Matters of Motherhood

It’s finally here — Matrescence Retreat has been brought to life with care, love and intention. This vision has been a long time in the making, and I couldn’t be more honored to share it with you.

As many of you know, I’ve been a postpartum doula for over a decade. It is my soul work. I believe with my whole heart that mothers deserve to be nurtured, supported, and truly held through the sacred transition into motherhood.

is my way of sharing that care on a larger scale — a postpartum-focused retreat designed to educate, prepare, and build meaningful community—reminding mothers that they are never alone in this next transition of life.

Matrescence is officially launching this fall. Tag your pregnant friends, sign up on the website to stay in the loop, and get ready — I can’t wait to welcome you to the very first retreat.

Matrescence Retreat NURTURE | EMPOWER | CONNECT

This.

UBCO researchers evaluate the effects of fish oil supplementation on infants during breastfeeding Letting nature take its course may be the best advice for nursing mothers, according to researchers from UBC Okanagan. Their findings show taking fish oil supplements while nursing may not be benef…

PLEASE DONATE TO THE LOUISVILLE COMMUNITY BAIL FUND. LINK IN BIO.
(Not sure who took 📷) please tag if you know so I can give credit!

First Black Lactation Clinic In Alabama., organized by Kayla Bitten Hello, my name is Kayla Bitten, also known as The Modern Doula , and I am a chi… Kayla Bitten needs your support for First Black Lactation Clinic In Alabama.

You cannot support BLM without supporting and fighting for black trans lives. Black trans women are murdered at disproportionately higher rates.

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I have expressed my support and life long commitment for black lives matter, but I think it’s equally as important to share my support for the LGBTQ+ community.
As PRIDE MONTH is nearing its end, my support & fight for equality is lifelong. I live my life pretty simple in terms of loving and supporting others. If you are living your life authentically without harming others, I ACCEPT • LOVE • SUPPORT YOU. I am still learning about LGBTQ+ community, just as I am about being antiracist and raising a son to do the same. I will address you as you wish. You go by them/they. Amazing, I support you. You feel at home in this new body/transition. Great, I support you. You live the way you want to live and I will stand by you and support you ALWAYS.

Someone else’s way of life is not threatening to my womanhood or who I am. Why would I not want them to be unapologetic about who they are!
F**k yes I support you. F**k yes I think you deserve equal rights. F**k yes I think you are amazing and deserve to live without fearing for being yourself, without being murdered or abused.

Trans life expectancy is 35 years old. Let that sink in. 35 years old. We must give black trans lives the space they deserve in the LGBTQ+ community.

Black LGBTQ+ activist have always been the forefront. Gladys Bentley, Storme DeLarverie, Audre Lorde.

The first known Gay Rights organization was founded in Chicago in 1924 by Henry Ge**er.

We celebrate Pride during the month of June because that is when the Stonewall Riots took place in 1969 in Greenwich Village, NYC. Brenda Howard known as the “Mother of Pride” coordinated the first LGBT Pride March.

I SUPPORT BLACK TRANS LIVES AND ALL OF THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY.

I think I tagged everyone for the photos* if not please let me know and I will tag and fix🌈 @ Los Angeles, California

Do the work.
Do and be better.
Teach your kids.
This is lifelong learning.
Accept it.
Support black authors.

Here are a few of the faves in our house.

📚 Kids Books 📚
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1. The Big Bed by

2. CJ’S BIG DREAM by

3. Aya & Pete in Paris by Serena Minott & Asha Gore

4. I am Enough by

5. This is the Rope by

6. The women who who caught the babies by Eloise Greenfield

(Pet Show is not by a black author but we do love all of Ezra Jack Keats books as they all depict the lives of multiracial kids and families)

📚 Adult Books 📚

1. How to be Anti-Racist by

2. So you want to talk about race by

3. White Fragility

4. Why I’m no longer talking to White people about race by

5. Stamped from the beginning by

6. Between the world and me by

I have never asked for donations for anything! However, recently my fellow colleague reach out to me about the grotesque & racist behavior of an LA birth center, who, after meeting this amazing family is refusing to work with them. I’ll save the rest for another day, because this is about the EXPECTING FAMILY.
They have since found the INCREDIBLE to be their midwife. There are only 3 midwives in LA who accept Medi-cal and none of whom I’d recommend. That being said, I am contributing to and asking all of my followers to PLEASE DONATE TO THIS FAMILY. They deserve safe and respected care. In order to do so, a go fund me has been started to help them cover the costs of 🖤 I have 14k followers - if all of you donate even just $1 it would cover beyond what they need and could even cover Postpartum Support.

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At a time where the black community is quite literally fighting for their lives, the country + world in upheaval over what is happening, I ask you please take a moment to DONATE TO THIS FAMILY.

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Black women die at a 3-4x higher rate than their counterparts. In some areas it’s as high as 12x. Black babies die at exponentially higher rates then white babies, all because of systemic racism.

Since Co vid, the black community is dying at exponentially higher rates.

Black Mother’s Matter
Black Babie’s Matter
Black Lives Matter

We must speak out.
We must do better.

I have attached the link in my bio and in my stories for you to DONATE. Again, every amount counts and is deeply appreciated!
PLEASE DONATE. If you are unable to donate, PLEASE share in your stories and help stress the word.

I have never asked for donations for anything! However, recently my fellow colleague reach out to me about the grotesque & racist behavior of an LA birth center, who, after meeting this amazing family is refusing to work with them. I’ll save the rest for another day, because this is about the EXPECTING FAMILY.

They have since found the INCREDIBLE to be their midwife. There are only 3 midwives in LA who accept Medi-cal and none of whom I’d recommend. That being said, I am contributing to and asking all of my followers to PLEASE DONATE TO THIS FAMILY. They deserve safe and respected care. In order to do so, a go fund me has been started to help them cover the costs of 🖤 I have 14k followers - if all of you donate even just $1 it would cover beyond what they need and could even cover Postpartum Support.

At a time where the black community is quite literally fighting for their lives, the country + world in upheaval over what is happening, I ask you please take a moment to DONATE TO THIS FAMILY.

Black women die at a 3-4x higher rate than their counterparts. In some areas it’s as high as 12x. Black babies die at exponentially higher rates then white babies, all because of systemic racism.

Since covid19, the black community is dying at exponentially higher rates.

Black Mother’s Matter
Black Babie’s Matter
Black Lives Matter

We must speak out.
We must do better.

I have attached the link in my bio and in my stories for you to DONATE. Again, every amount counts and is deeply appreciated!


PLEASE DONATE. If you are unable to donate, PLEASE share in your stories and help stress the word.

BLACK LIVES MATTER!

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REPEAT THAT OVER AND OVER AND OVER!!!

Cant make it to the protest? Or maybe you are out there right now. I have put together a resource guide for white people on ways we can be + do better.

I will be linking organizations, petitions, black activists, authors, freedom fighters who you can donate to and support!

We, as white people, cannot continue to sit idly by and stay silent! We cannot and if you are still choosing to post photos of yourself sunbathing, smiling, or going about your normal life while staying silent about the murders of INNOCENT black men, women, children, you are a part of the problem. If you are staying silent in times of injustice, you are part of the problem.

I challenge ALL white people to get involved. I will be listing plenty of resources for you to get involved. I challenge you to have difficult conversations and face your white privilege, bias, discomfort!

Ask yourself, what can I do to be better? Why am I doing this? Am I doing this to feel better about myself or because I truly want to see justice served for the black community! I challenge you to call out your racist ass family members, friends, etc...I challenge you to not sit by and stay silent. I challenge you to face your own bias and privilege. Yeah, that can be uncomfortable, but your discomfort is not more important than the lives of the black community!

I will create a Highlight folder for everything I plan on linking and encourage all white people to GET INVOLVED!!!

In Georgia, Black Women Lead the Fight Against High Maternal Mortality Rates and Anti-Choice Legislation - Rewire.News “Doing this work can weigh heavy—we know that even with all of the work that is being done to uplift issues around Black maternal health, Black mamas are still bearing the brunt of this crisis."

Traumatic Births Can Be Hard For Dads Too. We Need To Talk About It Our sons’ premature birth and my wife's anguish sent my mental health spiralling. It’s vital dads like me share how we’re coping, writes Carl MacDonald.