing custome female-designed gift bags, to @lowdownbrown and @deemingo who surprised me in the flesh and to everyone who was present. I appreciate you all forever.

Have you heard of delayed cord clamping? During pregnancy, the umbilical cord is literally baby’s lifeline. The cord goes from baby to the attachment position of the placenta, carrying blood, nutrients, and oxygen from parent to child. It is made up of two arteries and one vein which are all surrounded by Wharton’s jelly. ⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣
Delayed cord clamping is simply the act of not clamping or cutting the umbilical cord until at least one full minute after giving birth (though most that choose to delay do so for at least 3-5 minutes). Some parents choose to delay cutting until after the placenta is delivered and the cord no longer pulsating (also referred to as a lotus birth)—allowing the entire delivery process to complete without interruption/intervention.⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣
Why delay, you say? Those first few moments in the outside world are unlike anything your baby has ever experienced – it’s the first time they’ve ever had to breathe on their own. Nature’s response is to give your baby a final surge of extra blood from the placenta so that their little heart can direct 50% of its’ output to the lungs. This extra push helps their lungs to adjust.⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣

📷: @katie.gong ✨ ⁣⁣

Because delaying the clamping of the cord allows more blood to transfer from the placenta to the infant, baby’s blood volume can increase by up to a third. The iron in the blood increases which is essential for healthy brain development. Some studies even show that a couple of extra minutes attached to the umbilical cord at birth may translate into a small boost in neurodevelopment several years later.⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣
While waiting for the cord blood + nutrients to pump through, its a perfect time for focus on skin to skin bonding (aka the golden hour) and for initiating breastfeeding.⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣
I encourage you to talk about delayed cord clamping with your doula, midwife, birth partner, and doctors so that you can make the right choice for your and your baby. Life happens and it’s not possible to do it in every circumstance, so know that immediate cord clamping is still safe for you + baby. ⁣
⁣⁣