059: IUD pain, an alternative to the pap smear & a policy to improve family travel
059: IUD pain, an alternative to the pap smear & a policy to improve family travel
Plus: A bill that could hold social media companies accountable for the damage they cause kids, an eco-friendly playhouse, 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.
News… & Other Things You Need to Know
1. Two significant medical advancements show us that medicine is finally starting to take women’s pain seriously.
First, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is finally taking intrauterine device (IUD) insertion pain seriously. Earlier this month, for the first time, federal health officials recommended that “physicians counsel women about pain management before the procedure,” The New York Times reported.
This news comes in the wake of viral social media posts about the pain associated with IUD insertion, a Planned Parenthood offering to sedate people for the procedure, and… well, years of women saying very clearly and very loudly that IUD insertion hurts.
The CDC’s new guidelines also “broadened the pain-relief options available” to include “anesthetic gel, creams and sprays.”
BTW: Some companies are now manufacturing devices designed to change the IUD insertion procedure and make everything more comfortable.
Another painful procedure that’s getting an upgrade: the pap smear. “Starting this fall, women will be able to use a simple swab to screen for cervical cancer,” reports The New York Times. “Now, a handful of health care companies are preparing to introduce a new model for cervical cancer screening and prevention that would circumvent the speculum: self-collection, in which a woman swabs her vagina in the doctor’s office, using only a narrow swab that looks similar to the one used during a Covid test,” the article details. The longer-term goal is at-home collection, too.
Both of these updates — plus action from the nation’s highest federal health agency to bring them forward — are late, but also encouraging steps toward beginning to finally take women’s pain seriously.
2. Postpartum care is in the news thanks to a new program that offers parents in some states one (or more) free visits with a trained nurse.
Family Connects — a group that works to connect new families with supportive community care resources after birth — is up and running in multiple states, including in Oregon, where the service provides “any family with a new baby a no-cost visit at home with a trained nurse,” according to an NPR piece covering the program’s statewide rollout.
Started in 2008 in North Carolina, Family Connects aims to fill a critical gap in care in this country: “After birth, the only support many families in the U.S. can count on is the occasional, 15-minute check-in at the pediatrician’s office. A safety net made of gossamer.”
Here is a map of where the program exists, including places like Bridgeport, CT; Philadelphia, PA; and Chicago.
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3. This FDA-cleared fertility app is placing women’s health front and center — by helping people prevent pregnancies, get pregnant, or recover postpartum
Innovation around birth control, and women’s health in general, has been lacking for far too long. But for over a decade, Natural Cycles° — the first and only FDA-cleared birth control app — has been dedicated to providing women a non-hormonal, non-invasive birth control method with zero side effects. So how does Natural Cycles° work? First, you’ll provide some historical details about your period; then you’ll take your temperature first thing each morning (the Natural Cycles° thermometer syncs with the app, or you can wear a compatible Apple Watch or Oura Ring to measure your skin temperature overnight). From there, the app confirms your fertility status for the day and predicts your ovulation date. Your Natural Cycles° calendar reveals what kind of “day” it is: If you’re trying to conceive, you’ll be able to identify your fertile days by a scale of red colors, where the most fertile day has the darkest shade of red. If you’re using the app in the NC° Birth Control mode, you’ll know which days get a green light (Green Days) vs. which days you’ll need back-up protection or should abstain (Red Days). Natural Cycles° is 93% effective at preventing pregnancy with typical use, and 98% effective with perfect use (which means not having unprotected sex on the days the app tells you that you can get pregnant).1
Kelsey says… “I was a little apprehensive about using a thermometer to log my temperature every day, but the process is so quick, seamless, and synced that I barely think about it in the morning now. Since starting to use Natural Cycles°, I’ve gained such a better understanding of my cycle and how it affects both my physical and mental health.”
» Click here to learn more — and use the code twotruths to get a free Natural Cycles° thermometer and 15% off your annual subscription.
4. In more talk about tongue ties, The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is the latest and largest group to say that the condition could be overdiagnosed and unnecessarily treated.
At the end of 2023, a New York Times piece entitled ‘Inside the Booming Business of Cutting Babies’ Tongues’ brought forward an issue that major medical groups have been discussing for years: the potential overuse of a procedure called a frenotomy, which releases a tongue, or a tongue tethered to the bottom of a baby’s mouth. (In 2020, the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery stated tongue tie can be overdiagnosed and unnecessarily treated.) Now, via a new report, the AAP is the latest—and largest—group to warn parents about the overuse of frenotomy and the overdiagnosis of tongue tie, suggesting that “the evidence supporting frenotomy is limited” and recommending prioritizing “nonsurgical interventions” for tongue tie. The group also called for “comprehensive” and “collaborative” care for tongue-tied infants. As always, if you’re struggling with breastfeeding pain or feeding issues, your pediatrician is a good place to start.
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5. The Senate recently passed a landmark bipartisan bill that would better protect kids online and hold tech companies accountable for the harm they cause; there’s now resistance in the House.
The Kids Online Safety Act, which passed the Senate with overwhelming support last month, was “designed to protect children from dangerous online content,” reports The AP.
It “would be the first major tech regulation package to move in years, and it could potentially pave the way for other bills that would strengthen online privacy laws or set parameters for the growing use of artificial intelligence, among others.”
The bill was pushed by the parents of children who died by suicide or were deeply harmed by online content. The House has not yet acted on the bill, with some saying the bill’s path forward “is murky.”
6. A new rule would require airlines to seat families together at no extra cost.
The policy would apply to families with kids 13 and younger and would require airlines to provide adjacent seating — either next to, in the same row as, or directly in front or behind each other — for families.
“The idea that parents ought to be seated next to their own children on a flight is common sense and also seems like something that ought to be standard practice," said Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
The proposed rule is still months, at the least, away from implementation if approved. You can learn more details here and here.
7. The ‘mental load’ isn’t new, but a new study links it to depression and stress; a new article also suggests some ways to combat an unequal division of labor.
“A study of mothers of young children, published last month in the Archives of Women’s Mental Health, found that an unequal division of labor for cognitive tasks hurts women more than unequally performing those tasks. Carrying the bulk of the mental load, the study found, was associated with depression and stress for women,” reports a recent Wall Street Journal article, which also outlines ways to tackle inequality in the household.
8. Vice President Kamala Harris’s running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, shared a poignant message about his experience with assisted reproductive technology.
Send Me the Link
‘Send Me the Link’ is a special feature of Two Truths where we share the products, services, apps, experts & extras that make life better, brighter, more beautiful, or all-around easier. (We don’t think you need a lot of ‘stuff’ in motherhood, but this stuff is the good stuff.) Here’s the link to…
These beautifully designed, eco- and kid-conscious playhouses are simple to assemble and store, 100% recyclable, free of plastic…and so much fun for little ones to hide out, play, and relax in.
These $14 kids’ goggles with oversized lenses come in tons of different colors and shapes and don’t snag hair.
This birth control app (yes, it’s a thing) has replaced the pill for me. —Kelsey
This “instant” kids’ camera is a splurge, but complete with a mini scrapbook, carrying case, and arts and crafts accessories like frames and stickers, making memory-keeping a kid thing, too.
This stainless steel bento snack box is a back-to-school essential. All meals are made better when they’re served in tiny containers that my kids’ little hands love. —K
This is the only mineral sunscreen stick (easy for kids’ faces) that I’ve repeat-ordered this summer. —Cassie
This delicious new (pregnancy- and breastfeeding-safe) electrolyte drink mix is making hot, busy mornings… better. (Use code twotruths to save on your first order.)
Making ice cream cones for everyone with this $17 kit of sand toys has been my three-year-old’s favorite activity this summer. —C
ICYMI, more headlines of the month:
Hailey Bieber Talks Pregnancy, Motherhood, & Facing Her Fears via W Magazine
Swedes take a new step in parental leave. Grandparents can now get paid to take care of grandkids via The AP
Doctors Can Now Save Very Premature Babies. Most Hospitals Don’t Try via Wall Street Journal
Senate GOP blocks tax bill as Democrats spotlight child credit in election-year push via CNN
Donald Trump Suggests He's Open To Banning Abortion Pill Mifepristone via Newsweek
2024 Best of The Bump Awards via The Bump
Harris wants to give families a big tax break for a new baby via NPR
Words That Resonate
« In this new feature, we share some of our top posts — and the reactions and conversations they spurred. » Fun fact about the Two Truths origin story: When we debated the best time to send out our newsletter (it typically hits inboxes at 8:02 p.m. EST), we aimed for “her hour” (a.k.a. your hour, and our hour). Here’s what that means…
“This is so relatable. That precious hour when the house is quiet but your mind is still buzzing with thoughts from mom duties and all the pending work!” —@ashschroeder
“There is never enough time.” —@saltywavesroadmap
“As I’m ending my ‘me time’ before our 2:30am feeding. This.” —@megthefounder
“Thank you for putting my exact thoughts into words. My husband asks why I’m so tired every day, and it’s not just the physical exhaustion, but the mental exhaustion that just never goes away.” —@annamarq_
“So relatable! Currently up at 3am pumping and enjoying some peace and quiet in my living room while my husband is sleeping with my baby girl.” —@esmer_love94
“That hour will be mine again one day. It’s just a season, and it might be a long one, but it won’t last forever.” —@jessinspiring
“Y'‘all are getting a full hour?? 🤯” —beeceee
✨ 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
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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.
Natural Cycles is for ages 18+ and does not protect against STIs.