Doula Meg

"This book clearly lays out the barriers facing Black families, but it also offers solutions. I think every professional who works with parents and babies of any color should read this book."

—Sharon Muza, BS, CD(DONA)

https://ow.ly/goev50RYOJm

A monthly one-hour workshop designed to support expectant and postpartum mothers on their journey to pelvic floor health and overall well-being. Register here: https://www.blossombirthandfamily.org/prenatal-and-postpartum-pelvic-floor--core.html

The benefits of breastfeeding are invaluable, but this book helps with the practicalities. Breastfeeding can suck, but it doesn't have to. On sale: https://ow.ly/pFMB50RPgcF

Have you been able to read my bio on my website?

San Jose Birth Doula | Megan Mata | Serving Santa Clara County Megan Mata | Birth Doula | Has served over 150 families in San Jose, Ca. and surrounding cities in Santa Clara County

According to postpartum.net "Perinatal mood disorders affect the entire family. Many people don’t realize that about 1 in 10 dads develop depression during this time. An integrated approach to family mental health allows both parents to move beyond the postpartum period as a thriving family unit."

As doulas, educators, and a society, we need to look past all stereotypes and support the new family as a whole. When one person in the unit struggles, they all struggle.

Menstrual Hygiene Day 2023! Access to menstrual products is not a luxury, it is a necessity all menstruating people should be able to access.

Finally, after a LOT of research, nine months of writing, and about 12,000 words more than I had anticipated, I am delighted to share with you the title of my next book:

Plus Size Pregnancy: what the evidence really says about higher BMI and birth.

It’s due out in September 2023, and I’m very excited, because I think it will make a difference to a lot of women and families.

Plus Size Pregnancy has been an absolute labour of love.

It's currently with my wonderful editors, and I'll be working with them and the rest of my team over the summer to make it as good as it can possibly be before it's published in September 2023.

I'm going to keep all of our email list subscribers updated on its progress, so look out for my emails if you'd like to find out more about the book, get updates and see a bit of what happens behind the scenes.

If you're not on my list and would like to be, you can sign up on my website or at www.tinyurl.com/saranews 😊

or click to see the announcement page at https://www.sarawickham.com/announcements/announcing-my-next-book/

ESSENTIALLY PAINLESS A PAINFUL SHORT FILM

In honor of Black History Month, we would like to shine a light on the over 700 Black doulas active on DoulaMatch.

Join us every Wednesday (time varies) for our Q***r & Trans Parents Support Group!

PSI’s Q***r & Trans Parent Support Group is FREE and open to all members of the q***r community who are expecting, adopting, and/or parenting babies up to 2 years. This group is intended for gestational, non-gestational and adoptive parents.

Learn more and register at http://bit.ly/FindSupportGroup 💙

I am so proud of you, Maria Ascencion Ramos Bracamontes; I cannot wait to watch this work and program grow.

Honorees for 2023 Santa Cruz NEXTies announced, featuring Mak Nova, Apéro Club, Cruz Foam, and more NEXTies 2023 hosted by Lookout and Event Santa Cruz. Take a look at the trailblazing honorees of the 2023 NEXTies Awards, ranging from rocking musicians to innovative start-ups.

Women said coronavirus shots affect periods. New study shows they’re right.

If a maternal assisted cesarean isn’t offered in your hospital or you prefer not to be ‘hands on’ ask about the clear drape so you see your baby being born. The GentleBirth App also includes specific content for a positive empowered cesarean birth to reduce anxiety before and during the cesarean and to optimise your recovery.


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NOT ALL PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT OUR WINDOW DRAPE AT UHK What one couple say “Having a caesarean section can feel quite clinical, making you feel detached from the birthing experience. Having a window drape allowed me to experience the birth of my son in a way that was inclusive, gentle and more mother focused. I highly recommend this to couples who feel they would like to be more involved in their birthing journey through caesarean section.” So be sure to ask our staff to get you one

AMAZING! Bella Organic Farm on Sauvie Island is known for its "annual inspiring and intricate corn mazes that include relevant designs intended to spark conversation or raise awareness for current issues." This year's theme is “HOPE" and puts the National Su***de Prevention Hotline front and center. We absolutely love it. Bravo, Bella Organic!

A treatment to move blood from the umbilical cord into an infant’s body may improve the overall health of newborns classified as non-vigorous—limp, pale and with minimal breathing, suggests a study funded by the National Institutes of Health. The procedure, known as umbilical cord milking, involves gently squeezing the cord between the thumb and forefinger and slowly pushing the blood into the abdomen. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3euSw7Y

Safe abortion care is essential to protect the health of women & girls everywhere.
Removing access to abortion care will put more women & girls at risk of illegal abortions and the consequent safety issues that would bring.

Every year over 25 million unsafe abortions take place and up to 37,000 women die.

Evidence shows that restricting access to abortion does not reduce the number of abortions that occur.
Restrictions are, however, more likely to drive women and girls towards unsafe procedures.

The positions and activities you have your quickly developing baby in will set their spine and nervous system up for the rest of their lives. Dr. Suzanne Blair-Rodgers D.C. strongly encourages caregivers to pay attention to the positions you have your children in so they can develop well rounded, balance musculoskeletal and nervous systems!

Post shared via Building Your Baby From the Ground Up & Suzanne Blair-Rodgers D.C. & Calming Me, Calming You

Baby formula shortage: An Oakland maternity nurse shares tips and resources Don’t dilute baby formula, avoid homemade recipes, and more advice for caregivers in need.

Cómo todos los niños pueden crecer bien antes de los cinco años "¿Y si os dijera que el juego del cucú puede cambiar el mundo? pregunta Molly Wright de siete años, una de las oradoras TED más jóvenes de la historia. Al desglosar las formas respaldadas por la investigación, en las que padres y cuidadores pueden apoyar el desarrollo saludable del cerebro de ...

www.accelevents.com Welcome to the 5th Annual Black Maternal Health Conference!! Get ready to be part of an enlightening day of learning and connecting with doulas, researchers, government officials and other experts on Black maternal health. For the past five ye

The paperback copy of is available in the UK 🙌🏾✨

https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/144/1444199/four-hundred-souls/9781529114676.html

So much of my work in trauma-informed care is spent uplifting the words of people who’ve either been traumatized by the healthcare system or experienced sexual trauma. There are 1) many, many ways for us to make pelvic care painless or less painful and 2) clear instructions from patients to be explicit in language regarding how much something will hurt or how exactly it’ll feel: pressure, pinch, burn, pull, cramp or worst cramp you’ve ever had. Being clear about sensations is part of consent, and part of building trust between patients and providers.

The evidence is overwhelming, but there is *something* about pelvic care that deters providers from changing practice. What’s that something? Misogyny. Mysogynoir. Androcentrism. Patriarchy. Q***rphobia. Etccccccc.

Thanks for this post and 💌

Please read this call to action by Juju Angeles, help support them provide midwifery care in our communities. We need midwives!