“People need to shift the narrative in the family. It is not about the time you are spending but the energy you are giving. Wellness is about giving that energy.” - Cecile Edwards, M.Ed “I don’t need to wear all of the hats-all of the time because I am able to rely on other people in my corner that is helping me do those things.” - Katie Germain, Occupational Therapist It was a pleasure to have a conservation with Katie Germain! This is a little about Katie Germain: Katie is an occupational therapist with over 7 years of experience working with both adults and children. She is certified as a PMH-C and PCES. Katie is a partner at Strengthen Mama, an occupational therapy practice that provides in-home rehab for pregnancy and postpartum. She is a self-published author of The Honey Bees: Recharge Mommy Bee, a children's book that teaches kids why the mom needs rest. Katie is a wife and mother, to two little boys, and enjoys visiting upstate New York. Katie Germain discuss her business, Strengthen Mama, and their collaboration with mothers during pregnancy/ postpartum. Additionally, her realization on the amount of resources available to mothers once she became an occupational therapist. Other topics included accessibility, cultural support, and wellness in motherhood. Link to The Honey Bees: Recharge Mommy Bee https://a.co/d/9OwFHJA

What a pleasure to discuss this critical topic with the brilliant Turquoise Brewington! 

A little about Turquoise:

Turquoise Brewington is a recent graduate from Princeton University where she majored in the School of Public and International Affairs with certificates in African American Studies and Spanish. Her academic research was focused on improving maternal health outcomes and combating racial disparities particularly through perinatal workforce policy initiatives. Turquoise is currently a Maternal and Infant Health Intern with the Burke Foundation where she supports transformative investments to bolster and diversify the midwifery and doula professions. In the future, Turquoise plans to continue work in maternal health at the intersection of business, technology, and policy upon completing an MBA/MPH in the near future.

In the current social and political climate around birth equity and maternal and child health many groups are looking for a solution and the research/data behind it may seem boring but is essential to the sustained progress.  Mommy Matters is personal, communal and political.  In this episode we discuss the following questions at length:

• Definition of maternal mortality?
• In your research you state that there has been much turning to doulas to make birth "more safe" why is that? What are the pros and cons of this?
• What is the historical connection between midwives and OBGYN's in the construction of birth safety in the USA?
• Why the focus on NJ, NC and Washington in your research.  What is unique about these states and what is happening in NJ specifically that you found interesting?
• What are the primary similarities/differences between the obstetric and midwifery models as they relate to birth safety?
• What are Medicaid restrictions for low income birthing options and the doctors that desire to serve them and the connection to maternal health outcomes?
• What is the difference between CM's(Certified Midwives), CPM's(Certified professional Midwives) and CNM's(Certified Nurse Midwife)?

Just to name a few.  As parents being able to advocate for the needs of families is critical.  This episode shares some ways to make this possible. While also teaching about birth options. 

Please leave your thoughts! I look forward to hearing from you!

Healthy Self-Esteem is something that parents have to learn and cultivate within themselves too.  In fact, we come face to face with this sometimes when we have children while rectifying our own childhood.  Once it is cultivated we become more clear about ways in which it enriches ours and our children.  In this episode Laurel Handfield, Owner of Happy Island Press, shares with us how she came to the conclusion that black girls need more representations of their beauty - both inner and outer.  

We cover things like:

Ways our parents unwittingly contribute to our self-esteem issues

Ways we can cultivate healthy esteem in our children

Why it is important to ensure we take care of ourselves and HOW to do so in a deep and enduring way

These are just a few topics. Laurel also shares a free tool you can access to work to continuously build your own and your children's self-esteem in a fun and creative way.

You can access the free book here: https://www.happyislandpress.com

For Black History Month I wanted to honor the lives and Legacies of Midwives.  Affectionately called Granny Midwives they are the predecessors to current birth and postpartum doulas as well as hospital based midwives.  They birthed and cared for moms, especially black and brown mothers in the rural areas of America when hospitals would not take them in because of the color of their skin.  

It was an honor to interview Diamond Redden who comes from a legacy of these amazing women.  She continues to carry the torch as an Advanced Holistic Doula and Master Herbalist.  She is also a student Midwife.  Her mother and grandmother are still practicing midwives and have a legacy of "catching" a while street of children. 

Her services can be accessed at www.mammissi.org. 

For further reference and to learn more about Midwives in America and their awesome legacy and work, which is critical knowledge in understanding birth work, here are a few resources: 

* Listen to Me Good: The Story of an Alabama Midwife By Margaret Charles Smith

* The Women Who Caught the Babies: The Story of African American Midwives by Eloise GreenField

* Motherwit: An Alabama Midwife's Story by Onnie Lee Logan

* The Archaeology of Mothering: An African-American Midwife's Tale by Laurie A. Wilkie

I'd love to hear from you! Share with me what you want to know more about and we will complete and episode. Happy Listening!

With Joy & Gratitude!

Cecile 

This episode is dedicated to all of us moms who make resolutions each year to do something specific and may or may not complete it. I hope you never torture yourself into doing something but instead you create what you desire with grace and ease through reflection, intention setting and visualizations.  

People make resolutions each year on January 1st and by January 31st, have abandoned these altogether. I am not here to judge, just to ask, when are we going to stop being on this rollercoaster of self-betrayal and instead embrace envisioning and inspired actions? 

I've learned through trial and error that we do not have to force or fight ourselves to make what we desire manifest. You desire it because it is yours to have. Let's talk about that #mommymagic we all have and learn to embrace it a little more. *Grab your intention setting journal here. 

Drop a comment on some things you've manifested through intention setting and visualization.

Connect with me ---> IG: @mommyevolve; FB: @momevolve

Affiliate link

The conversation with Julia was free flowing and powerful.  We touch on healing/understanding generational stories, the power of questions, what generational wellness can be and how to approach it.  Grief is discussed in a myriad of ways that allows us to transform the way we assist others and also ask for assistance.  We discuss the layers of grief and Julia shares powerful tools and nuances around grief for black women and self-care. 

Julia Mallory is a writer, teaching artist, and cultural worker. She is a six-time author, including two children’s books. Her latest book, Survivor's Guilt is a multi-genre meditation on generational grief. In addition, she is the founder of the creative literary arts brand, Black Mermaids, serves as the Senior Poetry Editor for Raising Mothers, and hosts the Stop Shrinking Socialcast. She can be found on Instagram at 

@thejuliamallory or at www.thejuliamallory.com and blackmermaids.com.

******Trigger Warning!******** 

This is a sensitive topic about violence against women and should be listened to with care. 

To educate and empower during this month - Domestic Violence Awareness Month - I wanted to discuss and shed light on this under spoken topic.  I was blessed to have the opportunity to speak with a survivor Lorina. Lorina was courageous and graceful in discussing this topic and gives copious details.

 Lorina Coleman is a licensed esthetician and beauty educator with extensive knowledge in skin care, make up, nutrition, eyelash extensions and a resounding passion for the overall health and wellness of the skin and the body. She is a diligent and passionate beauty service provider that delivers above average service to each and every client.There is beauty in wellness. I’ve been in business over 15 years and naturally evolved into wellness and holistic healing. The esthetic is a reflection of the internal.MTM Solutions LLC is a solution based business that offers beauty and wellness services and products. Let’s find solutions to fulfill our potential and purpose. *Makeup Artist*Licensed Esthetician *Doula*Master Herbalist *Colon Hydrotherapist *Nutritionist*Author *Intuitive Healer

https://linktr.ee/mtmsolutions Lorina can also be reached on instagram @mtmsolutionsceo.  Listen to her story and take note as we discuss the many tactics of abusers, the mental state of the abused, mother wounds, family care and connections and so much. more!

Here are some statistics about Pregnancy & Postpartum and Domestic Violence that I think are critical to know: 

:::Homicide is the leading cause of death among pregnant women in the United States.  Black women lead in these numbers.

:::Up to 20% of pregnant women experience violence during their pregnancy, making it more common than gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, conditions routinely screened for in pregnant women by physicians.

:::Women with unintended pregnancies are two to four times more likely to experience physical violence than women with planned pregnancies.

:::Pregnant homicide victims are more likely to be killed with a gun than non pregnant homicide victims.

:::Intimate partner violence during pregnancy is linked to depression, substance abuse, smoking, anemia, first and second trimester bleeding, less than optimal weight gain, and unhealthy eating patterns.

:::Only 18% of pregnant women examined at an urgent care triage unit reported having been asked by their physician about intimate partner violence.

You can find more statistics on the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence Website www.ncadv.org

I pray this episode saves lives. We were meant to be nurtured and restored - violence again pregnant women is a public health issue.

Evolved parenting, conscious parenting, breaking generational curses - whatever you want to call it - many are looking for new ways to engage and interact with their children. Come to think of it, we might call it trauma informed parenting.  In this episode I share a recent experience I had with my daughter and some tips for practicing a more conscious way of parenting. Many of these tips are centered on releasing the conditioning you as a parent has developed through your experiences as a child. There is hope! Consider yourself the CEO of new ways of being and growing for yourself, your family and society.  Sign up for my newsletter, buy my book "Mama Reclaim Yourself...." or view and purchase services here: bit.ly/evolvingself  See you next episode. 

I came into information about this some weeks ago and thought it would be an interesting topic to broach. My personal experience didn't have these words to describe but I do understand it as I experienced it about 3 years after giving birth.

Depression of any kind can happen due to a multitude of environmental, physiological, psychological and relational factors.

Have you or anyone you know experienced this? Please share a testimony or observation.

#parentalmentalhealth #maternalmentalhealth #communitycare #selfcare #empowerher #advocacy #education

In this episode we discuss a few Indigenous and postpartum ways.  What are some considerations among families with competing cultures and things that might be done or expected in that time? 

What is your cultural ritual around pregnancy and childbirth?  What are some things you'd keep or not?

In this episode I reference Indigemama business as well as thee following herbs:

Stinging Nettle

Red Raspberry

Cersey

Tuna

Bitter tobacco

boiled cobweb

Love Bush for baby gripe

Vervine for baby and mom if either have a cold inside

Old woman bitters

I would love for you to share some of your perinatal and postpartum ways. I would love for you to share. 

DISCLAIMER: This episode is to share knowledge and information not to diagnose, treat or recommend any thing. Please consult with your doctor or herbalist and of course trust your path for wellness. 

In this episode Perinatal and postpartum mental health is defined and broken down with tips on how to improve wellness over all.

We discuss:

Baby Blues, Postpartum depression and anxiety, postpartum psychosis and paternal depression as well. Advocacy for health care provider knowledge and support is crucial to closing the gap between perinatal care and postpartum mental wellness. Quality of life is linked to mental health and wellness - we can not ignore this central piece.  Let's educate and empower ourselves on this topic. I hope you enjoy!

email me with questions: [email protected]