Sexual Assault Awareness Prevention Month | American Stroke Month | International Doula Month | Lupus Awareness Month | National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month | Preeclampsia Awareness Month

Sexual Assault Awareness Prevention Month

Every 73 seconds, an American is sexually assaulted. And every 9 minutes, that victim is a child. Sexual violence impacts every community and affects people of all genders, sexual orientations and ages. Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month calls attention to the fact that sexual violence is widespread and it brings advocates and communities together to help prevent these crimes. Each one of us can help promote healthy and positive relationships that are based on respect, safety and equality. Call 800.656.HOPE (4673) to be connected with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area. Learn more about this day, please visit https://www.rainn.org/about-national-sexual-assault-telephone-hotline, https://www.nsvrc.org/saam, https://www.dea.gov/stories/2021/2021-04/2021-04-14/sexual-assault-awareness-prevention-month

American Stroke Month

American Stroke Month was created to promote public awareness and reduce the incidence of stroke in the United States. Stroke is a leading cause of death in the United States and is a major cause of serious disability for adults. About 795,000 people in the United States have a stroke each year. Get more quick facts about stroke. Stroke is preventable. You may be able to prevent stroke or lower your chances of having a stroke. Stroke is treatable. Learn the signs of stroke, and call 9-1-1 right away if you think someone might be having a stroke. Getting fast treatment is important to preventing death and disability from stroke. Visit https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/ to learn more about strokes. To learn more about American Stroke Month, please visit https://www.heart.org/en/professional/quality-improvement/american-stroke-month-qora

International Doula Month

Both birth & postpartum doulas are being celebrated for the important contributions they make to maternal-infant health & the family’s birth & postpartum experience. A doula is a professional who provides emotional, physical and informational support to families during the childbearing year. A doula can be a birth doula who supports the labor and birth, or a postpartum doula who supports the parent-baby dyad and other family members after the baby is born. Do you know the benefits of using a doula at your birth? What about having a doula help you after you’ve had the baby? Find out what a doula can do for you! https://www.dona.org/what-is-a-doula/benefits-of-a-doula/ Here’s a great guide on how to hire the perfect doula for you! https://www.dona.org/what-is-a-doula/how-to-hire-a-doula/

Lupus Awareness Month

Lupus is a chronic, autoimmune disease that affects more women than men. If you have lupus, your risk is higher for other health problems that are common in women, such as heart disease and osteoporosis. Anyone can get lupus. It is difficult to know how many people in the United States have lupus, because the symptoms are different for every person. It is estimated that 1.5 million Americans have lupus. Other estimates range from 161,000 to 322,000 Americans with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Lupus is most common in women ages 15 to 44, or during the years they can have children. Having lupus raises your risk of other health problems. Lupus can also make these problems happen earlier in life compared to women who do not have lupus. Learn more about lupus by visiting https://www.cdc.gov/lupus/basics/women.htm

National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month

While there have been advances in reducing teen pregnancy, progress is still needed to close racial/ethnic and geographic disparities in teen birth rates in the United States. Although the teen birth rate is at a historic low, the United States has one of the highest rates in the industrialized world, with birth rates higher among American Indian/Alaska Natives and non-Hispanic blacks than among their non-Hispanic white counterparts. NTPPM is about more than preventing teen pregnancy. It’s about ensuring positive outcomes for adolescents. Connecting youth to services and opportunities that help them reach their full potential can help prevent teen pregnancy. This means engaging youth within their communities, schools, organizations, and families in a manner that is productive and constructive. Visit the following websites to gather more information about NTPPM and how you can help: https://npin.cdc.gov/pages/national-teen-pregnancy-prevention-month, https://opa.hhs.gov/NTPPM, https://www.cdc.gov/teenpregnancy/about/index.htm

Preeclampsia Awareness Month

Some women have high blood pressure during pregnancy. This can put the mother and her baby at risk for problems during the pregnancy. High blood pressure can also cause problems during and after delivery. The good news is that high blood pressure is preventable and treatable. High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is very common. In the United States, high blood pressure happens in 1 in every 12 to 17 pregnancies among women ages 20 to 44. High blood pressure in pregnancy has become more common. However, with good blood pressure control, you and your baby are more likely to stay healthy. The most important thing to do is talk with your health care team about any blood pressure problems so you can get the right treatment and control your blood pressure—before you get pregnant. Getting treatment for high blood pressure is important before, during, and after pregnancy. Learn more about high blood pressure during pregnancy by visiting https://www.cdc.gov/bloodpressure/pregnancy.htm