AfterBirth

07/21/2024

💙 Advocate for policies that ensure equitable healthcare access and address systemic racism in healthcare
💙 Support legislation that mandates comprehensive maternal mental health screening and culturally competent care within all healthcare systems
💙 Learn all you can to make informed decisions at the polls!

Stay in the know about important policy such as the Momnibus Act 👉🏾 https://blackmaternalhealthcaucus-underwood.house.gov/about

07/20/2024

💙Black women’s symptoms of maternal mental health issues issues are less likely to be diagnosed or taken seriously, further compounding the crisis

💙The journey to health equity is a multifaceted approach…funding organizations such as is a major 🗝️

💙They offer social support services, job placement skills, onsite therapy sessions, support groups, and many more dedicated services to benefit the community.

https://www.shadesofblueproject.org/resource-center

💙Today’s 3K walk for is a 100-mile walk challenge to raise $25,000 to continue to provide maternal mental health these resources to black and brown birthing people in need. It is important now more than ever as Shades Of Blue Project has to rebuild after the hurricane. Please consider a donation.

You still have time to sign up for today’s virtual walk! 👉🏾https://runsignup.com/Race/TX/Houston/INSPIREWALKFORBMMHWEEK?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3iA8C36IPmI1oVqSeek0T3E2iqeoImDK9GErLvNeqoJUGHJijGsRv3arQ_aem_FKIdXOYsFvYvud1N6Hf5Jw

07/18/2024

…keeping everyone safe with potential storms in the area on Saturday ⛈️

Rock the Block
Bad Weather
See you next year.

05/22/2024

A community doula is needed in EVERY county! We are the change we seek.

📢: Announcement

It’s Official! BirthMatters will be hosting a Community Doula Training in Richland County. This training begins July 10, 2024 - September 7, 2024. Applications are open and available. The deadline to apply is June 3rd. There are limited spots available so ACT FAST! (*Priority will be given to those new to the field and lived experiences are expected*)

For more information contact Ebonie G. or LaShawn S. for further details and questions about upcoming training. 📝

Application Link: https://forms.gle/LSYKbyT63JFjnTXV8

05/22/2024

🗓️One week away!
📍Calhoun Falls
🪴Plant and GROW together!

Calling all gardeners, we will have our workday on May 29th 3 - 5 pm. Come out and help the Town of Calhoun Falls get growing. The Friends of the Community Gardens is being formed to support and advocate for the Dreams with Open Arms Community Gardens.

05/22/2024

Breastfeeding no longer contraindicated for those living with HIV…

“The AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) recommends that parents living with HIV who want to breastfeed:

Start antiretroviral treatment early in or before pregnancy.

Maintain viral suppression.

Make sure they can get treatment while breastfeeding.

Stay committed to continuing treatment while they breastfeed.”

Source: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/sexually-transmitted/Pages/Where-We-Stand-Preventing-Prenatal-Transmission-of-HIV-.aspx

05/13/2024

…because it’s my purpose and passion!

🧡 Every family is entitled to exceptional care. No questions asked.
🧡 AfterBirth ensures that this will happen. Every time.

Thank you to my certifying body, Pediatric Nursing Certification Board for this honor!

05/06/2024

It is Maternal Mental Health Month

🩵 1 in 5 new new mothers experiences some type of perinatal mood and anxiety disorder (PMADs)
🩵 These illnesses frequently go unnoticed and untreated, often with tragic and long-term consequences to both mother and child.
🩵 Women of every culture, age, income level and race can develop perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.
🩵 Symptoms can appear any time during pregnancy and the first 12 months after childbirth.
🩵 There is no health without mental health.

04/15/2024

🤎 The health of a mother lays the groundwork for the health of a community
🤎 Premature birth (delivery before 37 weeks and 0 days) is a leading cause of infant death and disease in the US
🤎 Despite advances in medical care, racial and ethnic disparities associated with preterm birth persist

🤎 The preterm birth rate in South Carolina was 11.6% in 2022, lower than the rate in 2021…but is higher than the US rate of 10.4
🤎 The preterm birth rate in South Carolina among babies born to Black birthing people is 1.5x higher than the rate among all other babies

Source:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31561920/

https://www.marchofdimes.org/peristats/reports/south-carolina/report-card

BMHW24

04/14/2024

🤎 Black women receive lower quality of care vs White women and are subject to discrimination in healthcare

🤎 The impact of restrictive abortion laws and denied abortion care disproportionately affects Black mamas, worsened further by structural barriers such as economic disparities and limited access to quality family planning services

🤎 States that have implemented these laws also have some of the highest rates of disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes

🤎 Perinatal community-based model of care such as offer enhanced care and support throughout pre-pregnancy to postpartum periods

Source:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8020496/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8532280/

https://birthmatters.org/diversity-inclusion-and-equity/

04/12/2024

🤎 Chronic stress from racism, rather than race, is a risk factor for maternal mental health disorders in Black women

🤎 Depression has been linked to poor maternal and birth outcomes for Black women, resulting in a higher risk of preterm births, low birth weight, gestational diabetes, and preeclampsia

🤎 In the US, 29-44% of Black women have postpartum depressive symptoms but few are properly identified and/or connected to mental health services

🤎 One study found that Black women were 2x more likely to report suicidal ideation in the immediate postpartum vs White women

🤎 Research shows that standard depression screening tools may not adequately identify depressive symptoms in Black women as they were historically created and informed by White research participants - there are questions about the validity or sensitivity to the cultural nuances of non-White women

🤎 AfterBirth LLC is proud to be an Ambassador with the Shades of Blue Project to “spearhead advancements in postpartum mental health and equity for Black women and birthing individuals”

Shades of Blue Project online support groups 👇🏾
https://www.shadesofblueproject.org/online-support-groups

Sources:

https://www.2020mom.org/blog/issue-brief-black-maternal-mental-health

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8438651/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666915320300081?via%3Dihub

The health disparities that exist for postpartum women of color are real - especially in Houston, Texas. And there's not just one solution to help bridge the...

04/09/2024

🧡Keep consistent bedtimes and wake times throughout the year for your children — even in high school
🧡Get those screens out of the sleep space
🧡Be careful with melatonin use…consult with your provider first

More tips 👉🏾 https://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/sleep/Pages/healthy-sleep-habits-how-many-hours-does-your-child-need.aspx

04/03/2024

Honored to have the privilege of discussing a topic that is near and dear…the health of a community depends on the health of its mothers.

We're excited to have Keisha Lockhart with us this Thursday as we talk about Maternal/Child Health in Abbeville County.

Keisha is the owner of AfterBirth which is located in the business incubator on the square.

03/26/2024

Calling all Black women and allies! Join us on April 16th at 6pm to celebrate and support Black Maternal Health Week 2024. 🤰🏿🤰🏽🤰🏾✨ Let’s come together for a night of guided meditation, light refreshments, and empowering conversations. Together, we can make a difference in maternal health outcomes for Black mothers.

Sign up on the EventBrite link
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/black-maternal-health-week-event-tickets-872102912287?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl

Children are welcomed to attend as well.

💪🏾✨

02/23/2024

🧡Reading to and with your child…one of the best ways to foster language development

More tips👇🏾
https://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/Activities-to-Encourage-Speech-and-Language-Development/

02/21/2024

🧡 If the help is needed
🧡 Every 2nd and 4th Saturday at 10am

02/08/2024

I’m a superstar! 😁
…well at least for today 😊

Thank you to the City of Abbeville for the opportunity to chat about the services that we provide 🧡

02/06/2024

Eating healthy wins most of the battle!

🧡 nutrient dense - heavy in vitamins and minerals, low in sugar, fat, salt
🧡 focus on overall eating habits…not particular foods of food groups
🧡 balanced diet
🧡 starts at home

Learn more with 👇🏾
https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating

02/01/2024

🧡age appropriate
🧡make time for it
🧡keep it fun

More tips 👉🏾https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/active-kids.html

01/31/2024

🧡 Start talking early about sex…open and age-appropriate

https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/preschool/Pages/Talking-to-Your-Young-Child-About-Sex.aspx

🧡Get yourself up to speed about STIs so that you can feel confident talking with your kids

https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/sexually-transmitted/Pages/default.aspx

01/24/2024

In her article, .hammond helps you to navigate the whats, whys, and how’s surrounding the fear of missing out.

👉🏾https://hammondpsychology.com/helping-kids-to-deal-with-fomo/

01/11/2024

🧡Increase your understanding and patience
🧡Help your child to achieve good mental health!

Learn more 👉🏾 https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/gradeschool/Pages/How-to-Understand-Your-Childs-Temperament.aspx

01/06/2024

🧡 Learn about all things doula care during pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum period
🧡 Find out about doulas who serve families experiencing loss
🧡 Understand the differences between doulas and midwives
🧡 Do not miss this very informative Space with SunFlower Births

12/30/2023

…we (yes, us adults too 😬) can all benefit from a social media plan…

🧡keep screens out of the bedroom
🧡excessive use tied to obesity, lack of sleep, problems with school and behavior
🧡look for educational and good values media choices
🧡talk about dangers of inappropriate sharing of personal information online

Learn more 👇🏾
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/Media/Pages/How-to-Make-a-Family-Media-Use-Plan.aspx

12/28/2023

…things to consider

🧡Your child’s developmental stage
🧡The animal’s typical temperament
🧡Allergies
🧡Disease potential
🧡Family schedule and time
🧡Age of animal
🧡Your responsibility to those outside the family

Learn more 👇🏾
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-home/Pages/Before-Choosing-a-Pet.aspx

12/27/2023

🧡 “Precocious puberty” - onset before age 8 in girls and age 9 in boys

Learn more👇🏾
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/gradeschool/puberty/Pages/When-Puberty-Starts-Early.aspx?

12/22/2023

🧡 Please arm yourself with knowledge concerning ways to protect your children - especially young babies - and your family as a whole
🧡This includes the sensitive topic of vaccination
🧡As always, AfterBirth encourages families to research credible sources for making informed decisions

Learn more about the big 3 of the “Tripledemic” - RSV, Flu, and COVID👇🏾

https://www.healthychildren.org/English/tips-tools/ask-the-pediatrician/Pages/can-children-get-COVID-19.aspx?

12/20/2023

Did your baby have a tongue tie release procedure?

🧡Many causes for breastfeeding problems - including tongue tie (ankyloglossia)
🧡 Not all infants with tongue-tie necessarily have breastfeeding problems
🧡 Randomized control trials (highest strength of evidence) show that many infants with different severities of tongue tie feed well without surgery
🧡 Examining a baby with breastfeeding problems should also include looking for head and neck issues (eg. “flat” head and “crick” neck), mouth structure, and brain, heart, breathing problems
🧡 It is also important to talk about the breastfeeding experience
- typical discomfort in the beginning
- nursing positions and support
- ni**le “look”
- milk supply
- chance of breast infection
- amount of times and length of breastfeeding
- formula or pump use
🧡 Some healthcare providers, including ear/nose/throat and dentists who diagnose tongue tie, may sometimes know little about breastfeeding techniques and practices
🧡 Latch is, in most cases, the cause of breastfeeding problems…that’s why it is important to talk with a breastfeeding expert to troubleshoot

Adapted from
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482295/

12/19/2023

🧡Children ages 3 through 5 years need to be active throughout the day

🧡Children and adolescents ages 6 through 17 need to be active for 60 minutes every day.
- moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity each day.
- Aerobic activity: walking, running, or anything that makes their hearts beat faster. At least 3 days a week should include vigorous-intensity activities.
- Muscle-strengthening: Includes activities like climbing or doing push-ups, at least 3 days per week.
- Bone-strengthening: Includes activities such as jumping or running, at least 3 days per week.

Reference: CDC recommendation

Learn more👇🏾
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/fitness/Pages/Encouraging-Your-Child-to-be-Physically-Active.aspx

12/15/2023

Just skimming the 2023 South Carolina State Health Assessment…it’s sobering.
When I free up a little more bandwidth in the next few months, I want to take a deeper dive to align more of AfterBirth’s outreach efforts accordingly.
Here are a few stats for South Carolina…

😔Black women are 67% more likely to die from pregnancy related complications than White women (leading causes of death: cardiomyopathy, mental health conditions, hemorrhage, cardiovascular conditions, infections)
😔Black infants, die at a rate that is almost 2.5 times that of White infants
😔Black mothers have the highest incidence of preterm birth and black infants have the highest incidence of low birthweight
😔The rate of firearm-related deaths in kids is 78% higher than that of the USA
😔Obesity is rising for ages 10-17; 1 in 5 high school students is physically active
😔Pregnancy is a leading reason why adolescents leave school
😔Youth aged 12-17 reporting a major depressive event in the last year increased to 13.2% from 8.6% over a decade
😔Unintentional injuries were the leading cause of death for children and adolescents with drowning being at the top for ages 1-14 years
😔Chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis cases continue to rise.
😔69% of chlamydia and gonorrhea cases are in ages 15 to 29
😔There has been a 268% increase in syphilis cases over the last decade

If you want to learn more about our state’s health👇�https://scdhec.gov/sites/default/files/media/document/SHA-Report-12.8.23.pdf