Author: Mariah Z Leach

In honor of Black Maternal Health Week, Mamas Facing Forward wants to recognize the disparities that Black Mamas are still facing today when it comes to maternal healthcare. Below we want to share some key statistics and resources pertaining to Black Maternal Health – today we are focusing on postpartum care. We encourage you to head over to the Black Mamas Matter Alliance to learn more. Maternal Mental Health Black mothers are more likely to suffer from PMADs (Perinatal Mood andAnxiety Disorders) like postpartum depression, in silence, and without clinical help. (Source: NCBI) Breastfeeding Among all infants, Black infants had…

In honor of Black Maternal Health Week, Mamas Facing Forward wants to recognize the disparities that Black Mamas are still facing today when it comes to maternal healthcare. Below we want to share some key statistics and resources pertaining to Black Maternal Health – today we are focusing on prenatal care and birth justice. We encourage you to head over to the Black Mamas Matter Alliance to learn more. Quality of Care / Birth Justice People from some racial and ethnic minority groups are more likely to beuninsured than non-Hispanic whites. (Source: NCBI) Research indicates that 22% of Black women…

In honor of Black Maternal Health Week, Mamas Facing Forward wants to recognize the disparities that Black Mamas are still facing today when it comes to maternal healthcare. Below we want to share some key statistics pertaining to Black Maternal Health – today we are focusing on maternal mortality. We encourage you to head over to the Black Mamas Matter Alliance to learn more! Maternal Mortality According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 700 women die each year in the United States as a result of pregnancy or delivery complications. (Source: CDC) In 2020, Black women were…

Perhaps one of the most challenging aspects of motherhood with chronic illness is helping your children understand what is going on with your body and encouraging acceptance about how your illness may impact them. How can you help them develop empathy about what you’re experiencing, especially if your illness is invisible? Where’s the line between being honest and making them worry? What’s the best way to address their concerns in kid-friendly language? This is a topic that will likely need to be an ongoing discussion in your family – and sometimes reading a book together can help! Gentle Hugs by…

Perhaps one of the most challenging aspects of motherhood with chronic illness is helping your children understand what is going on with your body and encouraging acceptance about how your illness may impact them. How can you help them develop empathy about what you’re experiencing, especially if your illness is invisible? Where’s the line between being honest and making them worry? What’s the best way to address their concerns in kid-friendly language? This is a topic that will likely need to be an ongoing discussion in your family – and sometimes reading a book together can help! CHILDREN’S BOOK REVIEW:…

Perhaps one of the most challenging aspects of parenthood with chronic illness is helping your children understand what is going on with your body and encouraging acceptance about how your illness may impact them. How can you help them develop empathy about what you’re experiencing, especially if your illness is invisible? Where’s the line between being honest and making them worry? What’s the best way to address their concerns in kid-friendly language? This is a topic that will likely need to be an ongoing discussion in your family – and sometimes reading a book together can help! Kenzie’s Little Tree…

Parenting is very demanding – and every stage of childhood presents new challenges. For parents also living with the pain and fatigue of arthritis, parenting can become even more complex. While each family is unique, below you will find a link to an article with seven strategies that might help. 7 Strategies for Parenting While Living with Arthritis (Canadian Arthritis Patient Alliance – CAPA)

In addition to reviewing lots of children’s books that discuss impacts of chronic illness, we also review grownup books that can provide us with strategies and help us learn to cope! Here is a list of all of the grownup books that we have reviewed. We will continue to update this list as we add more reviews! Desire – An Inclusive Guide to Navigating Libido Differences in Relationships by Lauren Fogel Mersy, PSYD and Jennifer A. Vencill, PHD, ABPP Fair Play – A Game-Changing Solution for When You Have Too Much to Do (and More Life to Live) by Eve…

Perhaps one of the most challenging aspects of motherhood with chronic illness is helping your children understand what is going on with your body and encouraging acceptance about how your illness may impact them. How can you help them develop empathy about what you’re experiencing, especially if your illness is invisible? Where’s the line between being honest and making them worry? What’s the best way to address their concerns in kid-friendly language? This is a topic that will likely need to be an ongoing discussion in your family – and sometimes reading a book together can help! Here is a…

No. How can two little letters feel so challenging to say? Saying “no” when someone makes a request of you can feel so uncomfortable. Or, depending on who is doing the asking, sometimes it feels downright impossible. Why Saying “No” Is So Challenging As children, most of us spent our formative years learning how to say “yes” to our parents and teachers and other adult expectations. While obviously it’s important for children to listen to the adults in their lives, advocating for yourself is a learned skill that many of us were simply never taught. Society also tends to place…