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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I’ve been doing public health work for as long as I can remember. I like to think that the act of transferring knowledge to the masses is my small part in liberation work—it’s meant to free us all. I didn’t know it then, but that was the driving force behind my decision to get my masters in public health and continues to be a reason that I do doula work. Education is a core tenent of both of them. As I lean more into my purpose, I embrace it more and try to be intentional about sharing as much information that I can with my community. ⁣⁣⁣⁣
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Understand this:⁣⁣

• In general, most information is designed to be inaccessible. It’s the system/academia’s part in perpetuating classism and elitism. It’s not you, misinformation is a thing. ⁣⁣⁣⁣

• If you don’t understand some of the health/medical/scientific information that you’re hearing, ASK FOR CLARITY.⁣⁣⁣⁣

• Fear and hysteria are widely accepted as pathways to population control and behavior change within the public health space. I wholly DISAGREE with using fear tactics in lieu of effective education. ⁣⁣⁣⁣

• Self-efficacy (your perception that you can actually do a thing) is actually the most significant indicator of overall health and healthy behavior change. ⁣⁣⁣⁣
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So turn off the tv. Close all the google search tabs on your computer. Log of of social media. And BREATHE.⁣⁣⁣⁣
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Public health takeaways: Preparation is necessary. Knowing that you are capable is necessary (capable can also = capable of asking for help). Hysteria is NOT necessary. ⁣⁣⁣⁣
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The pic above is of one of my manyyy sexuality classes that I taught to high school students in my village when I was living in Mozambique. I’ve drawn so many vaginas and penises (what’s the plural of penis? penises? peni? dicks.) that I can crank them out with my eyes closed. I kind of miss being the “weird American that’s always talking about vaginas.” Maybe I still am that. Lol. 🙃

Last week, I missed my first birth and I was devastated. ⁣
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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. ⁣
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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. ⁣
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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 ✨ ⁣
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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.

Language matters. So often I hear people say "She has postpartum" or "I didn't have postpartum" when they are referring to postpartum depression. The postpartum period typically refers to the first 6 weeks after birth or pregnancy end. You can have postpartum hair loss, postpartum job interviews, or postpartum sex just as much as you can experience postpartum depression.

Starting from the upper left, this is an example of the changes that the cervix makes during labor. But there are no rulers involved—the cervix is “measured” during a cervical exam in which your healthcare provider feels the cervical position with their pointer and middle fingers. ✌🏾

✨NOTE: Consent should always be the first step of any cervical exam and you have the right to decline or delay exams during labor them as well.

Yep, discharge. Vaginal discharge is NORMAL, and is one of the most reliable signals of the status of your overall pelvic health and fertility. Think of discharge as being as necessary to the vagina as saliva is to your mouth. ⁣[SWIPE]⁣⁣
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In general, odorless discharge in any variation of white means that things are just fine. The type of discharge is fairly predictable depending on where you are in your menstrual cycle. ⁣⁣⁣
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NOTE:

(1) Folks on hormonal birth control may notice different variations in discharge, or none at all. ⁣⁣⁣
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(2) Pregnant people usually notice a steady stream of heavier discharge due to increased hormone levels. ⁣⁣⁣
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(3) If going commando is more your style, you can take note of any discharge present on the tissue used to wipe after you urinate.⁣