October 2020 newsletter

Boobs, babies and wellbeing — Mirza Monthly #5
View this email in your browser

Hey friends and family, 

Spooky season is upon us… and what’s scarier than realizing it’s only a month ‘til election day? The only thing scarier is if you realize you haven’t registered to vote. Have you? Here’s Casper to give you a friendly reminder to make a voting plan 👻 And check that you’re registered here. It only takes 30 seconds. 

For October, we’re thrilled to be partnering up with ThreeMDs, a power trio of women doctors ⚡️ They specialize in dermatology, psychiatry and OBGYN, and they want to give women more information about their bodies. We’ll be talking all about women’s health and wellbeing, from skin changes as a sign of breast cancer to how to cope with grief after a miscarriage. These conversations can be scary; many of us have lost a friend or family member to breast cancer. Many of us have lost a loved one to COVID. Even more of us have or will lose a pregnancy (1 in 4 pregnancies end in miscarriage) at some point in our lives. We’re blown away by Chrissy Teigen’s openness recently in sharing her family’s loss, and grateful that she’s opened up conversation. The grief of losing a child, even one who may not have been ready to enter the world yet, is profound and unimaginable. It can be so hard for many women to express that pain and grief, and everyone grieves differently, but talking about it is healthier than repressing those emotions. We are sending all of our love to Chrissy and her family 💜

We’ve got another packed newsletter for you this month. It’s a bit of a heavy one, so please skip ahead if you find any of the topics distressing.

Breast cancer, like most of this year, can f*ck right off. But just like 2020, it’s an awful but very real part of life that we must confront. Since October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we’re diving into this topic head-first 💪

1 in 8 women develop invasive breast cancer over the course of their lifetimes; it is the most commonly occurring cancer in women and the second most common cancer overall; it is also 100% evil. Ultimately, breast cancer can affect anyone regardless of gender, age, race or genetics. It’s important that we’re all made aware of this and talk about it. This month, we hope you will join us in raising awareness, learning more about symptoms, early testing, and how to talk about breast cancer with those around you. tl;dr: get ready for some boob talk this month 🤘

The loss of a baby is something we wouldn’t wish on anyone. The thought of it leaves many of us at a loss for the right words. It feels personal, intimate and taboo. But that doesn’t mean we should stay silent about it. When 1 in 4 pregnancies end in miscarriage, it’s a common yet unspoken reality that many of us will experience in our lifetimes.

Losing a baby is a huge emotional, mental and physical strain that can result in long-term effects. The effects can include, but are not limited to, depression, anxiety, changes in relationships, development of unhealthy coping mechanisms and PTSD. While we are aware of these effects, too often they are underestimated and misunderstood by health care professionals, friends and even family members. Also, stigmas surrounding miscarriage prevent many from talking about and sharing their grief, which is a crucial part in processing this kind of loss and something for which many people need mental and emotional support. Start breaking the silence by learning more about pregnancy and infant loss:

  • PSI Offers a support group for anyone struggling with the loss of a baby.

  • Tommy’s pregnancy line provides free advice from midwives who are trained in bereavement support.

  • Saying Goodbye provides support for anyone who has suffered baby loss at any stage of pregnancy, birth or in infancy.

Real talk: “boys will be boys,” “bullying is a part of growing up,” and “it will make you stronger,” are outdated and toxic phrases that instill unhealthy social beliefs. We don’t stand for that. There is no excuse for bullying. It is distressing for anyone involved and while it can feel hopeless, there are actionable and productive steps that you can take as a parent. Let’s raise inclusive, kind and empowered kids. 

Online and cyberbullying have real life consequences. There are ways to help kids use the digital space in a safe way - for both mental health and physical wellbeing:

In light of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we would like to honor Maryam Mirzakhani, one of our greatest inspirations here at Mirza. During her battle against breast cancer, Maryam continued to work and made groundbreaking mathematical breakthroughs, all while taking care of her young daughter. She is truly remarkable. Read about Maryam’s story and her legacy.

💜 CoppaFeel is a breast cancer charity on a mission to spread awareness and empower young people to start healthy habits for life. Follow their fun page to get educated on the importance of getting to know your boobies!

📚 Check out this incredible book on 100 ways for boys to be kind, bold and brave! For parents who want to raise kind kids, not jerks and teach boys how to be great men. 

💡 Unfortunately, you can’t bully-proof your child, but you can help your child develop the right skills to stand up to a bully and prevent them from becoming one. Learn 11 ways on how to empower your child.

🏳️‍🌈 It’s National Coming Out Day on 11th October! Whether or not you're openly LGBTQ+, never forget you are a valid, important part of our community. Wherever you are in your own personal journey, we're here and we're proud of you 🙌

🎙 We’re making a podcast! Work Hard, Parent Hard will release its inaugural season, How to Dad, on November 16th. Stay tuned for more information.

That’s a wrap on our October Newsletter! Thanks for catching up with us. Now we’d like to hear from you. We’re currently looking for beta testers and would love to have you on board - to get involved, sign up on our website.

Speak to you soon,

M.

Instagram
LinkedIn
Twitter
Website
20-22 Wenlock Road, London, N1 7GU

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.
Previous
Previous

Your mental health during miscarriage

Next
Next

How one British family tackles military life