July 25, 2024 • 32 mins
Welcome to a special episode of MEternal in recognition of Black Maternal Mental Health Week, where @CoachKenya and @AngelinaSpicer dive deep into the crucial topic of postpartum depression advocacy and its profound impact on maternal health outcomes. As we observe Black Maternal Health Week and highlight global maternal health issues, our hosts are joined by experts to discuss the intersection of mental health and motherhood. They also explore the pivotal role of nonprofit partners like March of Dimes in improving health outcomes within communities of color. Join us for an insightful conversation that sheds light on the importance of awareness, support, and action in maternal health advocacy.
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(00:00):
So that's interesting because I want totalk a little bit about the climate change
stuff and how that relates to maternalhealth because I don't know a ton about
that, and I know it's timeto learning, but it's been coming up
a lot, and I'm like,cool, like, so can you explain
a little bit about it goes together? Yeah? Yeah, you know,
it's interesting. I just got backfrom Dubai. I was in Dubai at
COP twenty eight, which is theUnited Nations Climate Change Conference, and like
(00:25):
every country in the world was represented. It was it blew my mind.
Yeah, first of all, itwas like a sea of navy suits.
You know how you go down toWall Street and it's like you go around
lunch hour and everybody's just walking rightin their navy suits. It was similar
to that kind of vibe, butlike global dignitaries and me and my pink
pants right in my little Brooklyn swag. I was like, okay, And
(00:50):
I learned a lot about the intersectionalityof climate change and maternal health. You
know, I've always known that womenaround the world, you know, face
really extreme challenges when we give birth, right we think about the mortality crisis
here in the United States. Mostlywe think about it in terms of Black
(01:10):
women and how more likely we areto die during or after childbirth, right,
the complications we have during and afterchildbirth. But then you think about
developing countries, right, and thenyou add that those kind of components to
it, and then you think aboutclimate change, you think about flooding fires,
(01:32):
you think about accessibility. I've workedwith a lot of women around the
world and met a lot of womenaround the world who deliver babies in all
kinds of circumstances. When I wasin Israel and in a city called better
Sheva in my Jewish people, pleasedon't get mad at me. I know
it's an apostrophe in there, butright, Bettersheva is what I know how
(01:53):
to say it. But it's abetter win community of Muslim rural not rural.
But these women live in the desert, and these families live in the
desert, and they have to ridea donkey through the desert for like four
miles in active labor wow down ahill through the desert just to get to
(02:15):
the main road to catch a taxi. Same thing in a kragana, I
met a family who the mom justhad a baby. It was her fifth
pregnancy, her fifth child, andshe went into labor at like two in
the morning, Like you know,moms, when babies want to come,
babies want to come, right.She had to walk four miles. She
(02:38):
and her husband. They left theirfour kids at home, the oldest being
like twelve, and the twelve yearold managed the other children at home while
dad and mom literally walking through inthe middle of the night, through through
their little town while she's in activelabor, stopping starting stop just to get
to a main road to get ataxi. That really set them back financially
(03:00):
to then go to the hospital todeliver. So, you know, when
we think about the mortality crisis herein the US, and we think about
climate change, and we think aboutall the things women go through when we
become parents, you know, there'sjust so much intersectionality, right, And
to get back to that, I'mnot kind of rambled a little bit,
(03:20):
but to get back to that,if you are in a country or in
a place that has extreme flooding,that becomes an extreme barrier for that mom
to be able to deliver. Ifyou have a hospital that doesn't have a
great electricity grid, right, thatbecomes an issue. Or if there's a
flooding or a tornado or all ofthese issues that happen with our climate and
(03:46):
as a result of us not beingresponsible earth people. Right. So that's
the intersectionality between climate change and maternalhealth. Wow, because the disparities are
already there based on where women liveand where women give birth, but then
when you compound that with floodings andother accessibility, yes, yeah, definitely
another layer. Wow, that's extensive, And sometimes you don't think about it
(04:11):
like that until you go see it. Girl. Yeah, no, you
don't think about it until you seeit. You don't think about the impact
of you know, excessive fires likein California where I live, for example,
we have these rolling fires or earthquakes, but the fires are now more
common. If a mom can't getto the hospital because of the fire,
(04:32):
or if the fire takes out partof the hospital right or takes out you
know, part of the bus systemfor her to get to the hospital,
it becomes an impediment on the momand on the family. And it's like
another layer of things we got todeal with, right, surrounding our pregnancies
and expanding our families. So whathas it been like like working with the
(04:54):
UN, and like, what aresome of their like, I guess core
key initiatives to kind of combat this. Yeah, it's been an amazing ride
working with the UN. I've beenworking with them. Actually the last time
I came on your podcast, itwas my first time actually meeting and working
with the delegation at the United Nations. So Spicy Moms is my organization and
(05:14):
we are a civil society organization registeredwith the UN, and working with them
has been great. They are veryopen to new ideas. I'm not going
to show up in a navy suitand you use high falutin language and right,
I come representing the people of thepeople, by the people for the
people. Right. So it's beennice that they have been so open and
(05:39):
warm to our audience of cool momsof Spicy Moms, but also in our
delivery and our way of delivering ourmessage and reaching and reaching people. Working
with the UN has also given mean opportunity to really learn about climate change
and the accessibility issues that a lotof women face. But to be honest,
(06:00):
ken you, many of the issuesthat women in these developing countries are
dealing with, we face the sameissues in a different way. Yeah,
So that's been eye opening working ona global scale, mostly with the UN
and who has been like, wow, women around the world, in many
countries are scared to go to thehospital to deliver, just like black women
(06:24):
are, right, Black and brownwomen, we're afraid, like am I
gonna come out alive out of thisthing? Like what what's really going on?
Are there is there implicit bias becauseyou know, I may not have
a husband or my husband is controlling, like some women are even in like
forced marriages where their husbands won't divorcethem and they they're pregnant and they have
(06:47):
to, you know, go throughwith this pregnancy and they do and the
husbands are abusive. But it's justit's a lot Yeah, that women all
across the globe. Yes, I'mback and address you know. And usually
that happens when we have a hugetransition in our lives, when we become
(07:08):
moms. It's like, man,I got to work through some things for
sure. For sure. Yeah,So let's talk about spicy moms. Yeah,
because I see you on Instagram.You're doing a lot of great things
in the community. Yeah, sotell us more about that and like what
your goals are for them? Yeah, Well, for spicy moms. I
just I got tired of begging forcorporate money. I got tired of asking
(07:28):
for permission to help people. Rightwhen I was in the throes of postpartum
depression and before I was admitted tothe psychiatric facility for treatment, I came
out on the other side knowing likesomething more has to happen from moms,
and I didn't really know how.I was just like, Okay, I'm
going to fundraise, and then that'swhen I raised the fifty thousand dollars in
(07:50):
thirty days, and we got ourforty foot pink bus right and we launched
our tour, and that encouraged me, like, Wow, there's an audience
for this. People want to seethis and hear this. And I was
like, you know what, I'mnot here. God didn't allow me to
have the experience I had to besitting around waiting for permission. And permission
(08:11):
in this sense is dollars. Ican start from right where I am,
and I went within my network andmoms reach out to me all the time
on social media for support and help. I had facetimed so many strangers,
women that I've never met, becausethey just need company. They just need
(08:33):
someone to sit on the phone withthem, keep them company, and remind
them that they're not crazy. Right. So a mom reached out to me,
shout out to DASA in Los Angeles. She reached out and within a
day I was at her house withdiapers for her diapers for the baby,
breast pumps. I put out ablast to my network and I had ten
(08:56):
thousand dollars worth of supplies for Dasiain a day. Wow. And I
was like, this is what SpicyMoms is about. So we provide direct
support to moms, mom to momsupport, so we don't have to wait
for the gatekeepers to say, yes, here's some money. Right. Our
community, our Spicy Mom's network werecomprised over ten thousand women. Wow,
(09:20):
mostly moms in our network that standin the gaps literally for women. I've
delivered breast pumps and formula and heldbabies so moms could take a shower.
My daughter Avas, she volunteers withus, and I bring her friends along
so that they can see, like, this is what being a new mom
looks like, and this is thekind of support we give. So we
(09:43):
launched in Atlanta last week for BlackMaternal Health Nice so we have our first
regional hub our in aull yur OldRegional Hub. So Spicy Moms Atlanta is
a thing now. We assembled fivehundred postpartum kits and our signature line ring
Spicy Mom's Bags, and we wentto the community, black and brown communities
(10:03):
and we gave postpartum kits out.We partnered with Pampers, We partnered with
over fifteen brands to make these SpicyMom's kits for the community. We reached
over five hundred people in three differentcounties in five days. Wow, that's
a lot. Yeah. Are youso you have a team of people that's
doing this with you. I domy mom My Mom and the Ki run
(10:26):
Spicy Moms. That's a lot ofwork. It is a lot of work,
but it's very fulfilling and meaningful becausewhen you see the impact. Yeah,
and you know that this mama isdown to the point where she's going
to reach out to you a comedianon Instagram and invite you to her home
to help her with her new baby. Yeah, she needs you, she
(10:46):
needs you. Yeah. So areyou looking for volunteers? Yes, girl,
we have. We just started collectingvolunteers in Atlanta. So we have
over one hundred volunteers in our databasein Atlanta. We're launching in DC next
month, and then we're also launchingour first international hub in Paris this summer
for the Olympics, and then we'regoing to Ghana, West Africa and we're
(11:09):
launching a Spicy Mom's Hub there.That's wonderful and you have the Spicy Moms
brain, Yesna. And because it'slike I was like, I don't want
a baseball hat, and like Icould wear this to the un but I
could also wear this to volunteer.Right, it's universal, it's universe.
(11:31):
I got it, I get it. Okay, one of those I'm gonna
get you on girl, don't don'tgo, don't come to me again because
I got you. I got you. But yeah, so that's Spicy Moms.
I'm really excited to do the work. Right. Yeah, this is
the work. It's not about askinganybody like for permission, it's not about
(11:54):
gatekeeping. It is literally now havea way to give to the mom who
reach out. And within our network, we have therapists, we have doulas,
we have psychiatrists, lactation consultants,and they volunteer their time on an
as need basis for moms everywhere throughtelehealth, through and through our network.
(12:18):
I mean, it's been amazing tosee the transformation and the moms that we
have supported in our Spicy Mom's networkto see their confidence boosted just by having
the support and to have their familiessee when we step in and we do
a home visit for a mom andyou know, she lives with her grandmother
(12:39):
and her three siblings, and she'sgot this new baby, and her family
sees that the Spicy Moms have steppedin to support their baby, They're like,
wow, oh, this is whatwe can do to help her.
It's this little thing where it's holdingspace for her or right. So it's
just it's really been fulfilling. AndI wouldn't I would take my own money
(13:01):
and continue to do this work.Is that necessary? That's wonderful. And
I love how you make the serviceof this all look right because I think
this is a very heavy topic alot of times, and I love that
you use your platform to present servicein a very lighthearted and fun way because
it doesn't always have to be sodrum no no, no, no,
(13:22):
no, yeah no no no,Spicy Moms, we lit okay, right,
you are give me that that's fun. Yes, yeah, that that's
fun and bright and hopeful and encouragingand again, and we hold space to
start these conversations in that setting.Right, it's not a bunch of scientists
in no shade to the science.You know, we need the science and
(13:43):
we need the research. But thendiagrams ain't gonna hurt. It's not gonna
help a mama who just got home. It would have busted up vagina and
her new baby screaming at her everytwo hours, that part, you know,
like, don't throw no stats andtheories at me. Yeah, help
me. I need a now solution, Yes, yeah, I need a
now solution. Right, And theSpicy Moms is like, the now solution
(14:05):
doesn't have to be dollars. Itcan be time. It's time. It's
space to say, girl, you'renot crazy. They just lied. Yeah,
they just lied. But I'm nothere to lie to you. I'm
gonna hold your baby. I'm gonnashow you what to do. I'm a
stand it girl. I've cleaned people'shomes or organized. I want to go
visit a mom in Kentucky, samething. I took her babies out with
(14:30):
her husband. I was like shegets thirty minutes today. I put them
on a schedule. We cleaned uptheir home. I told her kids what
to do, like, that's theSpicy Mom's way. And you don't need
money to do for dollars to dothat. You just need to have an
open heart and some empathy. That'sso good, right, so good.
Your network is important and the supportyou get people, it's important. And
(14:52):
speaking of network, I know youhave Chelsea Clinton. Yeah, who's in
your network? She is? Yeah. I started actually last last she has
been a really it was a transformativeyear for Spicy Moms and for me personally.
But yes, I was invited tobecome a reproductive Justice champion with the
Clinton Global Initiative, joining Charles Johnson. Okay, here of her moms,
(15:16):
Yes, care of her moms.Carly Class, she's a supermodel and she
started a coding agency and coding trainingfor young girls. Oh I love that.
Yes, yeah, And it's aglobal movement similar to Spicy Moms.
But Carlie Class is on, CharlesJohnson is and Christy Turlington, who is
the supermodel and the founder of EveryMother's Counts. So it's the four of
(15:39):
us. We are the Reproductive Justicechampions, and we were working with Chelsea
Clinton and Hillary Clinton to raise globalawareness and have like solutions. We have.
Charles actually the other day on ourcall mentioned having a five year strategy,
a five year plan in the maternalhealth crisis here in the United States.
So we have partners with super Majorityand the Clinton's US of Care,
(16:03):
March of Dimes, so many globalorganizations working with us, but the four
of us are the champions. Weare the face of the reproductive Justice action
networked so so good, right,And speaking of March of Dimes, you
just recently did March for Change.I did. Yeah. I was like,
oh, Spicy Moms is outson.Yes, we were definitely at the
March for Change. You know,the last time I was on your podcast,
(16:26):
we talked a lot about the legislationthat I worked on in California and
how my accidental activism, and Ifor real feel like an accidental activist.
Now I'm meeting with Rick Scott andKathy David Kathy Stewart from from Florida and
Republican members and all kinds of peopleon the hill and stuff, and I'm
(16:48):
just kind of have this out ofbody experience, like y'all do no harmic
comedian and I'm funny, right,But yes, the March for Change was
great with March of Dimes. Thisis my fourth year participating in the in
the federal March for Change. Butwe have been working on legislation, i
want to say, for the pastthree years together with March of Dimes,
and we're getting close. We're hopingthat the mom and the busy gets through.
(17:12):
That be a big deal, Abig deal, A big deal,
you know. And I think aboutthe moms in our network who need our
support and how how much of animpact that would have. What is slowing
that down? Funding and buy in? You know, I think that there's
some it's a challenge getting people toactually and I've learned this through the many
(17:37):
knows that I've gotten as I've triedto find funding for this work. There's
just there's a lot of lip servicethat folks give, and how they justify
it is they say, you know, will we support this, so we
don't need to support that, yes, right, you know. It's kind
of like the abortion rollback. Well, we don't support or pro choice,
(18:03):
we're pro life. So instead ofsupporting pro pro choice, we're gonna give
money to people so that they canput their kids up for adoption, no
services, no mental health options,no. I mean just we're gonna put
money where we want to put it, essentially, right, So that's what's
holding up the mom To us,it's a funding issue, and frankly it's
(18:27):
just buying. Ye know, we'reworking on the buy in part. Well,
you're doing the good work girl,right, thank you? Yeah,
So you're busy. Ye're busy.I know I'm busy doing I feel like
stuff that you love and you're passionateabout, and I want to do things
that I want to do. That'sa different kind of busy girl. It
is. You can. You cansurvive off of no sleep or limited sleep,
(18:51):
or take your breaks when you needto because it's work you really feel
deeply, deeply connected to. Sure. I feel so good to be able
to do it. That's all itis. Thank you. So where do
you feel like we're maybe missing theboat in terms of maternal health? Like,
I know that's like a loaded question, it's not, but I feel
like there's some holes, right,So where would you say some of those
(19:15):
holes are? The biggest one isstigma. I think that's the biggest hole.
The stigma and solutions, right,And that has always been my approach
when I started this accidental activist journey, right is identifying what are the solutions
(19:37):
and eradicating stigma. I eradicate stigmathrough sharing my story and through comedy,
right because when moms, when wesee each other for our flaws and our
experiences and what we've been through,there's nothing we can't do together, right,
right, and then the solution.And then that's why I'm working in
(19:59):
spaces with the United Nations and withChelsea Clinton and on Capitol Hill and uh,
you know, with the US embassiesin Africa and Tanzania and Ghana,
because we got to have solutions,and we got to have solutions from people
in power. Okay, so wecan't and people who don't necessarily look like
us. Yeah, absolutely, andthat might include a penis okay that and
(20:23):
listen my movement, the spicy monswe want dads, Okay, right,
it won't it may not look howyou expected it to look, right,
And then just getting creative with thosesolutions too, like they're not only legislation
legislative solutions, but like for example, in in India, they have a
community based ambulance that goes through thethrough the neighborhood, similar to the to
(20:51):
the community I described in Israel inthe desert where accessibility is an issue.
But this is a government funded,so community based approach to being able to
support moms who have limited access toget to hospitals. That's a creative solution
that a corporation here in the UnitedStates could fund as a pilot program.
(21:11):
Right And also in Israel, andI know there's a lot going on there
right now. Prayers out to everyonein Palestine. Right in Israel, they
have the Ministry of Health runs aclinic similar a clinical pilot program that's funded
by the Ministry of Health called TipatKalav, which means a drop of milk.
(21:33):
And I'm just like, that's somethingwe could do here in the US.
And it's maternal care and baby careall under the same roof government funded.
Everyone gets a therapist, everyone getssupport. It's like a community based
program where you can bring your children. The children have groups, moms have
(21:55):
groups, mom gets a break,mom gets guidance, and it's all funded
by the government. That's a creativecommunity, yes, So the solutions can
That's where the creative parts come in, right, your podcast is a great
solution to reducing stigma, educating people, but also bringing highlighting the partners who
(22:17):
are doing the work within it.So you are creating a solution. I
just think that we all have todo a little bit. Yeah, a
little bit of our turns into alot, it does and move the needle.
So what else do you have,you know coming down the pipeline.
Hopefully some sleep. Okay, hopefullysome sleep and a vacation I would well
(22:40):
deserved. Thank you. You lookso busy on Instagram. I'm like,
oh my, when does she sleep? Right? I know, I know,
I got to do better and Ineed a vacation. The problem is
is because since we're building spicy Moms, right, every trip I take,
I'm like, wait a minute,who do I need to meet here?
Maybe I need to shoot a documentaryepisode while I'm here, right, maybe
(23:00):
I need to do it. SoI always try to leverage my travel opportunities
to grow our reach and also tohelp moms locally. Right. So that's
the problem is that whenever I traveland say I'm gonna go on a vacation,
I end up just working. Yeah, so you're shooting a documentary?
Yes? Nice? Yeah, I'mjust shooting a documentary about postpartum depression and
(23:21):
about the prevalence around the globe andthe lack of information, the lack of
education around maternal health and just pregnancycomplications, like we don't find out about
it until we find out about it, yes, ma'am, and no not
with you know and listen, Idon't have all of the funding. I
don't have. I'm not a directorby training, but I have a story
(23:47):
to tell and the people that Imeet and the people within our Spicy Moms
network they deserve we can create somethingmagical together. So that's what I've started
to do, is create a documentary. We've were working on it for years
and all of the countries that Imentioned are in the film, both men
and women chatting and talking about theirexperiences after they have children. And the
(24:11):
most amazing thing that I've seen isthe transformation of men when we have conversations,
men who don't even speak English mostof the time, who thank me
for asking them about their wife's journeyand who thank me for sharing more with
them about what they can do andhow they can stand in the gaps to
(24:32):
support their own wives. Right.So, I just think we need an
answer, a modern, diverse,global answer to the maternal health crisis.
And the documentary that we're making isgoing to do that. That's excellent.
And I would say, like postpartumprobably looks so different culturally, girl,
(24:53):
Listen, it looks different, it'streated differently, it's experience differently based on
you know which region of the worldyou live in, right, And it
also is different based on cultural Likeyou said, for example, when I
spent time in Israel, I visitedwith a the black Hebrew Israelites, and
(25:19):
they have a very large, robust, independent community in the in their community,
and they are all expats from Chicagoin Atlanta. So they open their
mouths. First of all, theylook like our cousins. Second of all,
they open their mouths, they soundlike they're from Mississippi. Okay,
(25:40):
living in Israel. Yeah, onevegan. They do their own childbirth,
but they have a birthing center wherethey deliver all of the babies, and
each mom that delivers a baby intheir community in the city of Demona,
Demona, Israel. If you havea boy, you get twenty days or
thirty days in isolation where you aresupported by the community, where you get
(26:07):
to rest, you get your breastfeedingguidance, and you live in the birthing
center for those days. You havea daughter, you get forty days.
I was like, pass me thevagina, honey, the baby, the
baby, girl, I need themdays. I need a break. Yes,
And I was asking. I waslike, oh, that is it
retroactive? Okay, because I'm abouteight years dude for my forty days baby,
(26:30):
I'm twenty five, right, Butthat's what postpartum support looks like,
right, yeah. So I'm like, and that and it's according to the
Bible. So there are a lotof communities around the world that honor that
time, that that that yeah firstbecause I had no idea, girl,
we need we done, we aredue, but yes, and so you
(26:53):
know, like they're in that community. But then here in the US,
we're expected. You know, youwalk out the hospital holding your service,
right, okay, going back towork, thank you, going back to
work, locking in like lord,you know, spraying the walls with the
breast milk and holding your uterus youlike, Lord, they don't even stitch
me up, right, and hereI am back to work. So yeah,
(27:15):
and uh, you know, paternitycare and paternity leave and family leave
looks different around the world. There'sjust a lot we can learn from,
even the developing countries who who youknow, squat in the in the woods
and have their babies. There's alot we can learn from each other about
that. So I'm hoping with ourdocumentary that we can learn best practices from
(27:37):
around the world, even if politicallywe don't agree. It's okay, it
is a okay. It's because weall came from a mom and we all
need to support our mom. That'sit. Yeah, that's it. Well,
this is wonderful. You are wonderful. Appreciate you coming back. Yes,
thank you for having me in theEternal Podcast. We got to work
together, definitely. We talked abouta few things. Yes, we did.
(27:57):
So I'm excited for you. I'mexcited for you. Thank you,
Yes, thank you. I appreciateyou. I appreciate the support. You
know. It means a lot.I think we're building this together right,
And that was one of my things. Like with Maternal it was never about
like just me. It was aboutthe community of women that I knew this
would lift up and support in termsof our stories. And I just thank
(28:19):
God that we've had the opportunity tocontinue to build together. So yes,
yeah, I'm happy that you hadthe idea and you were fearless enough to
start. Oh, thank you,yes, thank you. I have to
give credit to some of my counterpartsthat are here at iHeart. They were
definitely a part of that, youknow, idea and getting it into fruition.
But I'm thankful that you know,I'm carrying the baton you are and
(28:42):
here we go, right, andhere we go yes, yes, yeah,
So shout out to margin Dimes anddoctors right for the wealth of information
and the wealth of just opportunities tocollaborate and work together. Yeah, and
getting the vision sometimes like you're tryingto get people to get on board and
like you're just you're explaining it,and you're like, like, we're doing
(29:03):
this right. So I'm thankful thatyou know, we have partners that get
it, yes, and that wedon't have to over explain girls, you
know, like it's just they getit, yes, right. And and
the saddest part is when you feellike and thank god, this is not
your experience in this situation. Butthe worst part is when people pay lip
(29:27):
service to it, yeah, andthey say that they're about it and they
spit out the stats. One infive women has postpartum depression three and five
black? What does that mean?And what are you doing? What are
you doing to get right? Toget us to the other side? Right?
Yeah, Okay, you know this. I was on a panel for
(29:47):
I was on a panel a coupleof days ago. I won't say the
name because I'm about to be critical, but it was all doctors and me,
and they're like, yes, andwe know that that women have these
experiences. I'm like, well,if you know, what a you doing?
Yeah? And where and where arethe markers? Which is why it
was super important for me to workwith March of Dimes because of the markers
(30:07):
that they have in place, Likethere's a whole report card, right that
shows us how we're doing by staydown right, So it gives us a
great glimpse into where we need toimprove, what we need to do,
and how we need to be actionaalabout it. So not just talking to
talk, but no, like deployingresources and activations, like let's get this
done. Especially if we know,right, if we know that women may
(30:32):
experience postpartum depression and anxiety, whyare we waiting until it's a problem?
Right? Yeah? Why are wewaiting flat footed to get them a therapist
when we could be proactive about it, like we know and the second trimester.
Why are we not like going throughthe insurance and getting on waiting lists.
Why are we waiting for them tosay, well, they may not
(30:55):
have it, girl, But youknow the stats. You just told me
the stats. And most people,whether they reconnize symptoms or not, have
some grade of it somewhere. We'rejust better at coping, agreed, right,
compared to some other people. Right, So it all depends in a
situation. Yeah, So I'm reallyhappy that your team gets it right and
that they have prioritized maternal health inthis way. We need more, We
(31:21):
need more spaces where we can beheard, and we need more people having
this conversation. Girl. But rightare you doing it? Yes? Yes,
yes, yeah, So I appreciatethat. Thank you, and thank
you for all the work that you'redoing and continue to do. So where
can people tap in with you?Yes? At Spicy Moms, Spicy,
spic e y Spicy. My lastname is Spicer, so right, you
(31:42):
know I put my name on everythingSpicy Moms on Instagram. And if there's
a mom in your community, thatneeds support, either resources or information or
diapers for herself or the baby.Spicy Moms will stand in the gaps and
we have community all over the countrythat can that will support and deploy resources
(32:04):
to them. So Spicy Moms,they're on Instagram or my personal Instagram,
Angelina Spicer. Well, thank youfor being here again. Thank you.
Right you are listening to me Eternalon iHeartRadio. I am here with the
lovely Angelina Spicer and until next time, Until next time, Spicy Moms are out.
So that's interesting because I want totalk a little bit about the climate change
stuff and how that relates to maternalhealth because I don't know a ton about
that, and I know it's timeto learning, but it's been coming up
a lot, and I'm like,cool, like, so can you explain
a little bit about it goes together? Yeah? Yeah, you know,
it's interesting. I just got backfrom Dubai. I was in Dubai at
COP twenty eight, which is theUnited Nations Climate Change Conference, and like
(00:25):
every country in the world was represented. It was it blew my mind.
Yeah, first of all, itwas like a sea of navy suits.
You know how you go down toWall Street and it's like you go around
lunch hour and everybody's just walking rightin their navy suits. It was similar
to that kind of vibe, butlike global dignitaries and me and my pink
pants right in my little Brooklyn swag. I was like, okay, And
(00:50):
I learned a lot about the intersectionalityof climate change and maternal health. You
know, I've always known that womenaround the world, you know, face
really extreme challenges when we give birth, right we think about the mortality crisis
here in the United States. Mostlywe think about it in terms of Black
(01:10):
women and how more likely we areto die during or after childbirth, right,
the complications we have during and afterchildbirth. But then you think about
developing countries, right, and thenyou add that those kind of components to
it, and then you think aboutclimate change, you think about flooding fires,
(01:32):
you think about accessibility. I've workedwith a lot of women around the
world and met a lot of womenaround the world who deliver babies in all
kinds of circumstances. When I wasin Israel and in a city called better
Sheva in my Jewish people, pleasedon't get mad at me. I know
it's an apostrophe in there, butright, Bettersheva is what I know how
(01:53):
to say it. But it's abetter win community of Muslim rural not rural.
But these women live in the desert, and these families live in the
desert, and they have to ridea donkey through the desert for like four
miles in active labor wow down ahill through the desert just to get to
(02:15):
the main road to catch a taxi. Same thing in a kragana, I
met a family who the mom justhad a baby. It was her fifth
pregnancy, her fifth child, andshe went into labor at like two in
the morning, Like you know,moms, when babies want to come,
babies want to come, right.She had to walk four miles. She
(02:38):
and her husband. They left theirfour kids at home, the oldest being
like twelve, and the twelve yearold managed the other children at home while
dad and mom literally walking through inthe middle of the night, through through
their little town while she's in activelabor, stopping starting stop just to get
to a main road to get ataxi. That really set them back financially
(03:00):
to then go to the hospital todeliver. So, you know, when
we think about the mortality crisis herein the US, and we think about
climate change, and we think aboutall the things women go through when we
become parents, you know, there'sjust so much intersectionality, right, And
to get back to that, I'mnot kind of rambled a little bit,
(03:20):
but to get back to that,if you are in a country or in
a place that has extreme flooding,that becomes an extreme barrier for that mom
to be able to deliver. Ifyou have a hospital that doesn't have a
great electricity grid, right, thatbecomes an issue. Or if there's a
flooding or a tornado or all ofthese issues that happen with our climate and
(03:46):
as a result of us not beingresponsible earth people. Right. So that's
the intersectionality between climate change and maternalhealth. Wow, because the disparities are
already there based on where women liveand where women give birth, but then
when you compound that with floodings andother accessibility, yes, yeah, definitely
another layer. Wow, that's extensive, And sometimes you don't think about it
(04:11):
like that until you go see it. Girl. Yeah, no, you
don't think about it until you seeit. You don't think about the impact
of you know, excessive fires likein California where I live, for example,
we have these rolling fires or earthquakes, but the fires are now more
common. If a mom can't getto the hospital because of the fire,
(04:32):
or if the fire takes out partof the hospital right or takes out you
know, part of the bus systemfor her to get to the hospital,
it becomes an impediment on the momand on the family. And it's like
another layer of things we got todeal with, right, surrounding our pregnancies
and expanding our families. So whathas it been like like working with the
(04:54):
UN, and like, what aresome of their like, I guess core
key initiatives to kind of combat this. Yeah, it's been an amazing ride
working with the UN. I've beenworking with them. Actually the last time
I came on your podcast, itwas my first time actually meeting and working
with the delegation at the United Nations. So Spicy Moms is my organization and
(05:14):
we are a civil society organization registeredwith the UN, and working with them
has been great. They are veryopen to new ideas. I'm not going
to show up in a navy suitand you use high falutin language and right,
I come representing the people of thepeople, by the people for the
people. Right. So it's beennice that they have been so open and
(05:39):
warm to our audience of cool momsof Spicy Moms, but also in our
delivery and our way of delivering ourmessage and reaching and reaching people. Working
with the UN has also given mean opportunity to really learn about climate change
and the accessibility issues that a lotof women face. But to be honest,
(06:00):
ken you, many of the issuesthat women in these developing countries are
dealing with, we face the sameissues in a different way. Yeah,
So that's been eye opening working ona global scale, mostly with the UN
and who has been like, wow, women around the world, in many
countries are scared to go to thehospital to deliver, just like black women
(06:24):
are, right, Black and brownwomen, we're afraid, like am I
gonna come out alive out of thisthing? Like what what's really going on?
Are there is there implicit bias becauseyou know, I may not have
a husband or my husband is controlling, like some women are even in like
forced marriages where their husbands won't divorcethem and they they're pregnant and they have
(06:47):
to, you know, go throughwith this pregnancy and they do and the
husbands are abusive. But it's justit's a lot Yeah, that women all
across the globe. Yes, I'mback and address you know. And usually
that happens when we have a hugetransition in our lives, when we become
(07:08):
moms. It's like, man,I got to work through some things for
sure. For sure. Yeah,So let's talk about spicy moms. Yeah,
because I see you on Instagram.You're doing a lot of great things
in the community. Yeah, sotell us more about that and like what
your goals are for them? Yeah, Well, for spicy moms. I
just I got tired of begging forcorporate money. I got tired of asking
(07:28):
for permission to help people. Rightwhen I was in the throes of postpartum
depression and before I was admitted tothe psychiatric facility for treatment, I came
out on the other side knowing likesomething more has to happen from moms,
and I didn't really know how.I was just like, Okay, I'm
going to fundraise, and then that'swhen I raised the fifty thousand dollars in
(07:50):
thirty days, and we got ourforty foot pink bus right and we launched
our tour, and that encouraged me, like, Wow, there's an audience
for this. People want to seethis and hear this. And I was
like, you know what, I'mnot here. God didn't allow me to
have the experience I had to besitting around waiting for permission. And permission
(08:11):
in this sense is dollars. Ican start from right where I am,
and I went within my network andmoms reach out to me all the time
on social media for support and help. I had facetimed so many strangers,
women that I've never met, becausethey just need company. They just need
(08:33):
someone to sit on the phone withthem, keep them company, and remind
them that they're not crazy. Right. So a mom reached out to me,
shout out to DASA in Los Angeles. She reached out and within a
day I was at her house withdiapers for her diapers for the baby,
breast pumps. I put out ablast to my network and I had ten
(08:56):
thousand dollars worth of supplies for Dasiain a day. Wow. And I
was like, this is what SpicyMoms is about. So we provide direct
support to moms, mom to momsupport, so we don't have to wait
for the gatekeepers to say, yes, here's some money. Right. Our
community, our Spicy Mom's network werecomprised over ten thousand women. Wow,
(09:20):
mostly moms in our network that standin the gaps literally for women. I've
delivered breast pumps and formula and heldbabies so moms could take a shower.
My daughter Avas, she volunteers withus, and I bring her friends along
so that they can see, like, this is what being a new mom
looks like, and this is thekind of support we give. So we
(09:43):
launched in Atlanta last week for BlackMaternal Health Nice so we have our first
regional hub our in aull yur OldRegional Hub. So Spicy Moms Atlanta is
a thing now. We assembled fivehundred postpartum kits and our signature line ring
Spicy Mom's Bags, and we wentto the community, black and brown communities
(10:03):
and we gave postpartum kits out.We partnered with Pampers, We partnered with
over fifteen brands to make these SpicyMom's kits for the community. We reached
over five hundred people in three differentcounties in five days. Wow, that's
a lot. Yeah. Are youso you have a team of people that's
doing this with you. I domy mom My Mom and the Ki run
(10:26):
Spicy Moms. That's a lot ofwork. It is a lot of work,
but it's very fulfilling and meaningful becausewhen you see the impact. Yeah,
and you know that this mama isdown to the point where she's going
to reach out to you a comedianon Instagram and invite you to her home
to help her with her new baby. Yeah, she needs you, she
(10:46):
needs you. Yeah. So areyou looking for volunteers? Yes, girl,
we have. We just started collectingvolunteers in Atlanta. So we have
over one hundred volunteers in our databasein Atlanta. We're launching in DC next
month, and then we're also launchingour first international hub in Paris this summer
for the Olympics, and then we'regoing to Ghana, West Africa and we're
(11:09):
launching a Spicy Mom's Hub there.That's wonderful and you have the Spicy Moms
brain, Yesna. And because it'slike I was like, I don't want
a baseball hat, and like Icould wear this to the un but I
could also wear this to volunteer.Right, it's universal, it's universe.
(11:31):
I got it, I get it. Okay, one of those I'm gonna
get you on girl, don't don'tgo, don't come to me again because
I got you. I got you. But yeah, so that's Spicy Moms.
I'm really excited to do the work. Right. Yeah, this is
the work. It's not about askinganybody like for permission, it's not about
(11:54):
gatekeeping. It is literally now havea way to give to the mom who
reach out. And within our network, we have therapists, we have doulas,
we have psychiatrists, lactation consultants,and they volunteer their time on an
as need basis for moms everywhere throughtelehealth, through and through our network.
(12:18):
I mean, it's been amazing tosee the transformation and the moms that we
have supported in our Spicy Mom's networkto see their confidence boosted just by having
the support and to have their familiessee when we step in and we do
a home visit for a mom andyou know, she lives with her grandmother
(12:39):
and her three siblings, and she'sgot this new baby, and her family
sees that the Spicy Moms have steppedin to support their baby, They're like,
wow, oh, this is whatwe can do to help her.
It's this little thing where it's holdingspace for her or right. So it's
just it's really been fulfilling. AndI wouldn't I would take my own money
(13:01):
and continue to do this work.Is that necessary? That's wonderful. And
I love how you make the serviceof this all look right because I think
this is a very heavy topic alot of times, and I love that
you use your platform to present servicein a very lighthearted and fun way because
it doesn't always have to be sodrum no no, no, no,
(13:22):
no, yeah no no no,Spicy Moms, we lit okay, right,
you are give me that that's fun. Yes, yeah, that that's
fun and bright and hopeful and encouragingand again, and we hold space to
start these conversations in that setting.Right, it's not a bunch of scientists
in no shade to the science.You know, we need the science and
(13:43):
we need the research. But thendiagrams ain't gonna hurt. It's not gonna
help a mama who just got home. It would have busted up vagina and
her new baby screaming at her everytwo hours, that part, you know,
like, don't throw no stats andtheories at me. Yeah, help
me. I need a now solution, Yes, yeah, I need a
now solution. Right, And theSpicy Moms is like, the now solution
(14:05):
doesn't have to be dollars. Itcan be time. It's time. It's
space to say, girl, you'renot crazy. They just lied. Yeah,
they just lied. But I'm nothere to lie to you. I'm
gonna hold your baby. I'm gonnashow you what to do. I'm a
stand it girl. I've cleaned people'shomes or organized. I want to go
visit a mom in Kentucky, samething. I took her babies out with
(14:30):
her husband. I was like shegets thirty minutes today. I put them
on a schedule. We cleaned uptheir home. I told her kids what
to do, like, that's theSpicy Mom's way. And you don't need
money to do for dollars to dothat. You just need to have an
open heart and some empathy. That'sso good, right, so good.
Your network is important and the supportyou get people, it's important. And
(14:52):
speaking of network, I know youhave Chelsea Clinton. Yeah, who's in
your network? She is? Yeah. I started actually last last she has
been a really it was a transformativeyear for Spicy Moms and for me personally.
But yes, I was invited tobecome a reproductive Justice champion with the
Clinton Global Initiative, joining Charles Johnson. Okay, here of her moms,
(15:16):
Yes, care of her moms.Carly Class, she's a supermodel and she
started a coding agency and coding trainingfor young girls. Oh I love that.
Yes, yeah, And it's aglobal movement similar to Spicy Moms.
But Carlie Class is on, CharlesJohnson is and Christy Turlington, who is
the supermodel and the founder of EveryMother's Counts. So it's the four of
(15:39):
us. We are the Reproductive Justicechampions, and we were working with Chelsea
Clinton and Hillary Clinton to raise globalawareness and have like solutions. We have.
Charles actually the other day on ourcall mentioned having a five year strategy,
a five year plan in the maternalhealth crisis here in the United States.
So we have partners with super Majorityand the Clinton's US of Care,
(16:03):
March of Dimes, so many globalorganizations working with us, but the four
of us are the champions. Weare the face of the reproductive Justice action
networked so so good, right,And speaking of March of Dimes, you
just recently did March for Change.I did. Yeah. I was like,
oh, Spicy Moms is outson.Yes, we were definitely at the
March for Change. You know,the last time I was on your podcast,
(16:26):
we talked a lot about the legislationthat I worked on in California and
how my accidental activism, and Ifor real feel like an accidental activist.
Now I'm meeting with Rick Scott andKathy David Kathy Stewart from from Florida and
Republican members and all kinds of peopleon the hill and stuff, and I'm
(16:48):
just kind of have this out ofbody experience, like y'all do no harmic
comedian and I'm funny, right,But yes, the March for Change was
great with March of Dimes. Thisis my fourth year participating in the in
the federal March for Change. Butwe have been working on legislation, i
want to say, for the pastthree years together with March of Dimes,
and we're getting close. We're hopingthat the mom and the busy gets through.
(17:12):
That be a big deal, Abig deal, A big deal,
you know. And I think aboutthe moms in our network who need our
support and how how much of animpact that would have. What is slowing
that down? Funding and buy in? You know, I think that there's
some it's a challenge getting people toactually and I've learned this through the many
(17:37):
knows that I've gotten as I've triedto find funding for this work. There's
just there's a lot of lip servicethat folks give, and how they justify
it is they say, you know, will we support this, so we
don't need to support that, yes, right, you know. It's kind
of like the abortion rollback. Well, we don't support or pro choice,
(18:03):
we're pro life. So instead ofsupporting pro pro choice, we're gonna give
money to people so that they canput their kids up for adoption, no
services, no mental health options,no. I mean just we're gonna put
money where we want to put it, essentially, right, So that's what's
holding up the mom To us,it's a funding issue, and frankly it's
(18:27):
just buying. Ye know, we'reworking on the buy in part. Well,
you're doing the good work girl,right, thank you? Yeah,
So you're busy. Ye're busy.I know I'm busy doing I feel like
stuff that you love and you're passionateabout, and I want to do things
that I want to do. That'sa different kind of busy girl. It
is. You can. You cansurvive off of no sleep or limited sleep,
(18:51):
or take your breaks when you needto because it's work you really feel
deeply, deeply connected to. Sure. I feel so good to be able
to do it. That's all itis. Thank you. So where do
you feel like we're maybe missing theboat in terms of maternal health? Like,
I know that's like a loaded question, it's not, but I feel
like there's some holes, right,So where would you say some of those
(19:15):
holes are? The biggest one isstigma. I think that's the biggest hole.
The stigma and solutions, right,And that has always been my approach
when I started this accidental activist journey, right is identifying what are the solutions
(19:37):
and eradicating stigma. I eradicate stigmathrough sharing my story and through comedy,
right because when moms, when wesee each other for our flaws and our
experiences and what we've been through,there's nothing we can't do together, right,
right, and then the solution.And then that's why I'm working in
(19:59):
spaces with the United Nations and withChelsea Clinton and on Capitol Hill and uh,
you know, with the US embassiesin Africa and Tanzania and Ghana,
because we got to have solutions,and we got to have solutions from people
in power. Okay, so wecan't and people who don't necessarily look like
us. Yeah, absolutely, andthat might include a penis okay that and
(20:23):
listen my movement, the spicy monswe want dads, Okay, right,
it won't it may not look howyou expected it to look, right,
And then just getting creative with thosesolutions too, like they're not only legislation
legislative solutions, but like for example, in in India, they have a
community based ambulance that goes through thethrough the neighborhood, similar to the to
(20:51):
the community I described in Israel inthe desert where accessibility is an issue.
But this is a government funded,so community based approach to being able to
support moms who have limited access toget to hospitals. That's a creative solution
that a corporation here in the UnitedStates could fund as a pilot program.
(21:11):
Right And also in Israel, andI know there's a lot going on there
right now. Prayers out to everyonein Palestine. Right in Israel, they
have the Ministry of Health runs aclinic similar a clinical pilot program that's funded
by the Ministry of Health called TipatKalav, which means a drop of milk.
(21:33):
And I'm just like, that's somethingwe could do here in the US.
And it's maternal care and baby careall under the same roof government funded.
Everyone gets a therapist, everyone getssupport. It's like a community based
program where you can bring your children. The children have groups, moms have
(21:55):
groups, mom gets a break,mom gets guidance, and it's all funded
by the government. That's a creativecommunity, yes, So the solutions can
That's where the creative parts come in, right, your podcast is a great
solution to reducing stigma, educating people, but also bringing highlighting the partners who
(22:17):
are doing the work within it.So you are creating a solution. I
just think that we all have todo a little bit. Yeah, a
little bit of our turns into alot, it does and move the needle.
So what else do you have,you know coming down the pipeline.
Hopefully some sleep. Okay, hopefullysome sleep and a vacation I would well
(22:40):
deserved. Thank you. You lookso busy on Instagram. I'm like,
oh my, when does she sleep? Right? I know, I know,
I got to do better and Ineed a vacation. The problem is
is because since we're building spicy Moms, right, every trip I take,
I'm like, wait a minute,who do I need to meet here?
Maybe I need to shoot a documentaryepisode while I'm here, right, maybe
(23:00):
I need to do it. SoI always try to leverage my travel opportunities
to grow our reach and also tohelp moms locally. Right. So that's
the problem is that whenever I traveland say I'm gonna go on a vacation,
I end up just working. Yeah, so you're shooting a documentary?
Yes? Nice? Yeah, I'mjust shooting a documentary about postpartum depression and
(23:21):
about the prevalence around the globe andthe lack of information, the lack of
education around maternal health and just pregnancycomplications, like we don't find out about
it until we find out about it, yes, ma'am, and no not
with you know and listen, Idon't have all of the funding. I
don't have. I'm not a directorby training, but I have a story
(23:47):
to tell and the people that Imeet and the people within our Spicy Moms
network they deserve we can create somethingmagical together. So that's what I've started
to do, is create a documentary. We've were working on it for years
and all of the countries that Imentioned are in the film, both men
and women chatting and talking about theirexperiences after they have children. And the
(24:11):
most amazing thing that I've seen isthe transformation of men when we have conversations,
men who don't even speak English mostof the time, who thank me
for asking them about their wife's journeyand who thank me for sharing more with
them about what they can do andhow they can stand in the gaps to
(24:32):
support their own wives. Right.So, I just think we need an
answer, a modern, diverse,global answer to the maternal health crisis.
And the documentary that we're making isgoing to do that. That's excellent.
And I would say, like postpartumprobably looks so different culturally, girl,
(24:53):
Listen, it looks different, it'streated differently, it's experience differently based on
you know which region of the worldyou live in, right, And it
also is different based on cultural Likeyou said, for example, when I
spent time in Israel, I visitedwith a the black Hebrew Israelites, and
(25:19):
they have a very large, robust, independent community in the in their community,
and they are all expats from Chicagoin Atlanta. So they open their
mouths. First of all, theylook like our cousins. Second of all,
they open their mouths, they soundlike they're from Mississippi. Okay,
(25:40):
living in Israel. Yeah, onevegan. They do their own childbirth,
but they have a birthing center wherethey deliver all of the babies, and
each mom that delivers a baby intheir community in the city of Demona,
Demona, Israel. If you havea boy, you get twenty days or
thirty days in isolation where you aresupported by the community, where you get
(26:07):
to rest, you get your breastfeedingguidance, and you live in the birthing
center for those days. You havea daughter, you get forty days.
I was like, pass me thevagina, honey, the baby, the
baby, girl, I need themdays. I need a break. Yes,
And I was asking. I waslike, oh, that is it
retroactive? Okay, because I'm abouteight years dude for my forty days baby,
(26:30):
I'm twenty five, right, Butthat's what postpartum support looks like,
right, yeah. So I'm like, and that and it's according to the
Bible. So there are a lotof communities around the world that honor that
time, that that that yeah firstbecause I had no idea, girl,
we need we done, we aredue, but yes, and so you
(26:53):
know, like they're in that community. But then here in the US,
we're expected. You know, youwalk out the hospital holding your service,
right, okay, going back towork, thank you, going back to
work, locking in like lord,you know, spraying the walls with the
breast milk and holding your uterus youlike, Lord, they don't even stitch
me up, right, and hereI am back to work. So yeah,
(27:15):
and uh, you know, paternitycare and paternity leave and family leave
looks different around the world. There'sjust a lot we can learn from,
even the developing countries who who youknow, squat in the in the woods
and have their babies. There's alot we can learn from each other about
that. So I'm hoping with ourdocumentary that we can learn best practices from
(27:37):
around the world, even if politicallywe don't agree. It's okay, it
is a okay. It's because weall came from a mom and we all
need to support our mom. That'sit. Yeah, that's it. Well,
this is wonderful. You are wonderful. Appreciate you coming back. Yes,
thank you for having me in theEternal Podcast. We got to work
together, definitely. We talked abouta few things. Yes, we did.
(27:57):
So I'm excited for you. I'mexcited for you. Thank you,
Yes, thank you. I appreciateyou. I appreciate the support. You
know. It means a lot.I think we're building this together right,
And that was one of my things. Like with Maternal it was never about
like just me. It was aboutthe community of women that I knew this
would lift up and support in termsof our stories. And I just thank
(28:19):
God that we've had the opportunity tocontinue to build together. So yes,
yeah, I'm happy that you hadthe idea and you were fearless enough to
start. Oh, thank you,yes, thank you. I have to
give credit to some of my counterpartsthat are here at iHeart. They were
definitely a part of that, youknow, idea and getting it into fruition.
But I'm thankful that you know,I'm carrying the baton you are and
(28:42):
here we go, right, andhere we go yes, yes, yeah,
So shout out to margin Dimes anddoctors right for the wealth of information
and the wealth of just opportunities tocollaborate and work together. Yeah, and
getting the vision sometimes like you're tryingto get people to get on board and
like you're just you're explaining it,and you're like, like, we're doing
(29:03):
this right. So I'm thankful thatyou know, we have partners that get
it, yes, and that wedon't have to over explain girls, you
know, like it's just they getit, yes, right. And and
the saddest part is when you feellike and thank god, this is not
your experience in this situation. Butthe worst part is when people pay lip
(29:27):
service to it, yeah, andthey say that they're about it and they
spit out the stats. One infive women has postpartum depression three and five
black? What does that mean?And what are you doing? What are
you doing to get right? Toget us to the other side? Right?
Yeah, Okay, you know this. I was on a panel for
(29:47):
I was on a panel a coupleof days ago. I won't say the
name because I'm about to be critical, but it was all doctors and me,
and they're like, yes, andwe know that that women have these
experiences. I'm like, well,if you know, what a you doing?
Yeah? And where and where arethe markers? Which is why it
was super important for me to workwith March of Dimes because of the markers
(30:07):
that they have in place, Likethere's a whole report card, right that
shows us how we're doing by staydown right, So it gives us a
great glimpse into where we need toimprove, what we need to do,
and how we need to be actionaalabout it. So not just talking to
talk, but no, like deployingresources and activations, like let's get this
done. Especially if we know,right, if we know that women may
(30:32):
experience postpartum depression and anxiety, whyare we waiting until it's a problem?
Right? Yeah? Why are wewaiting flat footed to get them a therapist
when we could be proactive about it, like we know and the second trimester.
Why are we not like going throughthe insurance and getting on waiting lists.
Why are we waiting for them tosay, well, they may not
(30:55):
have it, girl, But youknow the stats. You just told me
the stats. And most people,whether they reconnize symptoms or not, have
some grade of it somewhere. We'rejust better at coping, agreed, right,
compared to some other people. Right, So it all depends in a
situation. Yeah, So I'm reallyhappy that your team gets it right and
that they have prioritized maternal health inthis way. We need more, We
(31:21):
need more spaces where we can beheard, and we need more people having
this conversation. Girl. But rightare you doing it? Yes? Yes,
yes, yeah, So I appreciatethat. Thank you, and thank
you for all the work that you'redoing and continue to do. So where
can people tap in with you?Yes? At Spicy Moms, Spicy,
spic e y Spicy. My lastname is Spicer, so right, you
(31:42):
know I put my name on everythingSpicy Moms on Instagram. And if there's
a mom in your community, thatneeds support, either resources or information or
diapers for herself or the baby.Spicy Moms will stand in the gaps and
we have community all over the countrythat can that will support and deploy resources
(32:04):
to them. So Spicy Moms,they're on Instagram or my personal Instagram,
Angelina Spicer. Well, thank youfor being here again. Thank you.
Right you are listening to me Eternalon iHeartRadio. I am here with the
lovely Angelina Spicer and until next time, Until next time, Spicy Moms are out.
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