Hey ,

This one’s personal.

We recently celebrated Black Maternal Health Week and Mother's Day. But, instead of sharing a bunch of stats (which I could do), or bombarding you with pictures of my really cute kids, I decided to share something that hits closer to home—my story.

It’s the story of five pregnancies—each one etched into my memory like chapters in a book I didn’t know I was writing.

There’s the pregnancy that ended in miscarriage—one I didn’t even realize I was losing until the pain knocked me off my feet. The one where I had to undergo a D&C while my OB-GYN—who was pregnant herself—broke the news.

There’s the abortion I had to choose at 24. Alone, my husband on a military deployment, and a one-year-old at home. That decision still brings sadness, but it was the right one for me and my family.

There’s the rainbow baby we planned for, only to discover a blocked fallopian tube and months of disappointment before she arrived. She’s thriving now—but navigating her autism journey has brought its own lessons.

And then there’s the baby, my 30-weeker. Born after my water broke at 27 weeks. I was in the hospital on bedrest for 25 days before he made his entrance—and those 25 days changed me. I learned what it means to advocate for yourself when nobody else will. To trust your gut. To protect your peace at all costs.

ALL of this—every moment, every baby, every loss—made me the mother I am today. Made me the woman I am today.

I wrote about it all in my latest Substack post:

5 Pregnancies. 3 Birth Stories. 1 Black Mama.

And I’d love for you to read it.

Because too often, our stories go untold.

Because too many of us aren’t listened to.

Because some of us don’t make it.

And because Black mamas matter, too.

Click below to read the full post and subscribe so you never miss the truth behind the pretty photos:

Click Here to Read the Full Story

And please reply back to this email with your own motherhood story, if you feel led to share.

Love ya,

Patrice