Episode 9: Dorothy

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO READ ALONG WITH THE SHOW, YOU CAN ACCESS THIS EPISODE'S TRANSCRIPTION BY CLICKING THIS LINK: . . https://docs.google.com/document/d/1sHz9IdsG50xyoPFDF_WiH51gRu84FrPMN91Xc2MV-9k/edit?usp=sharing . . Intro audio from Isaac Frere from TikTok & @thesameroom on Instagram . . Today's guest is a dear friend from my time in college in Atlanta, Georgia. I'm very happy to introduce to you all Dorothy, also lovingly known as Dotty. Dotty is a wife, mother, and interior designer located in Atlanta, Georgia. For more on her interior design company, you can find her on Instagram @_tilemeaboutit. She also enjoys local music and art festivals with her family, and you can find her personal Instagram @dondotty_ . . HG - hyperemesis gravidarum is the medical term for severe nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. Dehydration, dizziness, lightheadedness, and weight loss of 10 pounds or more, are all symptoms, as well as vomiting more than 2-4 times a day. Talk to your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms throughout your pregnancy.  . . FMLA stands for The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 which is a United States labor law requiring covered employers to provide employees with job protected and unpaid leave for qualified medical and family reasons. The FMLA allows eligible employees to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave during any 12 month period to care for a new child, care for a seriously ill family member, or recover from a serious illness. Inquire with your employer's HR department to learn if you qualify or how to qualify. . . Not all hospitals allow you to squat or be in comfortable birthing positions. When choosing your hospital, be sure to ask questions surrounding their policies on what birthing positions they will encourage or deny. . . VBAC birth stands for Vaginal Birth After Cesarean. If your medical provider has told you that you will be unable to ever have a vaginal birth after having a C-section, do not be afraid to ask for a second opinion and consult another medical provider. VBACs are not right for everyone, and if your previous C-section wasn't handled well or resulted in a high vertical uterine incision, prior uterine rupture, or you have had other types of uterine surgeries, you may not be a good candidate for a VBAC. Consult with your doctor, multiple doctors if needed, and take all medical factors into consideration. . . The Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) or Baby Friendly Initiative (BFI) is a global effort for improving the role of maternity services to enable mothers and birthing people to breastfeed babies for the best start to life. There are criteria of critical management procedures and key clinical practices that ensure a hospital's certification as baby friendly. When choosing a hospital to birth at, be sure to ask if that hospitals meets the requirements and certification, especially if you would like education and assistance for breasteeding. . . www.queerdoulanetwork.com . . Original Podcast Beat Produced Mixed & Engineered By: Info Black Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/infoblack_ Twitter: https://twitter.com/infoblack_​ . . DONATIONS: . . Patreon.com/symbaluna Paypal: [email protected] Cashapp: $symbaluna Venmo: @symbaluna . Instagram: journeyspa_