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⁣⁣
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Now pair all of this with being black...⁣⁣
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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.⁣⁣
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This is why #BlackBreastfeedingWeekis necessary. Because WE need to see US, joyFUL, loved, and Blacker than ever... #MadeByStereoLove 

The pelvic floor is a group of nerves and muscles located at the base of the pelvis. The nerves control the muscles, and the muscles form a basket-like “floor” that support the pelvic organs (you can engage the pelvic floor by bearing down as if you were having a bowel movement).

Connecting to the pelvic floor during pregnancy is especially important. And equally as important is strengthening and lengthening them which can aid in the progression of labor, postpartum physical healing, and reduction of incontinence and unwanted bladder leakage. Holding tension in pelvic floor can often result from both emotional and physical factors like high intensity exercising, psychological stress (common during pregnancy), and experiences of sexual trauma.

There are some practices that you can do on your own to begin to bring awareness and intention to your pelvic floor: #kegels, squats, hip bridges, deep breathing, and any type of deep hip opening stretching.
Pelvic physical therapists are also great resources during/after pregnancy (and even before!) to find out which strengthening exercises might be best for your body. 

#pelvicfloor #incontinence #doulaofcolor #atldoula #atldoulasofcolor #atlantadoula 📷: @fertilealchemy

If you don’t have one, you know someone who does. Which of these #HumpDayAnatomy did you already know?⁣⁣
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- The clitoris is actually close to four inches in length (kinda like the average non-erect penis), but three-fourths of it is hidden from view within the female body⁣⁣
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- Anatomically, it’s sole purpose is pleasure, but endorphins released as a result of an orgasm can help to dilate the cervix in preparation for birth⁣⁣
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- Most womxn need clitoral stimulation to reach an orgasm⁣⁣
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- It grows through the female lifetime—increasing in size by almost 25% from puberty to menopause
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When we know better, we do better 😉 | ⁣🎨 + 📷: @sophiawallaceartist