Sara-Moukarzel

Meet Speakers from Milk | Mood | Moves: Dr. Sara Moukarzel

by Human Milk is a Human RightResearch

As part of our countdown to Milk | Mood | Moves conference, we are highlighting a few of our speakers. Next up: Dr. Sara Moukarzel!

After conducting research as bench scientist studying minor fat molecules in human milk, Sara Moukarzel, Ph.D became frustrated with the lack of research findings that were reaching the public and the large amount of health misinformation reaching the public, especially on social media. With her own frustration as the impetuous, she began a new strand of research looking into how scientists can create accurate and effective social media messages so that their findings can reach a larger audience outside of the scientific community. Dr. Moukarzel entered a relatively new and growing field of research that, until recently had few widely available tools and few researchers. While large organizations and commercial enterprises often analyzed user behavior for marketing purposes, few scientists were looking at the spread of scientific health (mis) information.

However, that changed recently as the term “misinformation” entered the public consciousness with the spread of COVID-vaccine misinformation and the increased scrutiny placed on social media companies and their role in propagating misinformation more broadly. With the public awareness about misinformation as well as the creation of widely available analytics tools and the ever-increasing number of users on social media platforms, Dr. Moukarzel’s research has become all the more timely and relevant.

Her primary findings on how to create engaging posts shows that posts that are short, empowering, and simple to understand as well as show diversity and include photos illicit the most engagement. In addition, her work stresses the importance of using trusted sources such as community leaders to share health information. She recommends campaigns partner with already-existing trusted organizations to garner more attention. In many ways, “we are all influencers” for our communities, she said.

However, she does not want to minimize the challenge of educating the public. Information from researchers can be misconstrued or misinterpreted by more public facing media and by individuals. Nuance can be lost.

Learn more about Dr. Moukarzel and her research here and be sure to register for Milk | Mood | Moves, an interdisciplinary conference on September 23-24, 2021 for health professionals, researchers, and advocates to share the latest science and clinical knowledge of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, focusing on human milk and lactation, perinatal mood disorders, and physiology and biomechanics of the perinatal period. Dr. Moukarzel will be speaking on how you can be an effective on social media especially in the field of chestfeeding.

Monk

Meet Speakers from Milk | Mood | Moves: Dr. Catherine Monk

by Human Milk is a Human RightResearch

As part of our preparation for our upcoming Milk | Mood | Moves conference, we are highlighting a few of our speakers. First up: Dr. Catherine Monk!

Dr. Catherine Monk fell into the psychology field by first studying journalism. She realized that what she loved in the journalism field was hearing people’s stories and it was this first love that led her to become not only a Professor of Medical Psychology in the Departments of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Psychiatry at Columbia University but also the founding director of a novel initiative that embeds mental health services into the OB/GYN clinic. Patients of all ages and backgrounds are referred to the integrated and insurance-covered mental health services by their OB/GYN providers and through universal depression screenings. The providing of mental health services is part of an effort to provide “whole person” care by examining the health of the person outside of only the traditionally considered biomedical indicators. While this shift is not new, it is still relatively unique in the OB/GYN field. It is more commonly seen in pediatric clinics, according to Dr. Monk.

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the move to long distance medicine: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the mental health services offered in the OB/GYN clinic have been offered through telemedicine instead of in-person. While there are some cons of this acceleration to care over the internet, according to Dr. Monk, the convenience alone outweighs the cons. Another benefit in addition to convenience for patients, is accessibility of services. She expects more pregnant and postpartum people will receive mental health services after the pandemic. While this may change as state laws are tightening regarding provider licensure after being relaxed during the height of the pandemic, Dr. Monk still thinks more people will still be able to access mental health services with telemedicine. The pandemic has also made a cultural shift towards acceptance of mental health care, said Dr. Monk.

In addition to clinical work, Dr. Monk leads a research lab, Perinatal Pathways, that investigates how influences on the fetus can affect the health of the child throughout development. The lab currently has multiple ongoing projects that have continued throughout the pandemic with the use of videotaping, zoom sessions and other web-based systems with minimal bio data collection. Dr. Monk’s lab is a part of the COVID-19 Mother Baby Outcome (COMBO) initiative, a group of scientists at Columbia that “follows SARS-CoV-2 exposed laboring mothers and their newborns and compare their long- term health outcomes to case-matched dyads without prenatal exposure.” The hypothesis of this study is “that prenatal SARS-CoV-2 exposure affects (1) mother and (2) child brain and behavior, and (3) demonstrate that the socioemotional health of each member of the mother- child dyad is intrinsically related to that of the other.” Monk credits her lab colleagues for their energy and ability to pivot during the pandemic to continue the lab’s ongoing studies and participate in COVID-related investigations.

All of Dr. Monk’s work, both in the clinic and in the lab, indicates that the transition into parenthood is an important biological and psychological one, like adolescence, and that support is crucial to the success of the parents and the child.

To learn more about Dr. Monk’s work, register for Milk | Mood | Moves, an interdisciplinary conference on September 23-24, 2021 for health professionals, researchers, and advocates to share the latest science and clinical knowledge of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, focusing on human milk and lactation, perinatal mood disorders, and physiology and biomechanics of the perinatal period.

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Latinx Cultural Inclusion

by Uncategorized

At Nurturely, our commitment to inclusivity and cultural sensitivity drives us to constantly evolve and adapt our language and programs. In this spirit, we have embraced the term ‘Latinx’ as a more gender-inclusive alternative. However, the label ‘Latinx’ often inadvertently homogenizes a rich tapestry of identities, cultures, and languages. This realization sparked a deeper exploration into the true diversity of the communities we aim to serve.

Understanding the complexity of these communities extends beyond just language. While we offer programs and trainings in Spanish, catering to the Spanish-speaking community, we recognize that Spanish itself is a vestige of colonial history, not the native tongue of the original American communities. Prior to colonization, the Americas were a mosaic of linguistic diversity, boasting approximately 123 language families with numerous languages and dialects. Prominent indigenous languages like Nahuatl, Taíno, Mayan, Quechua, Aymara, Guarani, and Mapuche paint a picture of this rich linguistic heritage.

The term ‘Latin America’ itself is a product of colonial history, conceived from a Eurocentric perspective and designed to connect the American territories to their European colonizers. This term, however, glosses over the diverse realities of the indigenous, mestizo, and Afro-descendant populations. It was a concept born from a desire to create national states and reinforce white dominance, often at the cost of sidelining the indigenous and Afro communities.

By embracing this complexity, we hope to foster a deeper understanding and respect for the rich cultural diversity that exists within and beyond the ‘Latinx’ community. Our journey is ongoing, and we invite you to join us in this pursuit of inclusive and respectful representation.

Perinatal Planetary Health Equity Panel Recap

by Planetary Health

Learn about Nurturely’s recent Perinatal Planetary Health Equity Panel and how climate change is affecting perinatal health.

To honor Earth Day, last month, Nurturely hosted its first Perinatal Planetary Health Equity Panel on Friday, April 23rd featuring panelists Elydé Arroyo, a birthkeeper from The Grounded Womb, Rupa Basu, PhD, MPH, a climate epidemiologist from CalEPA and Haley Case Scott, a grassroot organizer in Eugene. The session was moderated by Nurturely’s Equity and Inclusion Lead Ayisha Elliott.

Scott started the session with an overview of how planetary health affects health, specifically perinatal health. Due to fossil fuel combustion and greenhouse gas emissions, the temperature is projected to increase by 8.2 degrees Fahrenheit by the 2080s, according to Scott, with increased precipitation during the winter and decreased precipitation in the summer. The snowpack will accumulate more slowly reaching lower peak value and melting earlier. These and other effects of climate change will negatively impact pregnant people and their children: Low birth weights, more birth complications, decreased milk supply, an increased risk to heat related illness and death and increases in violence amongst families have all been shown to be caused by climate change, according to Scott. Worldwide air pollution accounts for 20 percent of newborn deaths. Scott then connected these effects to climate equity, the concept that the benefits of climate action are equitably distributed. She stressed the importance of including the community in the planning process and in the process of drafting legislation to address climate change and build resilience: This means “a community leads their planning process based on their own community’s needs” and “communities who write and pass legislation that slows down the impacts of climate change and creates a safer and healthier community for future generations.”

Next, birthkeeper Elydé Arroyo discussed her work in postpartum care. She stressed how, because of systemic racism, indigenous communities who often have knowledge of the earth and have unique experience caring for birthing people are ignored and pushed aside. Their experience has been “capitalized upon” instead of used to create safe spaces for individuals to be seen and cared for. She spoke to how there is a disconnect between birthing people and their families and native plants. She would like to build spaces to support all birthing people.

Finally, Dr. Rupa Basu discussed her 2010 study on how temperature affects pre-term delivery. In the study, she found an association between increased temperature and preterm birth for all birthing people with an even greater risk for birthing people of color. She stressed the importance of including communities of color in the research process to combat health disparities. She would also like to see more diversity in the healthcare and research professions.

The panelists then answered a series of predetermined questions. Arroyo stressed the importance of selfcare in order to “show up for earth”. Basu highlighted how health disparities begin even before someone is born and how unfair that can be. Health education such as community gardening can also begin at a young age so it “it all feels very natural” and “is a part of life” Basu added. Health education can come from the community: “It is very important to figure out who that health educator is” to ensure the information is shared in the best way for that community. She said that heat exposure may be a hidden symptom creator that is not addressed in a doctor’s office and yet can lead to serious, potentially fatal outcomes. She also discussed how there are education disparities in health.

Arroyo said there is a disconnect between when people speak up and who gets heard. Scott added that BIPOC community members need to be included at the decision-making table in order for the voices of BIPOC communities to be heard. There is a clear connection between the degradation of the land and BIPOC people, Scott said. Community grassroots organizing can also promote agency though Arroyo cautions that currently funding requires specific care be given and metrics be met even if these are not what the patient or community wants. “The money is not necessarily accessible,” said Arroyo. “It is governed by a system that tells us how and when to do it”. “A lot of these folks are immigrants and a lot of these practices [at government funded community clinics] don’t resonate with them,” Arroyo added.  Each speaker urged listeners to support of grassroot movements and BIPOC communities to ensure culturally appropriate care and climate equity.

To learn more about this session and receive a recording, visit nurturely.org/planet/  and register.

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Learn About Nurturely’s Programs: Tiny Human Survival Training

by Team

Join the upcoming cohort of our Tiny Human Survival Training program!

The partner parenting cohort, Tiny Human Survival Training’s goal is to fill the gap and address the needs of the non-birthing partner who often, rightfully don’t receive the attention of the birthing person, said group leader, Kyndl Woodlee, a counseling psychology doctoral candidate at the University of Oregon. Woodlee, a new dad himself, stresses the importance of community to partners who often do not have the space to talk about the challenges of new parenthood. Over the last three years, Woodlee has worked as a therapist in a variety of settings with particular interest in working within groups. His research has focused on intimate partner violence and masculinity.

The four-week virtual cohort features two hours per week of learning sessions on topics related to wellness and postpartum preparation from a partner’s perspective, learning resources, customized support with postpartum planning, and hands-on skills practice in diapering, carrying and soothing. The second cohort of the program, which begins May 3rd, will feature expert guest speakers including Dr. Jon Davies of the McKenzie River Men’s Center who will discuss mental health, Starlita Kilpatrick from the Mama Connect who will teach participants about the benefits of babywearing as well as how to do it safely and effectively and a representative from West Coast Diapers who will lead a session on diapering. Not only will participants gain tangible skills and important knowledge but also build that all important community through a social hour and ongoing connection through an online application even after the program ends.

The first cohort of the program which ended recently had participants from not only the greater Eugene area but also from California. Most of the participants heard about the program through word-of-mouth, according to Woodlee, though he would like to expand the reach of the program geographically as well as to those of all gender identities and expressions. 

For more information about the program, including how to join the second cohort which starts with a social hour on May 3rd, visit https://nurturely.org/survivaltraining.

Pelvic Wellness with Dr. Eileen Johnson

Learn About Positively Pregnancy and Speaker Dr. Eileen Johnson

by Team

Learn more about Nurturely’s Positively Pregnancy group including how to join.

Nurturely’s Postively Pregnancy group allows members to connect with other pregnant parents and gain tools to prevent postpartum challenges. The four-week virtual class led by Nurturely team members Sonya and Roshny includes two hours per week of interactive learning sessions on topics related to perinatal wellness and postpartum preparation. In addition to the virtual sessions, parents receive supplementary learning resources including articles and worksheets, just-for-fun virtual meetups with other expectant parents, customized support with postpartum planning, and six months of access to a private community where your cohort can continue to engage with and support one another through birth and postpartum.

One of the virtual sessions includes a lecture by pelvic floor physical therapist, Dr. Eileen Johnson of University of Southern California and the Perinatal Research Group. While a relatively new specialty of physical therapy, pelvic floor therapy can be beneficial to all birthing people both before birth and postpartum. “It is not just kegels!” Dr. Johnson said. Johnson works with birthing people to gain confidence in social settings including in sexual function and incontinence. She not only treats birthing people but also people suffering from constipation and other gastroenterological conditions as well as endometriosis. Pelvic floor physical therapy is not well known amongst the general public and often shrouded in stigma but yet can treat a myriad of conditions.

Johnson, a mom herself, is passionate about raising awareness about the benefits pelvic floor physical therapy. She hopes more people will seek it out and more physical therapists will enter and advance the field. She also hopes that the healthcare system will promote the use of these services. Regardless of her work on the macro level, on the individual level she stresses the importance of advocating of yourself as well as listening to your body and sharing your stories to eliminates stigma associated with pelvic floor health.

Find a physical therapist specializing in pelvic health near you here.

The Black Doula

Meet Nurturely: Sabia

by Team

As part of our relaunch we are highlighting our staff, volunteers and board members. Next up: Sabia!

Describe your background and what led you to Nurturely’s work. What motivated you to work with Nurturely?

I am a revolutionary doula and CEO of For the Village and Birthing Advocacy Doula Trainings. We partnered to create the MilkMagic lactation program, it’s an educational program.

What motivated you to work with Nurturely?

Reproductive justice disparities and lactation which is connected to reproductive justice as a whole. I’ve been working with them since 2018.

What is your role within Nurturely? 

Near and dear of my heart now that I’m President of the board. It’s kind of like a facilitator role, my job as the president one make sure that we are meeting our goals but also making sure that everyone is still connected to what we are doing. It’s like being the doula of the group. 

What do you hope to do with Nurturely? What are your goals in working with Nurturely?

The obvious goal to be a group that is effective in closing disparities, removing barriers and providing resources for those barriers. Long-term I want to have a permanent partnership with For the Village and Nurturely. 

What do you do outside of Nurturely (hobbies, work, school, passions, etc.)?

I am writing my first book and currently recording a podcast called The Black Doula Podcast. The first season is all about The Body. I have a dog named Cairo and live in Georgia.

ML Headshot

Meet Nurturely: Marissa

by Team

As part of our relaunch we are highlighting our staff, volunteers and board members. Next up: Marissa!

Describe your background and what led you to Nurturely’s work. What motivated you to work with Nurturely?

I grew up in Pittsburgh, PA and moved to Milwaukee, WI when I was a teenager. I did my undergraduate degree in social welfare and Spanish with minors in psychology and health studies at Marquette University. As a student and youth mentor, I witnessed the impact of structural and institutional racism and oppression on the communities I lived and worked in. After graduating, I was employed as a social work case manager in community violence prevention and child welfare in Milwaukee. 

I felt completely helpless to change the conditions faced by my clients, so I wanted to shift my career trajectory and work more on the prevention side of health and human services. I decided to pursue a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree so that I could help develop sustainable, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive solutions to dismantle systems harming children and families. My internship search at the start of my second year in my MPH program led me to Nurturely in December 2020, and I couldn’t be more excited to continue working with the team this winter and spring. 

What motivated you to work with Nurturely?

I was looking for an internship experience with an organization that addresses the social determinants of health and works to reduce preventable health disparities. I also wanted to be able to work in a community-driven setting directly with families, as that is one of the components of my previous jobs in social work that I loved. I was especially drawn to Nurturely’s focus on racial equity within perinatal health, as well as its commitment to antiracist practices internally with its team and externally in the community. I also really appreciate Nurturely’s emphasis on understanding and valuing lived experience and traditional practices that support health, which are often neglected by public health agencies and research. Another aspect of Nurturely that I love is the wide range of expertise and perspectives that the team offers!

What is your role within Nurturely? 

I am Nurturely’s MPH intern, and I am involved in program planning and evaluation! My main projects focus on designing evaluations for Nurturely’s programs to demonstrate their benefits and impact. Over the past month and a half, I have created surveys to evaluate Nurturely’s Racism in Perinatal and Pediatric Health workshop series for Oregon-based healthcare professionals. Over the next few months, I will be doing similar work for the Positively Pregnancy cohorts. I have also spent time designing visually appealing, simple-to-understand resource guides for a variety of health equity topics to share with Nurturely’s partners and program participants. 

What do you hope to do with Nurturely? What are your goals in working with Nurturely?

At Nurturely, I hope to gain more experience in designing and evaluating programs focused on health equity. I am also excited to learn from the amazing people who are involved in Nurturely’s efforts. I am new to Oregon, so I am looking forward to the opportunity to collaborate with other healthcare professionals across a variety of sectors working to address perinatal disparities. I have really enjoyed working on the Racism in Perinatal and Pediatric Health series so far, and I can’t wait to become more involved in Nurturely’s other program offerings. I hope to be able to provide strong data from the program evaluations to highlight how important and impactful Nurturely’s work is so that the organization can continue to grow and reach more people!

What do you do outside of Nurturely (hobbies, work, school, passions, etc.)?

Outside of Nurturely, I am a full-time graduate student in the College of Public Health and Human Sciences at Oregon State University focusing on Health Promotion and Health Behavior. At OSU, I also work as a research assistant on a project aimed at increasing access to HIV self-testing for LGBTQIA communities in Portland.

As a sexual assault and domestic violence survivor, I am passionate about advocating for survivors and preventing violence in all of its forms. I have also remained close with former coworkers and community members in Milwaukee, so I am currently involved in writing program evaluations for a youth suicide prevention program and a trauma prevention coalition there. 

When I’m not in class or working, I love to be active and spend time outdoors. Running, cycling, swimming, and hiking are some of my favorite activities! I also am a dog mama to a 4-year-old rescue dog named Peanut (who thinks he is a lap dog even though he is 60 pounds).

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Meet Nurturely: Jasmine

by Team

As part of our relaunch we are highlighting our staff, volunteers and board members. Next up: Jasmine!

Describe your background and what led you to Nurturely’s work. What motivated you to work with Nurturely?

I am a mother to two, surrogate, prenatal yoga teacher, doula and doula educator. I honestly never wanted children until I had my own! My first daughter changed me in every way and I continued to grow into a better person as I stepped into the role of Mom. I suffered with postpartum depression and psychosis in that first year after giving birth, which led to massive shedding and growth. After I consciously conceived my second daughter, I began to see the impact that our community, preparation, rest, connection and support all have on our ability to parent and take care of ourselves and our families. It was baffling to me that I was so unsupported and unprepared as a young mom and it set me on my journey to where I am today. When I began to connect to my new community after moving to Eugene from California, I met with Emily and quickly realized how aligned I am to Nurturely’s mission and wanted to be a part of it. 

What motivated you to work with Nurturely?

Many things! Most profoundly, I could see that the nature of Nurturley was going to make a real positive impact on the culture of perinatal health and address the issues that we face today in a way that is approachable and impactful. I was also excited to hear about all of the research and resources around postpartum health, babywearing and other things that positively impacted my own parenting. These are things I’ve long been excited about. It can feel like these rites of passage and instinctual ways of parenting are radical and require a certain amount of privilege, and I am hopeful that there could be a time when it is available to everyone thanks to work being done like what Nurturely is doing. 

What is your role within Nurturely? 

 I am the Board Secretary.

What do you hope to do with Nurturely? What are your goals in working with Nurturely?

I really hope to amplify and support the work that is being done and lend my voice and experience as the organization continues to grow. My goals in getting into birthwork from the beginning have always stemmed from a deep feeling of wanting to support and connect to birthing people. While I personally can hold space for individuals on a small scale in my community, working with Nurturely means I can contribute to having a larger impact on the structure and systems currently in place so that each individual’s experience of birth, postpartum and parenting can be the joyful experience it’s meant to be and not something that anyone has to fight for. 

What do you do outside of Nurturely (hobbies, work, school, passions, etc.)?

I am a huge bookworm and I love to write. I am also a serial project starter – I have a closet full of unfinished knitting and needlework projects! I am also learning the ukulele and since moving to the PNW I’ve really enjoyed exploring hiking trails and the coast. 

Human Milk Sharing – Part II

by Human Milk is a Human Right

With the help of a financial gift from Hannah and Zachary Johnson, the UC San Diego Health will create the region’s first breastmilk bank (The San Diego Union-Tribune) led by Dr. Lisa M. Stellwagen, MD. The goals of the bank are “to help mothers breastfeed, to improve breastmilk donation and to ensure that all premature or ill babies in Southern California have access to donor milk” (UC San Diego Health).