(nsfmg) is Proud to be An Ambassador for Empowered Birth:As the founder of Not Safe For Mom Group (nsfmg) and the moderator of hundreds of conversations with the folks that make up this community, I know that when we talk about pregnancy and childbirth (and everything after), we often feel overwhelmed and underprepared. Even with the many educational resources available, it is hard to know which ones to focus in on and to trust. Adding to that, the cultural conversation around birth can add pressure and confusion to an already challenging time. We may only be in the early stages of thinking about starting a family, yet be faced with opinions from friends and family about what type of birth is “best”. But birth is not a choose-your-own-adventure experience. It is one in which we can at best go in with intention, and an openness to the possibility that the journey may look different than how we had imagined. There is a difference, however, in being openminded but in the dark about those possibilities; and being open but aware of the myriad of ways birth could look like (from epidural, to unmedicated, to C-section, to water birth). This is why I am thrilled that Empowered Birth — an online course curated by Schuyler Grant, and hosted by Commune — is now available.

I’m trying to find the words to tell you the whole story — as I’m sitting in my bed, and I can feel my now 28-week-old daughter inside me kicking. This is my second pregnancy. This week while I’m writing this article, is a year since I found out that I was pregnant for the first time — and, a year since I lost that first baby.

Hey Mom Group — “I need some advice and was hoping to ask the group! I have a 5-month-old son who doesn’t sleep. Or rather he wakes up every 2 hrs or so and the only thing to soothe him is the boob. . .

What is white feminism, you ask? In her Vogue essay, “When Feminism is White Supremacy in Heels” (a must-read), activist and writer Rachel Cargle explains that feminism isn’t intersectional unless there is “intentional and action-based inclusion of women of color.”

Mom Group was very busy this week sending horrible Mother-in-Law (MIL) stories. We posted most of them on Instagram, but some came in after we had moved onto the next topic — and they were too good not to share.

The general cultural discomfort with women’s sexuality during pregnancy is exactly what Indie-adult filmmaker, and mother of two, Erika Lust explores in her latest (NSFW) film . . .

Learn more about this FREE 21-day online guide to pregnancy, childbirth, and early postpartum — by Schuyler Grant and Commune.

It wasn’t so much the fact of the cesarean-section itself that was traumatic — it was everything I didn’t know about it going in, and everything that happened immediately after.

Some people describe the day of their child’s birth as being one of their most cherished, happy memories. My experience? Let’s just say there are a few reasons my first born son’s birth is something that won’t make my top ten list:

I don’t remember anything else from those first hours Jonas’ life, except that when I looked in his eyes I saw only grey clouds.

What kind of card do you get the dad who doesn’t fit any of Hallmark’s “ideal” descriptions?

What do you say when someone rains platitudes on your trauma?

I am not what you see before you. (May be triggering. Content has to do with eating disorders.)