Two Pink Lines Pod

Trigger Warning: This episode contains descriptions of rape.
 
Jennifer Christie shares her story of being brutally raped on a business trip. About a month later, she discovered she had conceived a baby during the attack . This is her story of how she, her husband, and her family dealt with the question, "what about in cases of rape?".

Jennifer is a sign language interpreter, international speaker, and mom of five. You can follow her on Facebook, or her website.

If you have been raped and are struggling with the decision to parent, please reach out and you will connected with resources.
www.twopinklines.com 

Voices for the Voiceless is a digital community that believes in supporting people with unplanned pregnancies by providing helpful information and social media connection.

Mariah, their Lead Editor, joins us to discuss being a friend to someone with an unplanned pregnancy, her journey of documenting unplanned pregnancy stories up and down the West Coast, and sharing an exciting new resource - shemight.com ! Guys, on October 28th you have got to check them out!!!

Here are some of the resources Mariah and I discuss: 

• Watch The Voices Docuseries: West

• Check out the study we talked about examining the reasons women get abortions.

• Read Marish's reflections as a journalist creating the docuseries: I interviewed strangers about their unplanned pregnancy stories. It changed me. (yes, that's me with the space buns in the cover photo)

• Visit SheMight.com to subscribe for newsletter updates leading up to launch and follow our social media channels

• If you are interested in becoming a monthly contributor for She Might, email us at [email protected].

• Read my article on Seven Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Being Pregnant in College

• Read and sign the Stand by Her Pledge

Katie was focused on conquering accounting classes in college when she discovered she was pregnant. With the dad out of the picture, she started investigating the possibility of adoption so her son could grow up in a financially stable, two-parent household. Katie prepared to become a birth mother and found a wonderful family to adopt her baby. At the last minute the father decided he wanted full custody, thrusting Katie into the role of a single mom in a custody battle.

Katie is a fun, spunky, book keeper totally in love with her son and husband. This is truly a story of selfless motherhood ending in happily ever after!

You can read more about Katie's story on her blog When Life Gets Bumpy (Isn't that the cutes name for a blog ever!) 

If you are a parent, imagine your seventeen-year-old came home and told you they were pregnant. How would you react? Wanda shares her journey as mom and grandma when she finds out her daughter is pregnant as a junior in high school. 

Single Mom + College. It seems impossible, right? Well, Monica is here to tell us how she did it! High achieving Monica was planning on becoming a lawyer when she found out she was pregnant. She moved across the country to a new school, had a baby, and graduated on time. Monica is now a very busy mom of three living in TX.

Monica is a co-founder of the blog https://everydaymamas.com/
It is a beautiful blog that invites moms to tell their stories, share tips and encourage one another. You can follow them on instagram @everyday_mamas 

Did you know that Title 9 protects pregnant students?!? I wish I had known that I had legal protections as a pregnant college student.
Camille Cisneros, Director of Pregnant on Campus, shares stories of how they have helped women across the nation. Assisting high school, college, and graduate students, Pregnant on Campus is there to help you make your campus most parent friendly and safeguard your rights as a pregnant student. Go read the Pregnant on Campus Bill of Rights, an outline of Title 9 protections for pregnant students, at https://pregnantoncampus.org/

Unplanned Pregnancy + Parenting a child with a chronic illness 

Emma is funny and blunt as she describes her journey from a suicide ward to being a thriving parent of a daughter with short bowel syndrome. We discuss everything from the enneagram to Friends, and both agree that there should be no mom guilt for feeding your kids mac and cheese. 

* This episode contains discussion about suicide

Maybe you like pregnancy centers, maybe you don't. Maybe you are asking, "What are pregnancy centers, anyway?" Linda Saccomano, the Executive Director of Alternatives Pregnancy Center, located in the Denver area, explains why she believes that her organization empowers women, especially women with unplanned pregnancies.

Alternatives Pregnancy Center Website
https://youhavealternatives.org/

Articles discussed in the show.
https://journalofethics.ama-assn.org/article/why-crisis-pregnancy-centers-are-legal-unethical/2018-03

https://www.vox.com/2020/3/2/21146011/crisis-pregnancy-center-resource-abortion-title-x

We are very excited to welcome Zach, our first dad on the show, just in time for Father's Day! We talk about everything from birth control to life with a newborn. Sarah and Zach share about losing their church's support because of their pregnancy. We discuss the pressure they faced to get married to "fix" their pregnancy and what they chose to do instead. I know that these sound like serious topics, but this is such a fun conversation. I have a feeling you will laugh with us!

You have to check out Sarah's clothing shop Thimble Joy!
Thimble Joy is an organic + ethical shop for t-shirts and onesies with positive messages. They are SO CUTE. You can also follow her beautiful Instagram @thimble.joy
 https://www.thimblejoy.com/ 

If you lost your job, had to go to the hospital, or needed an emergency babysitter, who would you call? Many people do not have an answer to this question. Community is often hard to find but essential when you are going through life changes, like an unplanned pregnancy.

In our second resource episode we learn about Safe Families for Children. Their mission "is to create a world where children are safe and families transformed through radically compassionate communities. Our mission is to host vulnerable children and create extended family–like supports for desperate families through a community of devoted volunteers who are motivated by compassion to keep children safe and families intact."

Hilary, the Intake and Community Engagement Coordinator for Safe Families New York City Chapter, talks to us about what this organization offers. We also discuss what real community looks like and how we should not be ashamed of asking for help. I personally volunteer with this organization, and have been transformed by my experience with them.

Check out the national website https://safe-families.org/