Blog: Voices & Views
Welcome to Voices & Views — a space where wisdom meets experience, and where the stories of Black birthing people take center stage. Here, guest experts and community voices come together to share what they know and what they’ve lived.
From the first signs of pregnancy through the tender postpartum months, our contributors break down care options, unpack disparities, and offer real-world guidance for navigating systems that haven’t always listened. Each post is designed to inform, affirm, and empower—because every family deserves care that’s safe, respectful, and rooted in truth.
The Beginning of a Miracle:
How a Baby’s Brain Grows from the Very Start
From the quiet of the womb to the soft hum of lullabies, a baby’s brain is continuously listening, learning, and connecting. Understanding these early moments helps us appreciate why every gentle word, song, and story matters—even before birth.
Listening Begins Before Birth
By around 30 weeks of gestation, a baby’s hearing system is developed enough to begin detecting sounds filtered through the mother’s body. Research shows that fetuses start tuning into the rhythms and melodies of language while still in the womb.
When a parent speaks, reads, or sings aloud, the baby’s brain absorbs the tone, vibration, and cadence of the voice—laying the foundation for language development after birth. The voice becomes familiar, comforting, and essential to early brain wiring.
Even newborns can recognize the sound of their mother’s language, and studies show that exposure to these sounds shapes early brain networks linked to speech and comprehension.
HIV and Pregnancy:
What to Know, What to Do
Why this matters for women who are pregnant, planning, or could become pregnant
HIV isn’t just an individual health issue — it directly affects families. A pregnant person with untreated HIV can pass the virus to their baby during pregnancy, delivery, or breastfeeding. The good news is that with early testing, proper treatment, and ongoing care, the risk of transmission can be reduced to less than 1%.
That means routine HIV testing before and during pregnancy, and access to treatment, is critical.
HIV remains one of the most pressing public health challenges in the United States. Rates are declining in some groups but remain alarmingly high in others, particularly Black and Latino communities.
Stigma and misinformation continue to fuel the epidemic, even as prevention and treatment options have never been stronger.
Finding Calm Amidst the Chaos
Life moves fast, and for Black birthing people, the weight of responsibilities, expectations, and uncertainties can feel overwhelming. But amidst the chaos, there is a stillness to be found—a space where you can pause, breathe, and center yourself.
Explore practical ways to cultivate calm in everyday moments. Guest experts share insights on grounding techniques, stress reduction, and reclaiming peace, even when life feels out of control. Whether through mindfulness, movement, or setting boundaries, we’re here to remind you that your well-being matters.
Read, reflect, and reclaim your calm.
Preeclampsia Unveiled:
What Every Expectant Mother Should Know
Hi mamas did you know that the preeclampsia rate is 60 percent higher in black women? Have you ever heard of preeclampsia? If not, you're not alone!
Let's break it down. Preeclampsia is a health complication during birth caused by high blood pressure and protein in the urine. It occurs mainly after the 20th week of pregnancy. This blog seeks to enlighten you about preeclampsia symptoms, how it is diagnosed, and preventive tips.
Weight Loss Surgery 101:
Pregnancy & Postpartum
Welcome, Mama! Are you curious about navigating pregnancy and postpartum life after weight loss surgery? You're in the right place. This blog is here to empower you with essential insight from understanding how long to wait before conceiving, to learning about potential risks, and mastering tips for a smooth birth and postpartum recovery. Join us on this journey to a healthier, more informed you.
Hypertension in Pregnancy:
What You Need to Know
High blood pressure is one of the leading causes of pregnancy complications, yet many women—especially Black women—go undiagnosed or unheard of until it’s too late. Hypertension can increase the risk of preeclampsia, preterm birth, and maternal mortality, making awareness and early management critical.
While factors like genetics, stress, and healthcare disparities play a role, myths persist about who is at risk and what causes pregnancy-related hypertension. Understanding the warning signs, advocating for proper care, and taking proactive steps—like monitoring blood pressure, making dietary changes, and managing stress—can help protect both mother and baby.
🔗 Read more to dispel myths, explore risk factors, and learn how to manage hypertension in pregnancy effectively.
Rest is a Right:
Your Well-Being Is Worth It
Black women experience maternal mental health conditions, like postpartum depression and anxiety, at higher rates than white women, yet are less likely to receive care. Stigma, the expectation to be “strong,” and systemic barriers make it harder to seek help—but you are not meant to carry this alone.
This blog explores why Black mothers often suffer in silence, the impact of the Superwoman Schema, and how racial stress affects mental health. It also highlights powerful resources, including Soothe Your Nerves by Dr. Angela Neal-Barnett and The Black Woman’s Guide to Coping with Stress by Dr. Cheryl Woods Giscombé, offering real strategies for healing.
Your well-being matters. Seeking support is not weakness—it’s power.