Celebrating Black Maternal Health Week #BMHW25

Mom and three kids Greetings from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania! Things have been busy. I am still a working mom of three, working full time who is trying to make a difference. I do a lot of things and try to be present so that I can learn from them. I share them on this blog so that we can learn together. Below are some thoughts, hacks, and/or lessons that I have learned from navigating my world. Black Maternal Health Week April 11-17, 2025 I am a Black mom to three wonderful children. I was blessed to have three successful births. While I am an attorney, my third delivery highlighted the potential risks that occur when a physician fails to listen to the birthing person. Initially, I chalked it up to the physician involved and limited it to my personal birthing experience. Then, I learned that I was not special. Overwhelmingly, Black women experience higher rates of birth trauma, birthing complications and negative birth outcomes.  These statistics are what lead to the creation of ...

Returning to Work After Maternity Leave Can Be Easier with Proper Planning

My kids on a Friday night


I coach working moms. One topic that I am often asked about is maternity leave--how to negotiate it, how to maximize it, and how to return from it. Recently a friend posted that she's returning to work on Monday after enjoying twelve weeks of maternity leave with her precious baby. I read her post after enjoying a cocktail and below is my response. 


The summary--leaving your baby is hard, harder than you could possible imagine. Still, even with all of the challenges, you should consider it all joy. You are blessed to have these struggles...

Facebook Advice for Returning to Work After Maternity Leave

For the record, I've been drinking. So, here's my unfiltered honesty about returning to work. The s--t is hard. However, you are harder. Your desire to be with your baby is strong. But you are stronger. Do whatever you need to do to feel OK with it. Take whatever liberties you can get away with to make it work for you and your family. Push when you need to push. Pause when you need to pause. And at the end of each day, consider it all joy! 
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