Beyond Birth with Mahogany Momology and Sister Freya

The fourth trimester is an important time in a mother's life. In this podcast interview with Mahogany Momology, Sister Freya discusses strategies for a successful postpartum time. Listen to this podcast recording to gain insights on pregnancy, postpartum and Black motherhood. 

On the Beyond Baby Birth podcast episode, we discuss the following topics as it relates to womb health, pregnancy, birth, postpartum care, breastfeeding and mothering:

• What inspired Sister Freya to become a birth and postpartum doula
• How long a family should use postpartum doula services
• How a doula works with a family to support a new mother and baby
• Why mothers long for their own mothers during birth and immediate postpartum
• How to create a comprehensive postpartum plan and why planning for the postpartum during pregnancy is important
• How a doula can help an expecting mother plan ahead and gather "village" support to help the family during postpartum
• How to utilize insurance benefits for pregnancy and postpartum services including traditional private insurance, FSA, HSA and the insurance appeal process
• The importance of womb health postpartum
• Why a new mother needs 6 weeks to recover from birth
• The myth of the post-baby "bounce back" and the actual time it takes to recover from birth
• The importance and unique aspects of African-centered postpartum care
• How we encourage Black mothers and families to bond with a newborn and the meet the needs of newborn infants. 
• The importance of a Black woman's ability to communicate her own needs and to be vulnerable
• The idea that birth and postpartum time is a transformational time in a woman's life and can be a catalyst for personal grown and ascension to new levels of womanhood
• The "ish" that comes up when a millennial mother is pregnant and trying to relate to her baby boomer mother and how to navigate and improve the mother-daughter relationship
• The significance of a grown woman recognizing and acknowledging the little girl that lives inside of her
• Learning how to mother from a place of healing
• The power of a mother learning how to mother herself
• The importance of preconception health and how it affects pregnancy and postpartum
• The importance of hormonal balance during preconception
• How preexisting health issues can be exacerbated during pregnancy and their effects on pregnancy and postpartum
• Learn more about Black Breastfeeding Week - celebrated every year August 25 - 31
• Join RootMama's CocoaMos Breastfeeding Club

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Mahogany Momology is an introspective weekly podcast on the positive roles played, as well as the issues and concerns of Black / African-American motherhood and parenting. Mahogany Momology is hosted by Melissa Tarpley and Natasha Gordon, two African American wives and moms. 

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