046: Trending: Big news for abortion & birth control, the fairytale of Montessori & the motherhood penalty
Plus: Can a deck of cards save your marriage? $10,000 newborn photos. A ‘care school’ for men. Bradley Cooper gets real on fatherhood. And more!
Welcome to Two Truths, a bestselling newsletter & media brand exploring the many truths of motherhood from journalists & maternal health advocates Cassie Shortsleeve of Dear Sunday Motherhood & Kelsey Haywood Lucas of Motherspeak. Two Truths is rooted in the healing & affirming principle that two (or more) things can be true. It’s a “best parenting Substack” per Motherly; also seen in The Skimm, Vox, The Bump, Popsugar & more.
This is Two Truths: Trending, a regular feature where we read the internet so you don’t have to. Two Truths: Trending delivers a digest of motherhood-related highlights & headlines — all curated & contextualized with maternal mental health in mind.
In this issue:
Two major retailers will start filling prescriptions for ‘the abortion pill’ — providing important access to reproductive healthcare
The fairytale promise of Montessori
It’s 2024, and women still only earn 84 cents on the dollar; now guess how much moms make?
The first OTC birth control pill is coming to stores soon
Four updates on America’s childcare crisis
The new wave of elaborate infant photo shoots — and their multi-thousand dollar price tags
Inside Bogotá's Care School for Men — and why involving partners in care work early on matters
A great (and concerning) reason to forward this newsletter to a Gen Z mom
Bradley Cooper says it took months to bond with his daughter — and that fatherhood saved his life
The new Bon Appétit series we’re loving
Brittany Mahomes on pelvic floor health
Motherhood experts hit SXSW
1. Both CVS and Walgreens will start filling prescriptions for ‘the abortion pill’ — providing important access to reproductive healthcare
CVS and Walgreens will begin filling prescriptions for the abortion pill mifepristone in select states, The New York Times reported last week. CVS will begin the rollout in some locations in Rhode Island and Massachusetts; Walgreens in New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, California, and Illinois. Both CVS and Walgreens said they aim to expand to states where abortion is legal and where pharmacies are “legally able to dispense abortion pills — about half of the states.” [gift link1]
Mifepristone is the first medication taken as part of a two-step ‘medical abortion’ process and works by blocking progesterone, a hormone required for pregnancy. The second medication taken in the process is called misoprostol and causes contractions and leads to the expulsion of pregnancy tissue. Misoprostol — which is also used for other medical reasons, including to prevent stomach ulcers while taking NSAIDs such as ibuprofen — is already “easily obtained at pharmacies through a typical prescription process.” Mifepristone, on the other hand, has been tightly regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) since its approval in 2000.
An important distinction: Abortion pills are already available or easily prescribed in the states CVS and Walgreens will begin filling prescriptions in. This decision, which has been met with celebration and condemnation, is an important step in providing easier access to reproductive healthcare; it’s also not a solution for the crises many women, particularly in states where abortion is banned or severely restricted, face.
Related reading:
An oldie but a goodie: ‘The Opposite of Abortion Isn’t Motherhood’ — an essay by Girls Who Code and Moms First founder Reshma Saujani for Marie Claire
Our recent deep dive: ‘Why is there next to no research on women’s health?’
2. The fairytale promise of Montessori
Another solid piece from The Atlantic: a fascinating look at the trend of ‘Montessori parenting,’ a loose offshoot of Montessori education — the concept conceived by 20th century Italian educator Maria Montessori who believed kids were “innately orderly, focused, and self-motivated, and should be given freedom to choose what they learn.” Montessori style has gone viral on social media thanks to influencers with millions of followers, toy companies such as Lovevery, best-selling books like The Montessori Toddler, and popular online platforms such as @motherhood.and.montessori. The piece includes interviews with seven “Montessori-parenting adherents,” as well as a fascinating overview of the history and progress of Montessori, as well as a detailed explanation of the nuance here — and how much of what’s labeled as “Montessori” today is only tangentially related to Montessori’s initial philosophy, often coming with high price tags, time demands, and false expectations, too (see the story’s subtitle: “No matter how hard you work to organize a playroom, you can’t eliminate chaos or uncertainty from the task of raising kids.”) But if you can take some of the primary teachings at face value, as the article points out, “Montessori is remarkable for the extent to which it takes children seriously.” [gift link]
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4. It’s 2024, and women still only earn 84 cents on the dollar
Ahead of Equal Pay Day on March 12, here’s something else you should know: For mothers, that number drops to 58 cents. This is an unfair and pervasive phenomenon known as the “motherhood penalty.” Women continue to disproportionately shoulder the burden of a system that’s stacked against them — from labor to parenthood to a broken healthcare system and a political landscape that’s in constant battle over reproductive freedom.
That’s why Perelel is doubling down on the fight to fund women’s health and get mothers access to the care they need and deserve. (Learn more about the $10 million Perelel Pledge here.)
» Special thanks to Perelel for supporting Two Truths. Readers can use the code TWOTRUTHS for 20% off a first-time purchase. On March 12, receive 16% off (the pay gap) with the code EQUALPAY for one-time purchases or CLOSETHEGAP for existing subscribers.
4. Opill, the first OTC birth control pill, is coming to stores soon
No prescription necessary: The drug Opill, which has been available for decades as a form of birth control, will now be available for purchase over-the-counter — available both online and in many drugstores, convenience stores, and supermarkets later this month, the manufacturer announced this week. This NPR article spells out many other must-know details (like how it works, how much it’ll cost, and where you can find it).
5. Four updates on America’s childcare crisis
Recently, Google, General Mills, and other companies announced they’d close on-site childcare facilities. This new report by childcare expert Elliot Haspel, with an accompanying op-ed in Fast Company, has a simple and important takeaway: “Childcare should not be a private perk to be run through the employer-employee relationship, but a dependable, universal, essential service.”
In similar yet different news: ‘Private Equity Has Its Eyes on the Child-Care Industry,’ per The Atlantic’s Adam Harris. [gift link]
This extensive report from our friend Lauren Smith Brody (author and CEO of The Fifth Trimester and one of our Chamber of Mothers2 co-founders), in partnership with early childcare company Vivvi, details the return on investment of caregiving benefits. Read: “Benefits and culture that support moms, dads, and other caregiving employees are more than just a ‘nice thing to do.’ They’re a business imperative.”
Childcare centers with extended hours are in the news again after a viral video of a mom dropping her child at a 24-hour childcare center stirred up debate about when, where, and how parents utilize childcare.
6. The new wave of elaborate infant photo shoots — and their multi-thousand dollar price tags
Elaborate newborn photos aren’t a new concept (see the long-popular Anne Geddes-inspired style that leans heavily on gauzy, ethereal swaddling and nature-centric settings). Yet, a recent Wall Street Journal article by Katherine Clarke describes a new, over-the-top trend in baby photography: parents shelling out thousands “for portraits of their newborn in fashion shoots as sweet as a Disney movie or as raucous as a punk-rock club.” Read: a fun form of memory-making for some — and not the only way. Here are some other ways to capture memories with your children that don’t involve a price tag. [gift link]
7. Inside Bogotá's Care School for Men — and why involving partners in care work early on matters
“At Bogotá's Care School for Men, an innovative city-led program, men learn how to tend to their families and homes and to step up to do their share of housework and child care — from changing a diaper to styling a ponytail. This latest class of participants consists of all medical students, but the usual enrollees are just ... dads,” reads an NPR deep dive on the free, first-of-its-kind program in Colombia that’s working to dismantle the gender inequities in unpaid care work around the world — one dad at a time.
» Speaking of inequities in care work… read: ‘The Marriages Hanging On By a $19 Deck of Cards.’ It’s a look at Eve Rodsky’s Fair Play Life — the uber-popular household task system, as told by the many moms who use it, via The Cut.
8. A great (and concerning) reason to forward this newsletter to a Gen Z mom
“Just 14% of Gen Z voters said they’d heard ‘a lot’ about the Alabama court’s IVF ruling, compared with 20% who said the same about Reesa Teesa’s 50-part series3.” (H/t to
for the head’s up.) ICYMI, catch up on the Alabama IVF ruling — and what it means for reproductive freedom across the country — here:» Plus, an important update:
9. Bradley Cooper says it took months to bond with his daughter — and that fatherhood saved his life
“If I’m being honest, the first eight months, I’m like, ‘I don’t even know if I really love the kid,’” the actor and father, who also says parenthood has kept him sober and alive, said on Dax Shephard’s podcast, Armchair Expert. [For mental health resources, please head to our footnotes4.]
10. The new Bon Appétit series we’re loving
In ‘The Fourth Trimester,’ the food mag shares stories about the meals that nourished people through new parenthood. See essays on the early days with fried rice or Miyeokguk (Korean seaweed).
And we’ll leave you with this…
One last thing: SXSW starts tomorrow and is filled with top motherhood experts
Keep an ear out for words of wisdom in the days to come from many of this year’s South by Southwest (SXSW) speakers. Motherhood experts such as psychiatrist
, OB/GYN Heather Irobunda, M.D., doctor and midwife Aviva Romm, M.D., and Meghan Markle are all poised to speak at the event, which runs from March 8 to March 16 in Austin, Texas.✨ Thanks for reading! To support this work (done between naps, after bedtimes, and before school pickups), please consider upgrading to a paid subscription (it’s just $5/month or $50/year to get the premium experience — every single issue, exclusive content and giveaways, access to the full archive of content, and more). You can also hit the heart button to tell us you enjoyed this issue, share it on social media (don’t forget to tag @twotruthsmotherhood on IG), or forward it to a friend. We appreciate you. —Cassie and Kelsey
Gift links provide our readers with access to paywalled content from other publishers, usually for a limited time.
The two co-founders of this newsletter are also part of the collective of co-founders of Chamber of Mothers — a non-profit working to advance maternal rights in the U.S., with a focus on the three pillars of paid leave, affordable childcare, and maternal health. Follow @chamberofmothers on Instagram and join the mother-led movement at chamberofmothers.com.
Confused? Catch up on Reesa Teesa’s viral TikTok series here. The point is that *a lot* of young people know more about one woman’s sketchy husband than they do about major health news that has the power to affect reproductive rights all across the country; news that is imperative to know when hitting the voting booth.
Resources and Support For Maternal Mental Health
Emergency assistance is available 24/7 at 911
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24/7 at 988
The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline (1-833-TLC-MAMA or 1-833-852-6262) provides access to a trained counselor 24/7 and is available in Spanish and English
Postpartum Support International provides educational resources on PMADs, free support groups, webinars, advanced trainings for providers, and more
Postpartum Support International’s provider directory includes a list of thousands of trained professionals organized by state
The Motherhood Center offers counseling, support groups, and webinars
The Postpartum Stress Center offers educational resources, counseling, a referral list of trained providers, and advanced training for providers
SUPPORT YOUR MENTAL HEALTH WITH POSTPARTUM SUPPORT INTERNATIONAL (PSI). PSI is a global champion for perinatal mental health that connects individuals and families to the resources and support needed to give them the strongest and healthiest start possible. Visit postpartum.net for information on perinatal mental health disorders, access to 30+ free, online support groups, an online provider directory, the PSI HelpLine, local support coordinators, a perinatal mental health discussion tool, specialized support resources, and more. Call the PSI HelpLine toll-free at 1-800-944-4773 for basic information, support, and resources. Support via text message is also available at 800-944-4773 (English) and 971-203-2773 (Español). Remember: You are not alone. You are not to blame. With help, you will be well.