Host Madeline Herec Poirier speaks with Courtney, a mom of two boys in Massachusetts who, during both of her pregnancies, suffered from preeclampsia. Courtney takes us through her experiences and stresses the importance of knowing what to look out for, and advocating for yourself if you are experiencing preeclampsia symptoms. 

This episode serves as a great reminder that some things are out of our control, and blaming ourselves for those things don’t serve us. Let them go, and be present. You’re doing great.

Preeclampsia is a condition in which high blood pressure develops in the second half of pregnancy and can damage other organ systems, most often the liver and kidneys, and affects at least 5 to 8 percent of pregnancies. 

It should be acknowledged that Black women are disproportionately affected by the disease and are 3-4 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women. This is due to a myriad of issues, including the lack of access to care, poor quality of care and the dismissal of symptoms by healthcare professionals. 

To learn more about racial disparities in pregnancy complications, please visit: https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2019/p0905-racial-ethnic-disparities-pregnancy-deaths.html

Please note that Due Differently is not a source of medical advice. Consult your medical provider if you are experiencing anything that you hear about in this episode. That being said, please take a moment to familiarize yourself with the signs and symptoms of preeclampsia.

Symptoms include, but are not limited to:

• Severe headaches
• Changes in vision (temporary loss of vision, blurred vision or light sensitivity)
• Nausea or vomiting
• Decreased urine output
• Shortness of breath

For more information about the symptoms and risk factors of preeclampsia, as well as the research being done to find a cure, visit: https://www.preeclampsia.org/

Sound Design and Mix for this episode by Jon Day. Check out his work here: https://soundlister.com/portfolio/jon-day/

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This episode of Due Differently contains descriptions of domestic violence and sexual assault, please take care while listening. 

Host Madeline Herec Poirier listens to the story of a domestic abuse survivor named Emily. Her incredible story is one of strength, and stands as a poignant reminder that domestic violence can happen to anyone. We hope this episode challenges our audience to face their own biases surrounding domestic violence, as it has done for us, and encourage listeners to take steps in understanding the signs of domestic abuse in all forms.

In this episode we hear the incredibly personal story of Emily, a woman who, after experiencing domestic violence, was able to leave her abuser and steer her own ship once again. Our guest shares with Maddie how the violence began during her pregnancy, how she reached the decision to leave, and why she decided to speak out. 

Survivors of domestic violence are often stigmatized due to a lack of knowledge about how these situations come to be and the enormous challenges faced by those who have decided to leave their abuser. It’s important that we recognize this, and take the necessary steps to educate ourselves on the nuances of domestic abuse situations.

In our intro, Maddie refers to the rise in intimate partner violence since the onset of the pandemic. To read more, please visit: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/when-lockdown-is-not-actually-safer-intimate-partner-violence-during-covid-19-2020070720529

Sound Design and Mix for this episode by Jon Day. Check out his work here.

Follow us on social media @duedifferentlypodcast! 

If you or someone you love is experiencing any form of domestic abuse, please make sure to speak with a professional. At the end of her episode, Emily makes reference to a few resources, which are listed below along with others. This list is not exhaustive, but a good place to start.

To find resources by state please visit: https://www.womenshealth.gov/relationships-and-safety/get-help/state-resources

National:

National Domestic Violence Hotline - https://www.thehotline.org

New England:

RESPOND Inc. - https://www.respondinc.com

Massachusetts:

DOVE (Domestic Violence Ended) - https://www.dovema.org

South Shore Resource and Advocacy Center - https://www.ssrac.org

Jane Doe, Inc. - https://janedoe.org

Abby’s House - https://www.abbyshouze.org

Host Madeline Herec Poirier has conversations with moms-to-be from different parts of the United States about the global challenges presented to new parents everywhere in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, and with a certified childbirth educator to discuss ways to approach difficult conversations about quarantine and boundaries during the pandemic.

In this episode we hear from Kori, a mom-to-be living in Wisconsin. Kori is pregnant with twins, and has an open, honest conversation with Maddie about the anxieties of becoming a parent during a global pandemic. Next, we meet Courtney, a mom of two boys living in Massachusetts, who shares her approach to creating boundaries for her family and friends as she and her husband navigated the birth of their second child. We round out the episode with a discussion with Lynn Turcotte-Schuh, founder of Happy Mama Wellness, on some ways listeners can approach the difficult conversations that parents around the world are now having.

Please note that Due Differently is not a source of medical or mental health advice. If you are experiencing any issues you hear about in this episode, contact your healthcare provider to find the best course of action for you.

Check out Lynn’s work at happymamawellness.com!

Follow us on social media @duedifferentlypodcast or https://duedifferently.wordpress.com/

If you are in need of postpartum support, visit https://www.postpartum.net/get-help/locations/ to find local support.

Sound Design and Mix by Jon Day. Check out his work here.