"Our Bodies Belong to Us: Restoring Black Autonomy and Joy!"
April 11-17, 2023
Happy Black Maternal Health Week (BMHW)! This year we are celebrating the theme, "Our Bodies Belong to Us: Restoring Black Autonomy and Joy!" As the maternal mortality rate increases in the United States (which has been heavily influenced by the weight of the pandemic), Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA) hosts this week to center "culturally-congruent practices with a focus on Black Midwifery care and full-spectrum Black-led Doula care as sound, evidence-based solutions."
Note: BMMA uses the term "Black Mamas" to, "represent the full diversity of our lived experiences that includes birthing persons (cis women, trans folks, and gender expansive individuals) that are people of the African descent across the diaspora)."
This celebratory week begins with International Day for Maternal Health Rights and will end with an Ode to Black Mamas Joy. This year Black Mamas Matter Alliance centers these six overarching policy issues:
Structural and Social Determinants of Black Maternal Health
Full Spectrum Maternal, Sexual, and Reproductive Healthcare
Black Maternal and Perinatal Workforce Development
Criminalization of Black Women, Birthing People, and Families
Research and Data Transformation
Black Women and Birthing People's Leadership
Here are some ways you can get involved in BMHW:
Hop on social media and join the conversation!
Attend a #BMHW23 event - see below!
Donate to an organization you are passionate about. Here is a list of BMMA partners.
Donate to BMMA here and help them reach their $50,000 goal!
Use or follow these hashtags: #BMHW23, #BlackMamasMatter, #BlackMaternalHealthWeek, #ReproJustice, #ENDMaternalMortality, #BirthJustice, #MaternalEquity, #BlackMaternalHealth, #BirthEquity, #BlackWomenLead.
Upcoming #BMHW23 Events in the DMV
Date
Event
Sat 4/15
BMH Walk! The official BMHW-hosted walk is in Atlanta, GA (community walks available in Baltimore! Hosted by The Bloom Collective. Click here for more).
Mon 4/17
"Our Bodies Belong to Us: Restoring Black Autonomy and Joy." A talk hosted by National Birth Equity Collaborative. (At 12 Stories - 75 District Square Southwest #12th floor Washington, DC 20024). Click here to register.
Tues 4/18
Black Women's Health: Self-advocacy and combating medical mistreatment (The Voxel 9 West 25th Street Baltimore, MD 21218) Register here.
Mon 4/17
PREGNANT WHILE BLACK | A Busboys and Poets Books Presentation (Busboys and Poets 5331 Baltimore Avenue Hyattsville, MD 20781) Learn more here.
Sat 4/22
Maternal Health Fair (St. John Baptist Church 9055 Tamar Drive Columbia, MD 21045) Register here.
Wed 4/26
Prenatal Yoga with Sankofa Yoga and Wellness Center (302 Main Street Laurel, MD 20707) Register here.
New On The Blog
Black Maternal Health Week
Black Maternal Health week 2023 is an annual week that center Black moms and birthing people to move forward in the advancement of racial and birth justice. In today’s blog, we share a few stories that highlight Black joy and community and also list a few organizations that are Black-led and doing this essential work!
Courtney Ellison Marshall is looking for submissions for a new book about experiences of women who were pregnant/gave birth during the Covid-19 Pandemic. Courtney notes, "The goal of the book is to provide strength to women who will go through a similar experience in the future, and to help women who have gone through this unique experience share and be heard."
Submission Guidelines
1. Timeframe for the pregnancy/birth would be in the earlier days of the pandemic, March 2020-December 2020 in the United States.
2. Submissions should include a brief synopsis of challenges and/ or positive experiences as a pregnant/new mom during Covid-19 and general feedback about what this unique experience was like.
3. There is no monetary compensation for submission.
4. Submissions should be sent to pregnantpausebook@gmail.com
Please send your submissions by Friday, April 28th!
Indigenous Breastfeeding Research Project
"Angie Sanchez ndizhnikaaz, ajijaak ndodem, Odawa minwaa Ojibwekwe ndaw. My family comes from Kewadin and Northport on my mom’s side, and Sault Ste. Marie and Sheshegwaning, ON on my father’s side. I am a fourth year PhD student at Michigan State University studying Geography, and my research focuses on increasing access to breastfeeding support resources in Indigenous communities. I am looking for life givers to interview either in a talking circle (focus group) or in single interviews or surveys."
Eligibility:
• Must have given birth and fed a baby (breastmilk or formula)
• Be at least 18 years old If selected, you will be invited to participate in ONE of the following:
• In person talking circle (focus group) plus survey, receive $150 Visa Gift Card
• In person or zoom interview plus survey will receive $75 Visa Gift Card
• Online survey only will receive a $25 Visa Gift Card
Specifically in our Responsive Family Sleep Group, parents have the opportunities to discuss their sleep goals, create plans to achieve those goals, and receive support in the meantime. Register for the group here.
One member who has benefited from the instructor, Kim's support, wrote: "Kim confirmed our hunch that providing our baby with all the love, support, and care she needed would not, in fact, hurt her. She provided us with ways to make it easier for us to accommodate our daughter’s sleep needs. While they sounded like small things at first they ended up having a meaningful impact on our sleep patterns and relationship as a couple, which in turn allowed us to be better parents. We are so grateful."
In The News
In The News
How I Found Virtual Postpartum Support During the COVID-19 Pandemic
We love to see our community online! While Erica had a smooth birth, in this article she reflects on the importance of the community support she received in her postpartum period. She mentions The Breastfeeding Center's own support group and mentions:
"I was able to focus on breastfeeding and talk about what we went through with confidence and pride. It was validating and encouraging as a person who is just entering motherhood to share my story and receive compassion and support. It really affected my confidence greatly. [...] Most women were in their bed, on the floor, bouncing their babies, cooking—doing whatever they needed to take care of themselves or their families. You turn your camera off when you need to. You can join that group on your hardest day. You don’t have to speak much. You can log in, see the faces, and be okay. I received compassion from women all over the D.C. community."
Cesarean Awareness Month is an annual event that takes place during the month of April and its purpose is to promote awareness about cesarean deliveries and their impact on maternal and infant health. The goal of Cesarean Awareness Month is to empower parents with information and support to make informed decisions about childbirth, reduce unnecessary cesarean deliveries, and promote positive birth experiences for families. Read the full blog for more detail and resources on the initiative.
Looking for a space that is nursing-friendly, clean and accessible? Space is still available to reserve at The Breastfeeding Center! We currently have a wonderful space in our Downtown DC office that is available to rent for events such as:
• Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline 800-422-4453 • Crisis Text Line Text HOME to 741741 • LGBT National Hotline 888-843-4564 • National Association of Anorexia Nervosa & Associated Disorders 888-375-7767 • National Domestic Violence Hotline 800-799-SAFE (7233) (live chat also available online)
• National Sexual Assault Hotline / RAINN 800-656-HOPE (4673) (live chat also available online)
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 988 or 800-273-TALK (8255) • Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) 800-622-HELP (4357) • The Trevor Project 866-488-7386 • Veteran's Crisis Line Dial 988, Press 1
NEW! Responsive Feeding Tools for Breastfeeding Families
First Class: Monday, May 8⋅6:00 – 8:00pm This is a virtual class.
This class is for expecting parents who want to be prepared for using bottles or other alternative feeding methods in the first 2-3 months of postpartum. We will cover available feeding tools, when to use them, and how to read baby's cues for responsive feeding rather than scheduled feeding. Participants will leave class with a foundation for understanding their options on feeding baby away from the chest/breast. Register here.
The Breastfeeding Center Has TWO Satellite Offices
We always want to meet you where you are, that's why The Breastfeeding Center has office space not only in Downtown DC but also in Fairfax, VA and in Frederick, MD!
We have recently begun seeing clients in Sage Midwifery's beautiful office on Wednesdays in Fairfax VA. And have availability at our Frederick satellite office on Thursdays.
Ready to book? Follow this link and choose the location you'd prefer!
Do you receive meal order kits or have food-grade ice packs and/or insulation? We will take it off your hands! Stop by The Breastfeeding Center anytime during our open hours to drop off insulation and ice packs.
*Note: Before you donate, please check your ice packs for holes or leaks, as well as wipe down the ice packs of any food/dirt/etc. Thank you!
Questions or concerns? Please reach out to us at (202) 293-5182.
Donate your pump!
We are looking for donations!
Have a pump that you are no longer using? Consider donating it to The Center! We looking for these pumps to add to our demo collection/ "pump bar:"
Any newer pump models (for example: new Medela Freestyle wearable pump, Tommee Tippee pump, etc)
If you have a pump to donate that is not on this list, please message us, and if we aren't able to use it, we can refer you to an organization that will! Text(202) 293-5182.
Mental Health Support at The Breastfeeding Center
At The Breastfeeding Center, you can find support for any stage of your perinatal journey. In the prenatal period, you can connect with other families in our Perinatal Stress & Anxiety Support Group. Or, you can join Katie Bowler for a one-on-one talk therapy appointment to talk with a professional about what coping strategies, wellness, and more!
Did you know that The Breastfeeding Center has multiple different options to support you and your family's sleep? Not only do we have an
