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. ⁣
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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. ⁣
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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
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One of the most common questions that I get is “can I have sex while I’m pregnant?”. The answer is YES—have all the consensual sex your heart desires! (UNLESS you have been diagnosed as a high risk pregnancy and your physician has instructed you to refrain. In which case, explore other safer methods of pleasure!) .
Sex during pregnancy is great for a number of reasons:

• it’s a great bonding tool for you + partner

• it’s a great way to feel sexy and grow confidence in your changing body

• nipple stimulation encourages labor and strengthens contractions

• orgasms release adrenaline which can reduce stress during pregnancy and labor

• the hormone that starts contractions is oxytocin, which is the hormone that is released during orgasms

• if partner is male, semen contains natural prostaglandins that help to soften the cervix, causing it to open

Positions can be tricky as baby + belly grows so be sure to get creative with which ones make you the most comfortable. Laying on your side or on all fours tends to be preferable—use lots of pillows! And don’t trip, your growing baby is protected in the womb and surrounded by shock absorbing amniotic fluid 😉

We had such a great time this past Saturday! I love when I learn so much from my own events! Let’s continue to own our own narrative when it comes to family planning and birth control. A special thanks to @ken.ya and @plannedparenthoodsoutheast for bringing the goods and to @forkeepsbooks and @antylc for hosting and always supporting me!!

Most experiences of pregnancy and loss are never spoken of. Never shared. Many womxn who were once a home suddenly feel alone. ⁣⁣
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You are not alone. ⁣⁣
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As many as 1 in every 4 pregnancies end in miscarriage. One. In. Four. This month is a month to honor those that have experienced infant loss or miscarriage. There is no perfect way to heal, but you WILL heal. ⁣⁣
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Reach out to your tribe. Love them. Honor them. Because you never know what they’ve lost. ⁣⁣
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Some pages that I love that offer loss support: @ihadamiscarriage @iamreneeashley @stillstandingmag ⁣⁣

What does sisterhood mean to you?⁣⁣⁣
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“Eventually I landed on the word Maternity. There are so many river that can flow into maternity. Interchangeable are the words friend and sister, friend and mother, mother and sister; to be a sister is to be a friend to an exponent—and vice versa. And within that exponent is the infinite. I have stood in the gap for my own mother to care for my younger sisters both by blood or by journey. I have been cared for in maternal ways by my older sister. I love my friends as a mother; to be a woman is often times an instinctual need to rescue, protect and guide to safety...a responsibility to see love through which is sometimes a weary yet satisfying service.” ⁣⁣
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words + visuals: @hiaj ⁣⁣
creative dir: @coolandbrown + @amazing_li18 ⁣⁣
glowing mama: @pinc.events⁣⁣⁣
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For more of this beautiful piece, check the link in @hiaj’s bio 💛⁣

We live in a gendered world—there is a constant desire to check a box that our society can most easily understand (I, too, play a part in this society sometimes). The box of “masculinity” as most understand it doesn’t always allow for more “feminine” desires like wanting to carry a child. If a masculine queer womxn is in a relationship with a feminine presenting womxn, the assumption is usually that the more feminine presenting partner would carry the child. However this isn’t always the case. ⁣⁣
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In the short documentary “My Mama Wears Timbs” (available on @Youtube), self-identified “pregnant butch” @frankiefockerr explores the intersection of masculinity and pregnancy. As a cisgender woman who always wanted to have a baby, it was a simple decision for Frankie—complicated by a world that struggled to grasp it. “Children don’t care about how you’re dressed,” director @itsarifitz says. “A newborn isn’t worried about the fit of their mom’s pants or whether or not she’s wearing a dress.”⁣⁣
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Here @ Flora + Fauna, we support ALL FAMILIES. ⁣⁣
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