The Peoples Doula

29/07/2022

Repost!!!

Register at the link in bio

We are SO EXCITED to finally share with you all!

Join the Chicago South Side Birth Center team in a stroll in honor of Black Breast/Chest-Feeding Week

On August 27, 2022 we will gather at Rosenblum Park at 10am

At the conclusion of the stroll we will convene in celebration of the day, the week, and the beauty of us!

There will be food, vendors, and entertainment

So tell your friend to tell they friends to gather the kids, the aunties, the uncles, and cousins and stroll thru!!!

Register at the link in our bio!

Once you’ve registered please spread the word in your networks!

We cannot wait to connect and stroll with you all!

♥️

08/07/2022

While I’m not able to offer birth & postpartum doula support right now no worries, I STILL GOT Y’ALL!

The site has been updated with my current offerings which include:

Postpartum Planning

Belly Binding

In-Person Lactation Support

Virtual Lactation Support

Cloth Diaper Curation

Initial consultations are always complimentary, visit the site to reserve your time

I look forward to continuing to support y’all in these new capacities

♥️♥️

01/06/2022

WHEW, y’all have no idea!

I quit my job three years ago and had no idea what was next. We had just gotten a bonus, the day we got it was my last day there, I hated it that much. And these past three years have been stretched wayyyyyy thin….somebody told me while I was out here fighting for Black mamas and babies I needed to be fighting for me and my then only child. We’ve survived these past 2.5 yrs on 1.25 incomes (lil hint, I was the .25), and there’s been plenty of times where I was 👌🏾 close to going back to a 9-5. A few things kept me from doing that, plus I just knew that there was a unicorn of a position out in the universe just waiting on me. I applied for what I thought was it last year and didn’t get it….then, this was one came about.

Let me be very clear, I worked my ass off for this here. Even when I didn’t know what I was working toward the universe was curating this especially for me, no nepotism was at play here folks. I interviewed the first time, felt good about it, waited for the second interview, got anxious, scheduled the second interview, procrastinated preparing for it cause you know…imposter syndrome, did my MF THANG in the second interview and felt good asf about it, waited, got nervous as hell a few days before I was supposed to find out, worried one of my friends ear off about how nervous I was and shed a few tears when my dream came true. LITERALLY…

This here is three years in the making…a blessing to me, a blessing to my family, and a blessing to the community! And guess what, it’s only the beginning! I’m so honored to carry out this heart work with such a beautiful and authentic person, y’all stay tuned for this magic that’s about to happen ✨

FYI: I woke up out my sleep to write this at 3:17am, so y’all know it’s real.

Anyway, this long asf. Thanks for coming to my TYRE Talk.

📷:

01/06/2022

WHEW, y’all have no idea!

I quit my job three years ago and had no idea what was next. We had just gotten a bonus, the day we got it was my last day there, I hated it that much. And these past three years have been stretched wayyyyyy thin….somebody told me while I was out here fighting for Black mamas and babies I needed to be fighting for me and my then only child. We’ve survived these past 2.5 yrs on 1.25 incomes (lil hint, I was the .25), and there’s been plenty of times where I was 👌🏾 close to going back to a 9-5. A few things kept me from doing that, plus I just knew that there was a unicorn of a position out in the universe just waiting on me. I applied for what I thought was it last year and didn’t get it….then, this was one came about.

Let me be very clear, I worked my ass off for this here. Even when I didn’t know what I was working toward the universe was curating this especially for me, no nepotism was at play here folks. I interviewed the first time, felt good about it, waited for the second interview, got anxious, scheduled the second interview, procrastinated preparing for it cause you know…imposter syndrome, did my MF THANG in the second interview and felt good asf about it, waited, got nervous as hell a few days before I was supposed to find out, worried one of my friends ear off about how nervous I was and shed a few tears when my dream came true. LITERALLY…

This here is three years in the making…a blessing to me, a blessing to my family, and a blessing to the community! And guess what, it’s only the beginning! I’m so honored to carry out this heart work with such a beautiful and authentic person, y’all stay tuned for this magic that’s about to happen ✨

FYI: I woke up out my sleep to write this at 3:17am, so y’all know it’s real.

Anyway, this long asf. Thanks for coming to my TYRE Talk.

02/05/2022

An awesome opportunity for students in Illinois!

One of the things we value most here at CSSBC is community

Our internal community, the birth-work community, and our larger community

Along with creating and holding space for these various communities CSSBC is committed to growing the number of BIPOC midwives

So, we are honored to announce the inaugural CSSBC 2022 Student Midwife Scholarship

We will bless FIVE student midwives with an award of $5,000

Applications are being accepted now through May 15, 2022

Visit the link in our bio to learn who is eligible and what documents are needed to apply

Please share within your networks

We are excited to begin connecting with each and every one of you

Apply here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1pa-Vm_AQymg5WQ1L4xgWxSGmTqRaP6nlSIEBpNlszT0/viewform?edit_requested=true

13/03/2022

Simply AMAZING✨

Swedish photographer Lennart Nilsson spent 12 years of his life taking pictures of the fetus Developing in the womb.

These incredible photographs were taken with conventional cameras with macro lenses, an endoscope and scanning electron microscope.

Nilsson used a magnification of hundreds of thousands and “worked” right in the womb. His first photo of the human fetus was taken in 1965.

Post brought to you by https://ourcultures.org/

25/02/2022

✨The uterus is considered a free floating organ, supported by 14 ligaments, nestled between the bladder & bowels. ✨It has the capacity to shift & move, to grow & shrink not only during pregnancy but also during each & every menstrual cycle. ✨ A non-menstruating uterus weighs about 4oz, but by the end of pregnancy these same ligaments must support an organ that now averages aprox 11lbs ✨The amount of strain incurred on the uterus can be likened to first degree musculoskeletal strain - with a recovery time taking much more than 6 weeks ✨ Healing the uterine ligaments is a primary reason why profound REST is so important during the fourth trimester 🛌 May we all live with strength & vitality & without prolapse ✊🏻

22/02/2022

FUN FACT FRIDAY ABOUT MILK-MAKING. Did you know you grow more milk-making cells in your breasts with each pregnancy? So the more pregnancies you have, the more grapes (erhm.. I mean milk-making cells) you’ll have! 🍇
Were you a first time mom struggling with milk supply like me? I don’t think a day went by where I didn’t think about ways to at least keep up my supply.
Second time around? A BOUNTIFUL supply! Now there are many factors for this, but one is because the hormone changes that you go through in pregnancy help your body make more milk-making cells. So in addition to the ones you had from your last pregnancy, you’ll have some more!
Pretty neat huh? So if your breastfeeding journey didn’t work out the way you wanted to your first time, it likely won’t be the same the second time around (for many reasons, having more milk-making cells being one of them!) 🙌🏻
I’ll have way more information like this on my website, where the launch is coming in March. Be the first to know! Link in the bio or go to breastfeedingdietitian.com 🤱

04/02/2022

Each and every birth I attend hold a special place in my heart

Then there are some that just elevate you to another level in your practice

This was one of those experiences for me

I witnessed such strength and resilience that I am still in awe of how powerful this Mama is

Things changed a bit from what her initial plan was

But that’s the thing with plans right, they’re bound to evolve

And even when it doesn’t unravel exactly how we expect

We can always find solace in the fact that everything is always happening for our greater good

What a marvelous thing to know✨

07/12/2021

A photo showing droplets of breast milk fending off armies of harmful bacteria in Petri dishes is going viral on Facebook.⁣
⁣
The photo, posted by a biology student in England, features nine Petri dishes completely colonized with the bacteria M. Luteus, except in the center, where tiny puddles of breast milk have created what looks like “moats” of protection around themselves.⁣
⁣
The student, Vicky Green, said she had similar results with Petri dishes full of e.Coli and the dreaded anti-biotic resistant “super bug” MRSA.⁣
⁣
⁣
“The white spots in the middle are discs soaked in two samples of breastmilk,” Green wrote in the caption of her post. “See the clear bit around the discs ― that’s where the proteins in the milk have inhibited the bacteria!”⁣
⁣
An article from YourPediatrician.com explains how this is possible:⁣
⁣
“About 80 percent of the cells in breast milk are macrophages, cells that kill bacteria, fungi and viruses. Breast-fed babies are protected, in varying degrees, from a number of illnesses, including pneumonia, botulism, bronchitis, staphylococcal infections, influenza, ear infections, and German measles. Furthermore, mothers produce antibodies to whatever disease is present in their environment, making their milk custom-designed to fight the diseases their babies are exposed to as well.”⁣
⁣
What’s even more impressive is that the samples of milk in the photos came from the mother of a 15-month-old and a 3-year-old, providing further evidence that breast milk continues to protect against illness long beyond infancy.

30/11/2021

THE FUTURE IS BLACK BIRTH JUSTICE

Y’all already know how passionate I am about the work that Chicago Volunteer Doulas does, so much so that I serve on the board.

This Giving Tuesday please add us to the list of orgs you choose to support.

CVD provides birth and postpartum doula support to vulnerable communities including peer doula support at Logan Correctional Center.

The funds raised will help us further our reach in those spaces.

You can donate here: https://www.chicagovolunteerdoulas.org/giving_tuesday_and_holiday_campaign_2021

Also, please share!

30/11/2021

See y’all later on, we kicking it tuhnite ✨

Join us TONIGHT Giving Tuesday, November 30th at 6 pm for a relaxed Facebook Live event with a panel of Black birthworkers sharing their experience. Grab your favorite beverage or snack and kick back as we share and give back to our community.

12/11/2021

29/10/2021

26/08/2021

BLESSED BLACK BREASTFEEDING WEEK

If you’ve been here awhile you may have seen my previous post about my unsuccessful breastfeeding attempt with my oldest, if you haven’t then scroll back through this thang lol

This moment is perfectly captures my current journey

From the moment I learned I was pregnant I knew without a doubt that I was going to breastfeed

At times a little doubt crept it’s way on in with thoughts like “what if my PCOS hinders my milk production” or “what if my body fails me again”

But most times I was confident asf that it all would work out

Although my pregnancy was a little “scressful”……another story for another day

The entrance of this force of a little person was pure bliss

She entered loudly, making her presence known

And hungry as all get out lol

She latched on and hasn’t unlatched since 😬🥴😂

What I’ve realized with this most recent experience is that my body did not fail me, the system did

The environment, the support (or lack thereof, and my poor preparation set the tone for a very difficult and painful breastfeeding attempt

Being in a comfortable environment, immediately bonding with your baby, and having the knowledge to tap into when things get a little hectic (bc they most likely will) have everything to do with how a breastfeeding journey begins

Now we’re 11 months in, and old pros lol

While I am tapped and touched out at times I would not change naan thing about this journey

Honestly, I feel vindicated

So when you see me on the corner of 53rd st, the middle of the mall, the front of navy pier, in front of my mama your mama and they mama with my t***y out

Just know I needed this

And mine gon eat whenever, wherever, however (please know I sung this 😩)

PEACE✨

17/06/2021

Invest in Black Birth

We know the statistics, we’ve seen the performative acts of orgs claiming to address those statistics

Here is a tangible way that you can personally make an impact

Every month CBDA (that’s us!) will accept monetary donations that will be gifted to a Black birthing person to choose where and how they would like to bring their little one earth side

Homebirth

Hospital birth

Birth support

Postpartum support

Appointment copays

Feeding support

And anything else a pregnant person may deem necessary for their own and baby’s wellbeing

Donate here: https://paypal.me/cbdacom?locale.x=en_US

We Got Us💫

03/05/2021

Peace,

What y’all been up to?

We had the perfect the perfect weekend here in Chicago, so of course we had to get out to soak it up.

And that’s the gist of what we’ve been doing since my last post

Being present with each other, reveling in the moment.

What a Blessing✨

11/03/2021

Cuz who baby not finna eat whenever and wherever she hungry 🧐

Hey y’all hey

Spring is that you playa✨

Sooooooo.....

I made it through a 120 hour, eight week BNA course that I need to get into the nursing program

Realized that I’m not gonna be able to start said program until 2022 🙄🙄

Breastfed a whole human being for the first 6 months (today!) of their life, cheers to many more years of nourishing this little person

And this is the first week that the weather and timing synced so that we could bask in all of the beauty of nature✨

What y’all been up to?