I think I could touch on the significance of this year’s Black Maternal Health Week (BMHW) theme, Our Bodies Belong to Us: Restoring Black Autonomy and Joy, for many posts to come.

Launched by BMMA in 2018, Black Maternal Health Week is a week-long initiative held from Tuesday, April 11th through Monday, April 17th that amplifies Black and Black women-led efforts across the U.S. and globally to improve and advance maternal health, rights, and justice for Black mothers and birthing people.

I’m soooo excited to feature the lovely Kellie Green, founder of Green Living & Wellness! She is a certified and licensed Speech Pathologist and Lactation Counselor who specializes in infant feeding at her private practice clinic in Columbus, OH.

For this month’s final feature from my Community Partner, we talk about thinking beyond baby showers and how things like a Mother's Blessing can support people on their journey to parenthood. Featuring Marina and Stardust Standard this month has come with such ease and joy.

What a treat you’re in for today! My gorgeous partner for the month of March, Ms. Marina Zahran, an Ayurvedic Health Practitioner, shares her thoughts, tips, and encouragement around nourishing the body, mind, and spirit after giving birth.

As you might imagine, the ayurveda approach to pregnancy differs from that of mainstream medicine and ideology. In the best kinds of ways! Today we’ll take a look at how my community partner, Stardust Standard, views pregnancy and shed some light on the encouragement she offers for how to think of this life-changing period in one’s life.

Today I’m focusing on this month’s Community Partner and her new All Is Well podcast. She does ALL the things, folks! Look her up on Spotify, give her a follow and a like, and a review. Encourage her to keep doing this good, important work!

I first met the enchanting Marina Zahran last April at a Mother Blessing Ceremony that she was hosting for a soon-to-be postpartum client of mine. I was drawn to her - like a moth to a flame - instantly.

Last but not least this month, is dope Black Columbus doula, Melissa Bryant of salt of the earth doulas. She’s like my sister-best friend-mom-colleague all in one. She’s newer to the doula scene, but only technically.

Today you get to hear from one of Columbus’ newer doulas, Te’Jah Green with Rainbow Perinatal Services LLC. She has a fiery personality that brings warmth, sass, and zeal into the room!

I’m so thankful for the community of birth workers in Columbus. For the last week of Black History Month, I want to spotlight some of the wonderful Black doulas that Columbus has to offer. Each of us brings something unique to our work and we all bring different skills and gifts to our clients. First up is Tiana Montella.

For the final blog post from this month’s Community Partner, Dr. Gabby, some tender thoughts on pregnancy loss from her perspective as a care provider. On a whim, I asked her if she’d given the topic much thought or if she’d ever written a piece on it in the past.

Whether you just gave birth at home, in a hospital, or squatted in a jungle, there will be the moment when you will hold your baby close for the very first time and it may feel like the world around you stops. Nothing else matters.

Throughout the last year I’ve been trying to get the word out about the Community Care Fund (CCF) I established. For now, it simply lives on a PayPal site, but later in the year, I hope to move it to a different platform.

Today we’re picking up where we left off last Friday with part two of Dr. Gabby’s thoughts on prenatal care. If you didn’t read the first part, click on that link and get caught up. She’s a wealth of knowledge, love, and light you guys.