Offbeat Doula

It’s really that simple

Some of my favorites from Liberal Jane Illustration. THEIR ART GIVES ME LIFE Edit: Hey, thanks for the shares. please do your part: https://blacklives.carrd....co/#petitions #BLACKLIVESMATTER #TRANSLIVESMATTER

Do you know what you’re having?... Look I get it, other than asking when I am due there isn’t much you can say to a pregnant person. Polite small talk is norm...al and we all know everyone loves a good party. However, can we all take a step back and agree that when you think about it, having big colour coded parties to celebrate an unborn baby’s genitals is just...well..a bit weird really! Guns or Glitter? Tiaras or Trucks? It’s all just nudge-nudge for does your child have a penis or vulva. Then we give these little people whole personalities based on this one thing instead of sitting back and seeing who they truly are. Even when they’re born they might not identify as the sex assigned in that moment! Boy, girl, non-binary or intersex, these little people are all beautiful and special and unique and should be celebrated as such. Smarter people than me have spoken out about gender reveal parties and if you had one and it brought you some joy (especially during lockdown) that’s fine but how about we start throwing book showers or nursery decorating parties or even just big, glorious, random celebrations of new life instead of theming a whole big bash for adults on a baby’s junk! So, without any more waffle about why I present my silly happy send up - the NON GENDER REVEAL PARTY! Enjoy weirdos and feel free to share. Photos taken by the amazing and talented Claire Legg Photography http://www.claireleggphotography.com/

This quote. "Do not judge the bereaved mother. She comes in many forms. She is breathing, but she is dying. She may look young, but inside she has become ancien...t. She smiles, but her heart sobs. She walks, she talks, she cooks, she cleans, she works, she IS, but she IS NOT, all at once. She is here, but part of her is elsewhere for eternity." If I had to draw a picture of a mother's grief, this would be it. So poignant. I know several grieving mothers who are hurting very badly right now. And I know several others who are hurting "regular". There are different ways to carry the grief, but the pain is always there. For any angel Moms who are hurting really badly right now, I'm here to remind you that there will be better days ahead. Keep moving forward, go with the flow, and you will get there. You're not alone. There are many (too many) other Moms also learning to build their lives around the loss of their child. Sending SO much love to you brave women See more

Just incase you ever questioned what my stand on abortion is. Also, just a friendly reminder that if you need resources in that realm, I can be of assistance.

i’ve been working on this piece in a collab with Milky Mama, LLC for a long while now but finished it just in time for world breastfeeding week! everyone’s preg...nancy is different, every birth is different, and every feeding journey is different. there are SO many options when it comes to feeding your babe(s) that it can sometimes feel overwhelming. just remember, whether it’s tandem, chestfeeding, through a g-tube, breastfeeding, utilizing an SNS, through a bottle and/or pumping- whatever works best for you and your family is the BEST way to feed your baby #worldbreastfeedingweek buy a print today: www.wyldmagick.com/shop

Are you sure there’s only one in there?! You’re only five months?! These are two of the most made comments after I post baby bump updates. Now, I know tha...t most people who make these types of comments don’t consciously intend to do any harm by asking, so I want to take a moment to talk about body shaming. Every time someone makes these types of comments, I hear my body shouldn’t be this big yet, when really, my body is exactly the size it was meant to be at five months pregnant. Some people get big, others don’t. Some people gain weight, some lose it. Some people start showing in the first trimester, some don’t. Some people carry the baby high, some carry low. Some women can carry babies, some men can carry babies. Some people are as big at five months as others are at nine. Yes, I’m sure that I’m five months along and no, I’m not having twins. My body is big, and so beautiful at five months pregnant. We need to stop commenting on other people’s bodies all together. And we need to normalize trans/non-binary/two spirit pregnancy!

The demand is so high that families who are turned away are led to feel that there aren’t enough home-birth midwives to go around, revealing a long-standing battle in New York state and around the U.S. to integrate midwives into the hospital systems. Midwives have historically been excluded from the healthcare industry for myriad reasons that vary state to state relating to licensing and restrictions on who’s allowed to conduct home births.

Boy or girl?... . . . .... . . . . . . . The first thing we wonder about when we get pregnant (after all the holy crap! I'm pregnant) is, is it a boy or girl. We get so excited, picking out clothes and nursery decor based on the sex of our babies. We throw parties, and pick out names. We assign attributes (like strength or beauty) based on what our child has growing between their legs. And MOST of the time, that works out perfectly fine. But sometimes, we force these expected characteristics based off biological sex, and *gasp* we've gotten it wrong. Normally, it's just off, but other times, that child you labeled a girl, doesn't actually feel like a girl. Sometimes that child disassociates who they are with the body they possess, and it can come across as body dysphoria or self-esteem issues and that's as far as it goes (to your knowledge). Other times, that child grows up feeling like a completely different person, and if you're really lucky, they open up and tell you the truth, no matter how scary or daunting that could be. We wanted to announce that we got it wrong 17 years ago when we told the world we were having a little girl, and named that child McKenzie. So, we'd like to introduce you to our SON: Grey. He's much like any other 17 year old nerdy boy, stays up way to late gaming, hates showering, and eats too much junk food. We will be referring to Grey with he/him pronouns from here on out, but he told us to tell you that he also doesn't mind if you use they/them. The colors of the balloons we chose for Grey match the Non-binary pride flag, and the cake layers are those that represent Transgender bodies, for those that are wondering. No, we're not buying him a lifted truck. Yes, we will be buying him some new clothes. ;) Also, all of you who came to this post hoping to find out if this new baby is a girl or boy, sorry (not sorry) to disappoint you. UPDATE: We are absolutely loving the outpouring of love from the community. We did not post this in hopes of so much attention, but for each LGBTQ person out there who has connected with this or who has in anyway felt seen by this post, we are proud to have brought that recognition to you, even briefly. To clarify a few things: - Grey approved of this post before I put it up, including the use of his dead name. This was a post meant to share with friends and family his transition mainly. Not expected to go viral. - Grey is 17, fully capable of making his decision on his pronouns and how he identifies. We in no way influenced him, we just provided him with a happy, healthy home where he feels like he can be true and honest. - This was not a sudden decision, and there were months/years that built up to where we are now (binder use, haircuts, clothing changes, etc. Etc.). So please stop assuming we forced this on our child, and stop assuming he is "too young" to be capable of knowing who and what he is. - IF Grey chooses to start testosterone, that is up to Grey and Grey alone. He is almost 18. However Grey is non-binary and may choose not to. That is a journey for Grey and his doctor to decide on. Not for strangers on the internet to comment on. We are well educated on the effects of T. We do not need or want your Google degrees. Thanks! While the major majority of comments have been so loving and sweet, the hateful ones (specifically the ones telling our entire family we will be going to hell) have no place on a thread meant to celebrate our son's transition. Thse bigoted, transphobic trolls are attacking a 17 year old. And shame on you for that. Luckily our children are more woke and less hateful than those leaving negative, hurtful comments. **I am redacting the announcement about turning the post private, as Grey is handling the comment section well and with grace this far. Thank you all again for the amazing outpouring of love.** He also wanted to have me tell you, that if you'd like to follow him on his journey, you can do so on TikTok or Instagram with the handle RedHeadedTyrant (and as his mother, yes... I totally agree that my child is a red headed tyrant. LOL!) I also wanted to say, I see all the messages I am getting from the trans community, and am trying my hardest to respond to them. Just know your stories touch my heart, and that I am responding as quickly as my overly emotional, pregnant, mama bear self will let me. I hate that so many of you in the trans community were not given the love and acceptance you all deserve. I see you. I hear you. I am your new mom now! <3 So, may the LGBTQ gods bless you all with fabulous hair and a sassy smile. ;) Enjoy your day. Even if this post makes you angry. : Sarah McBride of Sarah McBride Photography : Allysia Hinds Awkward sibling: McKaela Schoolcraft Proud Parents: Brandon Gwaltney and myself <3

As someone whose relationship looks very much like this one, these are the kinds of things I worry about. I realize it was during Covid, which is why the limitation on the photographer, but both fathers should have been allowed in. One of them is not just an additional support person. I sometimes wonder if one of my partners were to be in the hospital, will I be allowed in? If the doctors need to consult someone, would it be me? The answer is no to both of those questions, w...hich is why polyamorous relationships need to be recognized as legitimate relationships. Policy and discrimination aside, what a beautiful family and beautiful pictures. Thank you for sharing Birth Becomes Her and Blooming Footprints Birth Services, representation is important. (Can’t tag for some reason) #Repost (from IG) @birthbecomesher Beautiful photo and words by @bloomingfootprintsbirth . . . . this sweet poly triad had their baby during this covid stuff and only 1 dad was able to be at the hospital with mom and of course i wasn't allowed in to photograph their journey either. I went to take photos of dad and the siblings meeting baby for the first time though and it was wonderful.

June is #IndigenousHistoryMonth. We must take time to acknowledge, celebrate and honour Indigenous midwives who are providing access to culturallysafe sexual a...nd reproductive health care for Indigenous families. Get to know the amazing team at Four Directions Midwifery at http://ow.ly/UTQv30qPdQq. See more

If 2020 was a drink it would be the Orange Glucose Tolerance Test drink If 2020 was a drink it would be the Orange Glucose Tolerance Test drink

The inequities in pregnancy, birth, and lactation support for Black families is well documented. We know it is an issue. But what does that look like in real li...fe? This graphic takes a look at the very real challenges. White privilege does not mean that white people do not have struggles or that they don't experience these difficulties. It means that their struggles and their experiences with these difficulties are NOT because of the color of their skin. It means that statistically they are less likely (not that it is impossible) to experience these things. It means that they do not encounter these challenges based solely on their skin tone. It means they aren't followed through a store because of their skin. They may be followed through a store but it would be for a different reason. White people pointing out that they have experienced these things doesn't prove that white privilege doesn't exist. *Racist comments will be deleted and the users that make them will be banned from this page. Supportive, kind, caring comments welcomed from everyone. Black people and WOC are welcome to make comments that reflect the reality of ongoing and past trauma, anger, fear, grief, etc. White people, do not center yourself in this conversation, do NOT comment "all lives matter" or some version of it, do not ask Black people to educate you or guide you as to what you should do, and do not argue anything about knowing the whole story. For white people who would like to understand how they have privilege even if they don’t think they have privilege, if you need some resources after you do some googling, let us know. Thank you.