The Saturday after Thanksgiving about 4 years ago, my pregnancy was 35 weeks along, and everything was going as according to plan as it could be. I was grateful that I had health insurance, a supportive partner, and an OB/GYN who was very responsive to my needs. And still, I wound up in the emergency room. I share my perinatal experiences, not to scare women or their loved ones, but to provide solidarity to other women who may have experienced similar struggles. Motherhood is a miraculous journey, and it should not be taken for granted. read more…

Dr. Meghna Sebastian ensures each young person she sees has the care she or he needs and deserves. This includes talking with, educating and ensuring a young woman has the birth control method of her choice, allowing her to decide if and when she wants to become pregnant. On November 18, we say #ThxBirthControl. Today, Dr. Sebastian shares with us why she practices medicine and chose to focus her practice on working with adolescents. read more…

If you’ve ever been a new mother or been close to a loved one who is becoming a new mother, you know that there are a myriad of new things to learn and health tips and appointments to remember, not to mention preparing financially and mentally for a baby to come. During this critical prenatal time, it’s more important than ever for expecting mothers to receive adequate support and education no matter their backgrounds. read more…

Many of the burdens exacerbated by the pandemic fall heavily on the weight of women’s shoulders. The gender pay gap, household responsibilities, and child-rearing are issues and responsibilities that women have been juggling for a long time but are now more compounded than ever. The Menninger Clinic team, spearheaded by psychiatrist Elisabeth Netherton and psychologist Jessica Rohr, has created a virtual program focused on maternal mental health called Menninger Moms. Hoping to lend support to mothers in any stage of their lives, the program is accessible to mothers all over Texas. read more…

Having been born and lived in poverty while raised by a single woman as well as being a single woman herself, Sandy Grantello has experienced firsthand the challenges that women face with regards to being a mom and raising their families. She can identify directly with the struggles and challenges faced by pregnant women, making her more aware of the support pregnant women and moms need in the community. read more…

We’ve heard a lot over the past couple of years about the unacceptably high rate of women who die during pregnancy or experience life-threatening complications that can have life-long impact on their health and well-being. To our great benefit, state and local leaders are taking steps to improve the quality of medical care pregnant women receive. While we applaud the efforts of our community and state allies, improving medical care is only part of the answer to reducing maternal deaths. Homicide is among the top four causes of maternal death, and we must do more to curb violence endured by expectant and new mothers. read more…

A difficult part of storytelling is always where and how to identify the beginning. For me, a 21 year old trying to navigate her way through undergrad at Rice University during these uncertain times, my story starts with my mother. read more…