Hello mamas and mamas-in-waiting!

Welcome to episode 11 about faith and family! So, do I teach my children my faith? Absolutely! As a christian woman, new to the faith and have been for a while, you may be wondering if you should teach your children your faith, and having concerns about whether they will accept Christ as you have. I think at some point we all had this question  and some chose to soldier on while others may have become anxious and fearful. However, we ought to remember that God is in control, when we ask him in prayer, he is listening and he answers. So start today to sow those seeds about the love and grace that we find in Jesus Christ in your children's life regardless of how old they are. 

This episode explores a bit of my childhood in the faith, which may be similar to those listening and maybe that's what's happening with you right now! so I hope that you are encouraged and empowered to look to Jesus Christ for wisdom in your journey to pass his love and grace to the next generation. Refer to Proverbs 22:6, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.'' Pray about it and seek God for he will empower you so that you are able to empower your children.

Stand strong! Until next Friday,

Love, Una

Hello Everybody and welcome to Episode 10!

“I cried, I cried… it was such an emotional experience and it wasn’t just about hair. It was what my perception of beauty was and had been for all of my life and then I look at myself in the mirror and I’m like, ‘That doesn’t look like what I thought was beautiful.’” ‑Teyonah Parris 

This week I touch on the issue of loving one's hair. My hair is a part of who I am but not entirely who I am. For generations black women we have been conditioned not to embrace and love our kinky, coily and Afro hair. There was always something 'wrong' that needed to be made 'right' about our hair. For some it was a painfully journey to get to embracing those natural 4B, 4C curls and embracing a bald head or short hair. As moms we are raising children in a world that still has not embraced this hair. I say to you mamas and mamas-in-waiting, educate yourself about hair and look into products that give your child's hair life and good health, it is possible.  Show your kids positive images of natural hair and natural hairstyles, speak kind words to them that would build their confidence and love of self as a whole. In the midst of this journey remember that God made that hair the way it is and he's pleased with that.

'I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.'- Psalm 139:14 KJV

I hope you enjoy the episode and mores that may it be a conversation starter around hair and the standards of beauty, which have been magnified by the internet and social media. Have a lovely weekend and blessing to you!

Yours in Motherhood, Una

Hello everybody!

Happy new year and welcome to the first episode of 2020! It is an exciting time and I am blessed to be back in whatever medium you are joining this podcast from. This week I am discussing the new decade and prayers I have made concerning that. In my quest to make my petitions be known to God I have created a prayer board and filled it with a few images, my specific prayers and scriptures to meditate upon.

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As moms we have our hands full and I hope you can carve out time to write down your prayers and that the grace of God sustains you through this motherhood journey. Moms in waiting, I hope you are praying for God to guide you as this journey isn't easy but the testimonies of victory are many. Be encouraged this week with the book of Proverbs, chapter 16 verse 9: "We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps"

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Happy crafting!  As I pray for rest for all of us.

Yours in motherhood, Una

Merry Christmas!! Unto us a son is born, a son is given. The government will be upon his shoulder. His name is wonderful, counselor mighty God, Prince of our peace (Isaiah 9:6)

This is a time of remembrance and reflection, it is a time to be present and count each of our blessings. It is a time also that as mothers we are working tirelessly to make sure we make the perfect house, the perfect meals and gifts. This can be soooo exhausting and we can get so caught up in that work (meal preparations, gifts, cleaning, bathing the kids, etc) that we miss the moments of joy, smiles, laughter and the opportunity to share the love of God on Christmas. Mamas, ask the Lord for his grace to enjoy your family and be present.

Just like Mary in Luke 2:8-20 we have a lot to think about as this day is happening. Let us embrace every laugh, capture a sweet moment in our hearts and engrave the true spirit of Christmas onto our kin. I pray for love and forgiveness in this season, and just gratitude for what we have- our family.

Merry Christmas!! and peace be unto you. 

Hello and welcome to millennials and motherhood!

This week I discuss the homestretch, those final weeks before baby comes. I am mainly looking at the baby shower and your hospital bag. 

- The shower is a time to shower the mom with gifts, love and affection. Overtime this celebration has evolved and now includes men, primarily the dad and his friends; the showers are bigger, expensive (remember pregnomics) and some fiercely competitive. Listen in to hear what i have to say, LOL! There is always drama with the planning but we need to remember to do it because you want to, not under obligation. Scripture this weeks reminds me that, 'In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see  good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven,'- Matthew 5:16  (NIV). So be a cheerful organiser and as the mom-to-be exercise courtesy and respect people's responses when asking them to participate as organisers. 

- The last 5 weeks are when mom think and begin to pack the hospital bag, mostly we think about what baby needs and less what we women also need. So pack in accordance to your needs and what available/ unavailable in your birthing hospital. Do your best to prepare as labour can come earlier than expected.

Enjoy, rate & review on Anchor, Spotify, Apple podcasts, Google podcasts, as these are the main mediums my audience use. Kindly support by liking our Instagram for updates. 

Love, Una

As new mom's to be, how we plan on bringing a new baby is something we plan for. For some it's literally drawing up a 'birth plan' on what and how will go on during the day. However, things happen and plans change. For other women, there is no plan at all, it is even a luxury to have a birth plan. This episode touches on the two ways of bringing babies into the world and focuses on the debate concerning caesarean birth and the challenges that women, particularly black women face when preparing, during and after birth.

The episode explores maternal health and the disparities that exists primarily for black women; those that are in the United States and in Sub Saharan Africa. The information share is for informational purposes, always consult a trained and qualified expert related to your own pregnancy. This information is to explore what is out there but also bring about hope and trust in God during the pregnancy period. It is not meant to scare you, but to raise awareness on the realities of maternal health and how to prepare yourself.

References for the articles cited in the podcast. Thank you!

https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1002494

CDC: U.S Maternal Morbidity (2015)

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr64/nvsr64_04.pdf

U.S 2018 Births

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr68/nvsr68_13-508.pdf

https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/11/health/c-section-rates-study-parenting-without-borders-intl/index.html

Black maternal health in the USA

https://www.nationalpartnership.org/our-work/health/reports/black-womens-maternal-health.html

WHO Maternal mortality

https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/329886/WHO-RHR-19.20-eng.pdf?ua=1

Maternal mortality in Africa

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(19)30036-1/fulltext

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(18)32386-9/fulltext

https://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/death-from-caesarean-sections/en/

This week we explore body image during and after pregnancy. The female body is amazing as it is versatile and its ability to change is remarkable. I have gone through two pregnancies and adjusting to the changes it brings. Body image is a hot potato and as women we are constantly under pressure to be something more, physically. I believe the pregnancy period is a time to start mentally preparing that a 'new body' is on the horizon. I am reminded of scripture that says, 'our body is a temple' therefore it matters what we do to it during and after pregnancy. I hope this week's podcast will be something relatable and something to consider as you are planning to grow a baby. It is an encouragement to love and respect your body, be mindful what you feed it during your pregnancy. It is important to be patient and give your body time to recover after baby. It is a new season and it will take time for your body to adjust to this newness.

Refer to: 1 Corinthians 19-20 ''Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. 

Welcome to Episode 4 (Pregnomics) and I’m sharing advice from a personal Finance consultant, Cathy Sibanda,CFEI. She’s a founder and President of Financial literacy Trust in Botswana.

When I had my first child I had zero financial plans and so I had to learn as I went on with regarding the cost of a pregnancy and raising a child; baby gear, food, child care, etc. I am still learning, 2 kids later but I am at a better place than I was 6 years ago

Thank you for tuning into Episode 003!I am excited to be joined by a dear friend and sister, Dr Orapeleng Phuswane-Katse. I am glad to stay after about 5 attempts to connect, we did it! Episode 3 touches on the what to expect in the first trimester and why it is critical. Hope you find it helpful.