October updates
It's been a little while since we've updated everyone on GALS happenings. How have you all been? Are you following along on our social media~ @GALSupport on facebook and instagram?
For those of you who have given birth before, you may understand this next analogy~ for everyone else, stick with me...do you remember those "active labor" contractions where things are getting tough but you know you have a long way to go? And then you're in transition and you ask yourself, can I even do this... and then you still have to push out a baby? I kinda feel like that's the moment many of us are in. From the pandemic to a national reckoning with race/ dismantling the racist systems to the presidential election..... the time to stop and breathe feels shorter and shorter as we work to create a new way of living and interacting in a better world.
So in true doula fashion, I am going to remind you to breathe!
We are in this together, and one breath at a time, we will work toward creating a better, more equitable and just world.
What we've been up to…
Attending births! Most hospitals are back to allowing birthing people to have their partner AND a doula. Thank goodness. We strongly believe doulas should be allowed to support families in the hospital- especially when there is so much uncertainty.
Collaborating! For those of you who missed it, GALS has teamed up with Black Mamas ATX, Mama Sana Vibrant Woman and Healing Hands Community Doula Project to create the Maternal Health Equity Collaborative. Hand to Hold and PIP have also joined in to the community building as we all work together to make Austin a more equitable place to live.
Celebrating!!! We were so honored to receive the AUSTIN BIRTH AWARDS this year!!! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!
Who deserves all the praise and love
Please join me in thanking all the doulas who put on that mask and support families through HOURS of labor, birth and postpartum. They deserve so much praise.
MEASURE… for those of you who haven’t heard of the badass nonprofit here in Austin, go now to wemeasure.org. Their team helped the Maternal Health Equity Collaborative with the survey we collected last month. The results are back- and we are planning a very special reveal to ensure Black, Indigenous and birthing People of Color do not get ignored. Stay tuned!
Ladybird PT (@ladybirthpt on instagram) created an AMAZING ebook all about the postpartum recovery and donated 50% of the first week’s profits to GALS! THANK YOU!
How to get more involved in the GALS community
Our next volunteer orientation is Saturday!
Share our posts with your friends and family on social media :)
Consider setting up a recurring donation to GALS. COVID has and will continue to have an unprecedented impact on families in Central Texas. When you give to GALS, you ensure families in need are matched with trained, professional birthworkers to support them throughout the journey into parenthood. We appreciate you!
I hope you enjoyed spending some time breathing, celebrating, and looking to the future with us!
-Morgan