You can’t scare me I have a stubborn daughter t shirt
While motherhood is an age-old experience, the You can’t scare me I have a stubborn daughter t shirt and by the same token and fact is that it’s one plagued by many modern challenges; ones that are only exacerbated for pregnant women and new mothers without support systems. “As women, our bodies and babies know exactly what to do, how to do it and the precise time at which to do it, and right now external factors are a material disruptor to that natural rhythm of procreation,” explains Roach.
“As a Black woman, coming from and creating a lineage, this is very personal.” According to the CDC, Black women are three to four times more likely to experience a pregnancy-related death than white women, and while there’s more awareness of the maternal health crisis and its disproportionate impact on Black women and other women of color, there’s a long way to go. As part of Roach’s work to put mother’s health and well-being back at the center of care, she’s also providing informational workshops and brand partnerships that raise visibility surrounding specific maternal health concerns. This work includes joining forces with the Caribbean Women’s Health Association, a collective of doulas she’s a part of that offers free doula support among other resources to underserved communities, predominantly women of color, and collaborating on a workshop series with Diaspora Community Services’ Mothers Gaining Hope House in Brooklyn, which offers housing and support services to pregnant and parenting teenagers, walking young mothers through the basics of preparing for their motherhood journey. “I believe that I have a responsibility to share what I have learned and what I know with my community,” explains Roach. “Every bit of information and support will literally change someone’s life and generations following.”