Today we’d like to introduce you to Tina Branch
Hi Tina, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
After losing my son at almost 20 weeks in 2022, which was my third consecutive loss, and experiencing perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, I started Project Motherhood Iowa because I didn’t have the support I needed while going through PMADs. The support I did receive wasn’t helpful – I found the online support groups to be primarily negative – and my family didn’t know how to properly support me due to ignorance in regards to loss, infertility and perinatal mental health.
Project Motherhood Iowa started as an online community to offer resources and support to help black women understand and overcome maternal mental health disorder’s. Since its establishment it has grown to become a community resource for black women and their families, without excluding other races and cultures, providing peer support, education and community services for families experiencing loss, perinatal mental health and infertility.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has been a pretty smooth ride. I think the biggest obstacle for me was knowing how to pivot from online only to in-person, and learning how to navigate the interest of my community to offer services that best fit their needs.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Project Motherhood Iowa is a Black Woman led, community based organization that provides services to Black women and their families on dealing with pregnancy loss, infertility and perinatal mental health. We offer perinatal and loss peer support groups, educational materials, and community resources.
We collaborate and network with incredible organizations like Rural Black Doula, Meadowlark Clinic, Postpartum Support International – Iowa Chapter, and Monsoon Asians & Pacific Islanders in Solidarity to provide vital perinatal support and mental health services to our community.
We currently offer peer support groups at Meadowlark Clinic in Des Moines, IA the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 6pm – children are welcome to attend. This fall we plan to offer support groups for fathers, and a Paint & Share Mom Circle.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
I feel as a perinatal mental health advocate, educator, and peer support professional, the most important quality for my success is empathy.
Understanding and sharing the feelings of others allows for genuine connections and effective support, ensuring that those in need feel heard, validated, and cared for.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://projectmotherhood.co
- Instagram: @PROJECTMOTHERHOOD.IA
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/projectmotherhood.ia
- Other: [email protected]
Image Credits
Keesha Ward