Northeast Ohio Doula Collective

08/08/2017

"While our culture continues to lack supportive postpartum rituals, the work of individual women can make a significant difference."

What can we learn from the cultural postpartum rituals of low-income, developing countries?

03/09/2017

We are so excited for our Twitter Chat tomorrow! Join us at 1p. Follow hashtag and handles and . Spread the word! Get the details on all our events in Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Philadelphia at womenofcolorherstory.org.

02/13/2017

Amen.

・・・
Trigger Warning: , .

This week there were two births, 1,000 thanks again to all those who offered to donate blood at one families request. That sweet baby is on her way to a full recovery. 💗 .

The second birth was unexpected, we were planning on a late March homebirth...she had her baby shower recently, she was in the "home stretch" , third trimester. Soo excited to meet her daughter...she and I had been text messaging early in the morning, I was up still from the homebirth I had just left... .
The most painful & difficult experience for most humans is loss...as a parent, the loss of a child is without question a catastrophic event. It is an aspect of midwifery rarely shared, but you cannot be a in birth and not be just as supportive, skilled and prepared for death. As a midwife it is my responsibility to do all the things I normally do to support an empowered, safe birth, even when the baby dies. .

Loved ones came to wrap my client in love and give condolences while she labored. They fed her spirit with prayers from near and far away. She ate for energy and sustenance as the contractions were intensifying. She surrounded herself in LOVE and we all were honored and humbled to be there...She was beautiful. .

She gave us our directions, her wishes, while she rode the wave of each contraction. Slowly surrendering not only to the pain that would bring her daughter earthside, but also to the heartbreak that she wouldn't be bringing her daughter home. She was powerful, brave, and determined to do it unmedicated...and she did. She held her, noted her features, named her and shared her daughter with all of us. She was held, blessed, and prayed over by every woman in room... .

As this heals and grieves, we know Black babies are 3x , THREE TIMES more likely to be born prematurely and 3x more likely to die not just in Los Angeles, California, but in the United States. .

thank you for photographing this mother & her daughter's birth. Thank you for capturing the most sacred moments and showing up 💗

02/13/2017

"In summary, breastfeeding can be a radical act that helps women who experience discrimination take back their health."

https://womenshealthtoday.blog/2017/02/07/can-breastfeeding-ease-the-effects-of-racism-and-discrimination/

The role of breastfeeding in combatting the effects of racism and discrimination on women’s health.

09/10/2016

Thank you !

08/25/2016

Happy Black Breastfeeding Week!

08/04/2016

For Black Breastfeeding Week, Aug. 25-31, 2016, Uzazi Village will hold a VIRTUAL NURSE-OUT. We invite black and brown parents and their babies to submit a photo of themselves nursing and holding a sign that says: . Those who submit photos will be entered in a daily drawing to win either an Ergo Baby Carrier or Ergo Breastfeeding Pillow. Entrants can live anywhere. Thank you Ergo for supporting the work of Uzazi Village.

07/20/2016

"Making women think that they must maintain ‘perfect’ diets in order to have thriving breastfed babies is an unnecessary obstacle to breastfeeding." ~KellyMom.com