🩺Take care of your health – reproductive or otherwise

Plus thoughts on mothering for this Mother's Day

View this email online Loveis Wise/NPR Friends, What a May we’ve had already.    This particular week on the calendar is usually chock-full of celebration. Depending on who you are or where you come from, you might have demonstrated for labor rights on Sunday, spent Monday at the Met, Wednesday greeting co-workers with “May the 4th be with you,” Thursday ringing in Cinco de Mayo and have plans this Sunday for brunch with mom. Oh-May-oh-my! But for many, the week took a more serious turn. On Monday, a leaked draft memo from the U.S. Supreme Court suggested that the court will overturn Roe v. Wade. If that happens, the ruling would effectively end federal protection for abortion rights and have a major impact in states that have already signaled their intention to restrict or ban the vast majority of abortions – restrictions that would disproportionately affect Black and Hispanic women. Reactions to the news have been varied, swift and loud. As we approach Mother’s Day, this news can feel especially weighty. Regardless of our feelings on abortion, the leaked ruling signals a fundamental shift in the landscape of healthcare and reproductive rights in the U.S. – for parents and would-be parents and non-parents and never-want-to-be-parents alike.  Newsletter continues after sponsor message There’s no quick fix or greeting card for this moment. What we can offer instead are resources for taking care of yourself – and your health – right now. Whether you’re a new mom up to your ears in diapers, a happily child-free adult, a grandma or a grandkid or a potential parent or just a human looking out into a perpetually uncertain future: we could all use a little care right now. Take what you need.  Make the most of your health insurance plan: You’ve picked a plan and pay for it every month, but are you making good use of it? Do you have a primary care doctor, and do they understand your needs? This episode offers 6 tips to start actually using your health insurance, today.  Listen to the episode Understand birth control options: Birth control is a personal decision, and there are lots of different options to choose from. This guide can help you decide what option, if any, works best for you.  Think about if and when and how you want kids: There’s never a “right time,” say the experts, but there are questions you can ask yourself if you’re on the fence about becoming a parent.  Navigate pregnancy and new motherhood: If you’re a parent or parent-to-be, you know full-well the roller coaster that process can be. We’ve got episodes on how to make a birth plan, dealing with pregnancy loss, navigating postpartum depression and a guide for understanding the highs and lows of new motherhood.    Refresh your learning with comprehensive sex education: There’s no national mandate for sex education in the U.S., and what’s available often leaves out queer people. Here’s what to know about the updated birds and bees.  Better navigate consent: Consent is all about continuous navigation between sex partners to help ensure that everybody involved is OK with what's happening and actively (if not enthusiastically) participating. It’s a skill you can practice in every realm of your life! Practice self-pleasure: Touch and pleasure are essential to being human, and it’s easy and healthy to provide that comfort for yourself. It starts with just a little openness and celebrating your body – we’re all for that! Finally friends, here’s a way to make your weekend a little brighter: check out these tips for making your own bouquet.  Beck Harlan/NPR Taking a little time to make your own flower arrangement might not solve your worries, but flexing that creativity muscle can be a gift in itself, a small act of self-care and a way to connect with nature. There’s never a bad time to remember to stop and smell the roses – especially this time of year.  –Andee Tagle, Life Kit producer P.S. Beyond the week’s news, Sunday might bring up a lot of complicated feelings. Tune in next week for our episode about the nuances of mothering, from a conversation with author Angela Garbes about her new book Essential Labor: Mothering as Social Change. Here’s a sneak peak: "The terrain of mothering is not limited to the people who give birth to children; it is not defined by gender. While "mother" is an important identity for many women who still provide the majority of care to children in America, no one cares for children entirely on their own. My perspective has grown to consider the work of raising children as Mothering, an action that includes people of all genders and nonparents alike." Take a moment to think about the people who are a mothering force in your life – or ways you can be that force yourself in your community. 📢📢📢 📈 Curious about investing?  💰 Not sure where to start saving? 💵 Send us your personal finance questions for money expert Jen Hemphill. You can email or send a voice note to lifekit@npr.org with your name, phone number and question. You could hear yourself or your question in an upcoming episode. Thanks for sticking with us! Listen to your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to hear live radio from WBEZ (edit station). What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: LifeKit@npr.org Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Daily News, Code Switch, Health and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Life Kit emails. 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