A Local Conference: "Menstrual Health and Reproductive Justice: Human Rights Across the Lifespan"

a poster for the SMCR 2015 conference, using a map
of the MBTA transit system to show "feminism", "menstrual health",
"human rights", and "reproductive justice" as interconnected ideas

This super-cool conference on menstrual health and reproductive justice will be happening in Boston, June 4-6! Click the link below for more information and to register.

"Menstrual Health and Reproductive Justice: Human Rights Across the Lifespan"

If you're able to attend, tell me all about it!

In cahoots,
~Sasha

"Home Birth Guidelines for Safety"

a stack of blue signs that all read "SAFETY FIRST" are piled up next to a wooden wall

This doula has compiled a thorough, evidence-based list of criteria that she recommends for deciding whether or not a home birth is advisable in the US, based on criteria in other countries where home birth "has been shown to be a safe option".
"Home Birth Guidelines for Safety"

I'd like to add a suggestion, for pregnant folks considering an out-of-hospital birth. There's a phenomenal book that's been recently published by Courtney Jarecki, Homebirth Cesarean, that interviews new parents and providers who have experienced an unplanned transfer and c-section. She offers a great deal to think about, and strategies for rolling with unpredictable births.

Are you considering locations for an upcoming birth? It'd be an honor to sit with you and be a sounding board while you figure things out.

In cahoots,
~Sasha

"Genitals aren't Voldemort!"

Blue chalky handwriting-style text covers a black background.
Transcript below.

GENITALS AREN'T VOLDEMORT. 

TEACH YOUR KIDS THE REAL NAMES OF ALL THEIR BODY PARTS!

 @InstaMessageApp

I picked this adorable meme up at Nadine Thornhill - Sexuality Educator's FB page. I'm sharing it here for two reasons. First, it's hilariously apt. Second, naming our body parts anatomically is an important part of early sex ed and body positivity. Knowing which parts are where is also an important part of being able to speak up for a child who has been a victim of sexual abuse. Here's a phenomenal article on talking with children about sexual abuse from Everyday Feminism.

What words did you learn for body parts growing up? What words do you use in your family?

In cahoots,
~Sasha

"Amber Waves of Woo"

a spiral of amber beads on a knotted cord

"Amber Waves of Woo"

A big part of my doula toolkit is helping pregnant folks think about interventions. Sometimes we're discussing an allopathic practice (epidural anesthesia, for example), and sometimes it's a naturopathic one (like the amber teething necklace discussed here). Whatever the origin of an intervention, I do my best to bring critical thinking and relevant knowledge to the table.

Let's use our BRAIN to think this one through:

• Benefits: According to this article, the purported benefits are scientifically impossible in multiple ways. The most this can do is be a placebo.
  
• Risks: Choking and strangulation. Eep!
  
• Alternatives: There's plenty of other teething remedies out there: a cold washcloth, a frozen bagel or fruit, Orajel, and so on... all of which should get their own BRAIN protocol time!
  
• Intuition: This one's up to you. What does your gut say about this practice? Let's call it out specifically so you can take it into account when you make a decision.
  
• Nothing: If you do nothing to treat teething pain, the child will almost certainly be fine in a few days. There's not much risk to inaction here.

So now, with all this information on the table, the decision is up to you!

What's your thinking?

In cahoots,

~Sasha

"Five Ways You Can Save Your Baby's Life"

Click to enlarge!
This chart shows how to treat a baby who is choking, unconscious,
has stopped breathing, or is seizing. Transcript below.

Five Ways You Can Save Your Baby's Life 

What to do if your baby is choking:1. Check their mouth
2. Slap it out:
2a. Lay your baby face-down on your thigh and support their head
2b. Up to five blows between their shoulderblades
3. Squeeze it out:
3a. Using two fingers, give up to five chest thrusts
3b. Check the mouth. If the obstruction hasn't cleared, call an ambulance 

 What to do if your baby is unconscious:1. Check for a response: Tap their foot and all their name
2. Open their airway: Gently tilt their head back
3. Check for breathing
4. If they are breathing, hold them in the recovery position (see below)
4a. If they are not breathing, begin CPR (see below) 

What to do if your baby has stopped breathing:If your baby is unconscious and not breathing, follow these steps to perform CPR.1. Call for an ambulance.
2. Breathe:
2a. Put your lips around their nose and mouth and breathe steadily for up to one second
2b. Give five initial rescue breaths.
3. Pump: Using two fingers in the centre of the chest, give 30 compressions at the rate of 100-120 per minute [Sasha note: to the beat of "Staying Alive"!]
4. Repeat: 
4a. Give two rescue breaths, followed by 30 chest compressions
4b. Continue CPR until help arrives. 

What to do if your baby has a seizure (fit):Make it safe1. Clear objects that may cause injury
2. Don't try to restrain them: put pillows or soft padding around them
3. Cool them: Take away bedding and remove a layer of clothing.
4. Call for an ambulance: When the seizure has stopped, put them in the recovery position while you wait. 

How to hold a baby in the recovery position:1. Cradle them in your arms, with their head tilted downwards
2. Call for an ambulance
3. Monitor their breathing, pulse, and level of response 

More life-saving techniques can be found on our website.
Learn first aid.
Help save lives.
Be a difference.

"Purvi Patel’s conviction is a travesty against women; The traumatic miscarriage of an unwanted child is not murder"

a pencil drawing from Patel's trial, showing a brown-skinned
woman in a hoodie sitting beside a white man in a suit

Patel was convicted for attempting to protect her own privacy clumsily and inadequately. She was convicted for not knowing her rights. She was convicted for failing to seek medical care for a pregnancy she did not know whether she wanted. She was convicted for expressing doubts about her desire or ability to birth and raise a child outside of marriage. She was convicted for not knowing that she could have a legal abortion and for contemplating an illegal one. She was convicted for living in a country that makes access to legal abortion nearly impossible in certain areas. 

Patel is not being convicted for killing — or intending to kill — a baby. She is being convicted for being his mother.

"Purvi Patel’s conviction is a travesty against women; The traumatic miscarriage of an unwanted child is not murder"

"A polyamorous quad welcomes their first child"

A black and white photograph show four white people seated together on a couch.
Two bearded, long haired men with glasses are on the left. Two long-haired
women are on the right. The man sitting on the inside holds a newborn,
who is being touched by both people next to him. Everyone looks peaceful.

Our son entered into this world, caught safely in the hands of his father and his little mother together, while his Dad-E held his mother safe and strong. Afterward her three partners milled about in stunned pleasure, alternating between taking pictures and stares of pleased bewilderment. And lots of hugs and tears. We started making phone calls to far-flung family and loved ones, letting them know that the baby had finally arrived.

"A polyamorous quad welcomes their first child"

This is a wonderful, detailed picture of the labor and delivery that brought this "munchkin" into the world. What a lucky baby, to have so much love and support.

I support all types of families. Yes, yours too! It would be an honor to help you through your next transition.

In cahoots,
~Sasha

Larry Wilmore on Gynoticians

Larry Wilmore, a black male comedian, smirks and waves his hands.
He's wearing a suit and sitting in front of an upside down world map.
Text transcribed below.

"I firmly believe that you should probably know how a vagina works before you can make laws that deal with vaginas." - Larry Wilmore

I got nothing, folks.

In cahoots,
~Sasha

"Life is fragile; Pregnancy is NOT a joke"

The words "Life is fragile; pregnancy is NOT a joke" appear on the left side of the banner.
On the right is a white woman's pregnant belly, held in her hands, with a blue ribbon tied around it in a bow.
The image is credited to the group, "Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep".

The Facebook Group Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep (NILMDTS) shared this image and text today:

April Fool’s Day tends to see MANY posts claiming’ I’m PREGNANT!” to be followed by “APRIL FOOLS!!!” 

We know that pregnancy isn't a joke. For families who have lost a baby, for families struggling with infertility, pregnancy is REALLY not a joke. Finding positive ways to respond can be difficult especially when you just want to unload on someone that just posted that to their Facebook page. But just remember; they post this out of innocence and ignorance, something you no longer possess. For many of us there was a time when we too possessed that innocence and ignorance about all the things that could happen in pregnancy. We believed that pregnancy was a time of nothing but morning sickness and joy and little, tiny baby shoes, and cupcakes and flowers at a baby shower. That innocence goes out the door when a baby dies. 

So, how to respond? There are a couple of ways: 

1) DON’T! Just ignore it. That person posting that ‘joke’ didn’t do it to spite anyone. They have the beautiful bliss of innocence. YOU don’t belong to THAT club anymore, but remember when you did? 

2) Respond positively. Don’t lash out in anger. Use what YOU KNOW to gently remind others that pregnancy, for many isn't a joke. Your power is in knowing better and sharing in a positive way is educational and will allow others to open their eyes to infant death. Lashing out only makes people feel defense and shut down to learning more about you, about your loss, about the pain and the journey. How YOU respond makes a difference in how others will react. By educating kindly it spreads awareness in a positive way. 

Share here with us other ways to respond. Let’s use our incredibly strong base of families of loss to help educate and open conversations.

NILMDTS is a wonderful resource for families grieving miscarriages and stillbirths. Many doulas are also trained to help.

In cahoots,
~Sasha