Yemoja Wellness

Please and thank you. No solids until baby is AT LEAST 6 months and even then, they need to be able to sit up for a period of time without assistance.

Sept 7 is Yemoja Feast Day!!

🐚🧜🏾‍♀️ 🌊

The Grand Mother

Goddess of the waters (rivers and oceans), she’s the mother of all Orishas in Yoruba religion.

Both motherly and protective, she cares deeply for ALL children.

She is water. Water cleanses, protects and forges new paths. 🌊🐚

Really looking forward to speaking at this year’s conference!

Look at this lineup of amazing speakers!
Register now for the Wisconsin Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Conference
https://wiaimh.org/conference-registration

Something to consider…

I really want y’all to unlearn the practice of adultifying and s*xualizing young Black girls.

Black girls deserve the freedom of individualized identity and expression without the burden of controlling predatory men.

Let’s normalize identifying men as predators and holding them accountable. Not, accusing Black girls of dressing or acting “grown.”

Let’s also normalize recognizing maturity in Black children as a trauma response, learned behavior and/or lifelong conditioning. Because there are A LOT of kids living in survival mode as a result of the failures of the adults around them.

Please tune in!!

***REPOST***

“AFTERSHOCK”, will premiere on Hulu, Disney+ and Star+ TOMORROW Tuesday, July 19, 2022


AFTERSHOCK depicts the tragic and preventable death of Shamony Makeba Gibson who died in 2019, just died 13 days following the birth of her second child. The film picks up two months following her death, as Shamony's surviving mother, Shawnee Benton Gibson, bereaved partner, Omari Maynard, their family and community begin navigating their new normal.

Amber Rose Isaac, a 26-year-old first time mother, died due to an emergency c-section after medical providers failed to address a treatable condition that she had during her pregnancy. Within weeks of Amber's death, Omari reaches out to Amber's surviving partner, Bruce McIntyre, and a lifelong bond is formed. Together, Omari, Bruce and Shawnee begin the fight for justice for their lost loved ones while caring for the children that were left behind.

Through the film, we witness two families who become ardent activists in the maternal health space, seeking justice through legislation, medical accountability, community, and the power of art, ritual and healing. Through their collective journeys, we find ourselves on the front lines of the growing birth justice movement that is demanding systemic change within our medical system and government.

IMPORTANT: We encourage every person who is able, to watch Aftershock individually to amplify the views on the Hulu platform and to demonstrate that we are committed to stopping the scourge of black maternal morbidity and mortality.

Please visit hulu.com to access the film. If you don’t have an account, create a free trial today!

For more information about the film, visit:
https://www.aftershockdocumentary.com

Yemoja Wellness updated their address.

Yemoja Wellness updated their address.

Yemoja Wellness updated their business hours.

Yemoja Wellness updated their business hours.

It's now easier to email Yemoja Wellness

It's now easier to email Yemoja Wellness

Hi. Kisha Shanks, CEO & Founder here. This is where we stand as an org. Reproductive Justice is a fundamental right for ALL humans. We can not protect babies, birth and birthing people when obstructing their right to choice. Forced birth in a country where girls aren’t protected (two s*x offenders are SC Justices)?? Where both infant and maternal mortality is the highest in world? Where access to perinatal, maternal and infant mental health support services are limited? Where child care in unaffordable? This country is doing humanity all wrong. Nothing about this isabout being pro-life. This is about controlling and diminishing women. ~ Ms. Kisha

******REPOST*****

I'm not here to argue. So I'm saying what I'm saying. The end.

I'm not pro-murdering babies.

I'm pro-Becky who found out at her 20 week anatomy scan that the infant she had been so excited to bring into this world had developed without life sustaining organs.

I'm pro-Susan who was s*xually assaulted on her way home from work, only to come to the horrific realization that her assailant planted his seed in her when she got a positive pregnancy test result a month later.

I'm pro-Theresa who hemorrhaged due to a placental abruption, causing her parents, spouse, and children to have to make the impossible decision on whether to save her or her unborn child.

I'm pro-little Cathy who had her innocence ripped away from her by someone she should have been able to trust and her 11 year old body isn't mature enough to bear the consequence of that betrayal.

I'm pro-Melissa who's working two jobs just to make ends meet and has to choose between bringing another child into poverty or feeding the children she already has because her spouse walked out on her.

I'm pro-Brittany who realizes that she is in no way financially, emotionally, or physically able to raise a child.

I'm pro-Emily who went through IVF, ending up with SIX viable implanted eggs requiring selective reduction in order to ensure the safety of her and a SAFE amount of fetuses.

I'm pro-Christina who doesn't want to be a mother, but birth control methods sometimes fail.

I'm pro-Jessica who is FINALLY getting the strength to get away from her physically abusive spouse only to find out that she is carrying the monster's child.

I'm pro-Vanessa who went into her confirmation appointment after YEARS of trying to conceive only to hear silence where there should be a heartbeat.

I'm pro-Lindsay who lost her virginity in her sophomore year with a broken condom and now has to choose whether to be a teenage mom or just a teenager.

I'm pro-Courtney who just found out she's already 13 weeks along, but the egg never made it out of her fallopian tube so either she terminates the pregnancy or risks dying from internal bleeding.

You can argue and say that I'm pro-choice all you want, but the truth is:
I'm pro-life.
Their lives.
Women's lives.

You don't get to pick and choose which scenarios should be accepted.

Women's rights are meant to protect ALL women, regardless of their situation!



*Copied and pasted - you can do the same*

Recall on Similac, Alimentum and EleCare.

For more details visit www.SimilacRecall.com

The quality and safety of our infant nutrition is our top priority. We’re initiating a proactive, voluntary recall of powder formulas manufactured at our Sturgis, MI plant, including Similac, Alimentum, and EleCare. We value the trust parents place in us and are doing everything we can to resolve this immediately. For more information as it becomes available, please visit: www.SimilacRecall.com.

Things we love to see.

Babies grieve too. This is also why a baby can’t be spoiled. We are literally born into attachment. Separation, is trauma. Familiarity is safety. Being held is safety. Being loved is safety. Babies NEED safety. When they don’t have it, they become disregulated.

Have you seen a newborn grieve loss?
How about a 6 month old?

I didn’t recognize grief. Through all the years and all the foster babies that came through my home, I didn’t see it.

I never realized that a mother is not interchangeable; you cannot just change a known mother with an unknown one.

I guess I thought these babies were coming from such horrible circumstances, that they wouldn’t understand the loss; because in my mind, my home was a gain. They were gaining safety, love, attention,…I now understand that foster care and adoption begin with loss; the loss of the known.

I used to think that a foster baby coming into my home would not remember.

I was wrong.

While in the womb the child knows not any difference between mother and self; they are one. They are tasting, smelling, touching, hearing and seeing within the womb.

Upon birth, a separation occurs and what had once been a unified, indistinguishable source of life, is now separated. And suddenly there are things that prohibit the attention and care that had once been always present and never-ending. So the baby learns to express a need for this attention and care; they learn to cry. And the mother responds, and she is known…the baby knows her smell, her sound, her touch, her taste. All is remembered and well.

But then imagine, this mother is suddenly gone. It is now someone else’s face and eyes; someone else’s touch, smell and routine. The mother is gone and replaced by someone who is unknown.

All is not well.
Where has the known mother gone?
Why has she left me with this unknown?

I was the unknown mother and I didn’t recognize the grief.

I wish I had understood that every foster baby coming into my home was experiencing grief. No matter the circumstance of their removal, they were experiencing loss.

Grief is a normal response to the greatest loss.

I was an unknown mother.
Every baby I held still remembered the known mother. Grief was not assuaged by my home, my family, my deeds, or my words…it was instead held in the space of shared daily moments.

And slowly over time I became known too.
Babies remember.

Keep those babies close! Human milk provides necessary antibodies to baby to support in making their own. It also adjusts to meet your baby’s needs as they grow and when they’re sick. Our bodies are simply amazing! 🤱🏾👩🏾‍🍼

Having should not prevent you from having close contact with your baby. 👶🏻👶🏼👶🏽👶🏾👶

Early and exclusive breastfeeding and skin-to-skin contact is critical for the baby’s health, especially for babies born early or small.

Extended Benefits of Breastfeeding: 13 Black Women Stories - Motherly

Black birthers are 9 times more likely to be encouraged to use formula over chestfeeding which is why representation in lactation is so critical.

Black people breastfeed. Black people practice extended chestfeeding. Let’s normalize this.

Extended Benefits of Breastfeeding: 13 Black Women Stories - Motherly Are there benefits to extended breastfeeding? Hear from these 13 Black women on why they chose to breastfeed beyond a year.

Repost from
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You can grieve the loss of a mother when she passes,

A father,

A sibling.

A child.

A moshum or a kokum.

You can grieve the life you thought you had.

You can grieve the life you wished for.

You can grieve the life you no longer have.

You can grieve “missed” and “never will happen” moments in life.

You can grieve moments in life that did happen in ways you didn’t expect them, or want them, to happen.

You can grieve a relationship with a parent that never healed.

You can grieve a relationship with a parent that did heal, but was still painful.

You can grieve 5, 10, 15, 20 years or more after.

You can grieve when you finally remember that being strong means to grieve. Grieve because your children need to witness what it means to grieve in a healthy, and open way, with love.

You can grieve the Land.

You can grieve your childhood.

You can grieve your present life.

You can grieve for all the generations in your bloodline who weren’t ever allowed to grieve.

You can feel that grief.

On the sunniest of days. On the days meant to be the most joyous. On the days that you are supposed to happy.

You can grieve.

And the truth of it all is this:

There is never a wrong time, wrong way, or wrong place to grieve.

Grieve in a store, at work, in your car, in your home, on your bathroom floor, on the Land, while you pray, by the water, on the sidewalk, or in the embrace of a loved one.

Grieve.

Grieve because you can.

Grieve because your ancestors had specific ceremonies to grieve. Honour that.

Grieve because you deserve to grieve.

And after a round of grieving.

Give yourself all of the love in the world that you deserve.

And remember:

Grief is sacred.

❤️

Biden signs a 'Momnibus' bill adding to maternity care for veterans

This is great news!! I’m ready to see the Momnibus bills enacted more widely!

Biden signs a 'Momnibus' bill adding to maternity care for veterans Rep. Lauren Underwood has led the legislative effort to improve health care for Black parents.

Great tips to help navigate difficult conversations with children dealing with trauma.

Here are some helpful tips for difficult conversations with children who were directly impacted by the Waukesha parade tragedy:

- With all children, limit what you say, unless they saw or heard more information.

- Follow their lead in an age appropriate way.

- No news, media or pictures. Children will create their own interpretation of what is going on and they may believe that the incident is happening over and over again.

- Highlight the good - the helpers (the parade-goers, police and firefighters that rushed to help. The nurses and doctors).

- Highlight safety. Reassure your child that they are safe now and that you will always do your best to keep them safe.

- Some children may play out what they saw in different ways. This is normal (and actually good). It allows them to process alongside a caregiver.
(If this causes you a stress/trauma response, ask another trusted adult to support them).

- Allow your child to change the outcome: They become the hero or get the bad guy more quickly, etc. This is normal and healthy.

- If you are unsure how to support the play or the play becomes intrusive, reach out to a professional for support.

- Continue to validate their feelings and experiences.

- Continue to highlight the good that happened and reinforce the idea of safety.

- Separation may be upsetting at this time. Sticking to routines can help provide a sense of safety and security.

After a crisis: helping young children heal https://childparentpsychotherapy.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/afteracrisis_2018.pdf

Age related reactions to traumatic events -
https://www.nctsn.org/resources/age-related-reactions-traumatic-event

Tips for helping preschool children - https://www.nctsn.org/resources/pfa-parent-tips-helping-preschool-age-children-after-disasters

Tips for helping infants and toddlers -
https://www.nctsn.org/resources/pfa-parent-tips-helping-infants-and-toddlers-after-disasters

Tips for helping school aged children -
https://www.nctsn.org/resources/pfa-parent-tips-helping-school-age-children-after-disasters

*Thank you to one of MMHI's local network of providers for creating this list.

I am unsure of the original poster, but please read the caption in its entirety. This is one of the many reasons that Yemoja Wellness Group exists.

If we must heal, let’s make it GLORIOUS!! 🤰🏾🤱🏾👶🏾🧠

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I became aware of generational trauma (inherited trauma) as I began to learn about the impacts of adoption on the adoptee as well as on members of their family.

Today, I read this piece:

My parents beat me as a child and I am not traumatized, said the man whose ex-partner reported him for physical violence.

When I was a child they left me crying alone until I fell asleep and it was so bad I did not go out, said the man who spends long hours in social networks, affecting his sleep.

They punished me as a child and I’m fine, said the man who, every time he makes a mistake, says to himself words of contempt, as a form of self-punishment.

As a child, they put a heavy hand on me and I suffer from a trauma called ‘education’, said the woman who still does not understand why all of her partners end up being aggressive.

When I became capricious as a child, my father locked me in a room alone to learn and today I appreciate it, said the woman who has suffered anxiety attacks and can not explain why she is so afraid of being locked in small spaces .

My parents told me they were going to leave me alone or give me to a stranger when I did my tantrums and I do not have traumas, said the woman who has prayed for love and has forgiven repeated infidelities so as not to feel abandoned.

My parents controlled me with just the look and see how well I came out, said the woman who can not maintain eye contact with figures of ‘authority’ without feeling intimidated.

As a child, I got even with the iron cable and today I am a good man, even professional, said the man who his neighbors have accused him of hitting objects while drunk and yelling at his wife.

My parents forced me to study a career that would make me money, and see how well off I am, said the man who dreams of Friday every day because he is desperate in his work doing something every day that is not what he always wanted.

When I was little they forced me to sit down until all the food was finished and they even force fed me, not like those permissive parents, affirmed the woman who does not understand why she could not have a healthy relationship with food and in her adolescence came to develop an eating disorder.

My mother taught me to respect her good chancletazos (Spanish meaning strike with a sandal) to the point, said the woman who smokes 5 ci******es a day to control her anxiety.

I thank my mom and my dad for every blow and every punishment, because, if not, who knows what would happen to me, said the man who has never been able to have a healthy relationship, and whose son constantly lies to him because he has fear.

And so we go through life, listening to people claiming to be good people without trauma, but paradoxically, in a society full of violence and wounded people. It’s time to break generational trauma cycles.

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Yemoja Wellness updated their business hours.

Yemoja Wellness updated their business hours.