067: The health harms of alcohol, Meghan Trainor’s message for moms & ‘hard launching’ your new baby
Plus: The state making paid leave history, big travel news for families, baby product recalls & resources for the LA wildfires
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.
Huge health news: The Surgeon General calls for new health warning labels on alcohol—here’s what to know
“For millennia in medicine, alcohol, particularly red wine, carried a health halo; in small doses, it has historically been thought to have cardioprotective benefits,” Cassie writes in a recent piece for Medscape. However, alcohol’s health halo is dimming. “On Friday, January 3, Vivek Murthy, M.D., the surgeon general of the United States, issued an advisory about this link, calling alcohol consumption a ‘leading preventable cause of cancer’ and advocating for health warning labels to be added to alcohol products. As Dr. Murthy outlines, evidence is piling up that drinking even small amounts is a problem,” Cassie reported in another recent piece for SELF. Here are Cassie’s two recent stories about what you need to know about the health harms of alcohol — and how approaches to booze are shifting.
» Also from the nation’s leading physician: The Surgeon General’s Parting Prescription for America: Community
“In addition to more commonly discussed challenges such as economic hardship, mental health struggles, and uncertainty about the future, there is something else that has been missing for many people that is a critical driver of health and well-being: community,” writes Vivek Murthy, M.D.
Celeb news we appreciate: Meghan Trainor is opening up about her journey with postpartum depression, antidepressants, panic attacks, pumping, formula, and the answer to “how are you doing it?” (spoiler alert: support). In a new video (and Times Square billboard), she’s also encouraging new mothers to do something very, very important: Ask for help. It’s all part of a timely new campaign from Bobbie aimed at centering parental mental health, destigmatizing all feeding journeys, and underscoring the importance of postpartum support. After all, a recent survey of 1,000 new mothers—commissioned by the brand and developed by perinatal and pediatric providers1—found that 63% of moms experience “extreme or moderate stress” over infant feeding choices, 61% have felt “shame, anxiety, or discomfort” seeking support around feeding, and 86% feel “frequent or constant” negative emotions postpartum. (This comes just months after the Surgeon General’s advisory on parents’ mental health.) Trainor says she hopes sharing her story helps just one person—and Bobbie is allocating $50,000 to fund grants for families in need. All you need to do to apply is—you guessed it!—ask for help.
» Want to apply for a Bobbie Care Package designed to give moms a little extra support? Go to hibobbie.com/ask-for-help/ to learn more and apply for the package—which includes a $500 grant, access to support from Poppyseed Health, plus parenting essentials from Care.com, Coterie, DoorDash, Once Upon a Farm, and more.2
If you’re struggling with your mental health, please know that you’re not alone and that help is always available. Utilize the mental health resources at the bottom of this issue.
When we don’t know enough about women’s health, it’s easy to get scammed
“A lack of high-quality research on PCOS causes both too few and too many diagnoses,” writes columnist and Screaming On the Inside: The Unsustainability of American Motherhood author Jessica Grose. Be sure to read this one if you’ve ever been intrigued by an influencer selling a “cure” for PCOS. [The New York Times]
Planning a trip to the UK this year? You’ll need authorization
“Starting January 8, U.S. citizens visiting the U.K. will need electronic travel authorization—even for layovers.” [CNTraveler.com]
» Speaking of travel… On a recent 10-day trip to Hawaii, I skipped packing big bulky kids stuff (car seats and a high chair) and instead rented from a local mom via BabyQuip (think of it like Airbnb but for baby gear). The code SUNDAY20 gets you $20 off any order of $100+. —Cassie
A perinatal psychologist speaks out about her public divorce involving Wicked co-stars Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater
“As a therapist, I try to keep my personal life private. After my public split, that was no longer in my control,” writes clinical psychologist Lilly Jay, Psy.D., PMH-C. In this thoughtful and fascinating piece, Jay explores how a highly public scandal and the dissolution of her marriage affected her practice—and her parenting. [The Cut]
Is ‘hard launching’ your baby the new pregnancy announcement?
An interesting look at the evolution of baby announcements from
, a journalist who covers family vlogging/mom influencers and the author of What’s the Vibe on Substack.
» Related: ‘The fine art of hard-launching a baby’ [Romper]
This guide could serve as an important resource for yourself or a friend; bookmark it. [ProPublica]
New study reveals moms handle 79% of family’s daily demands
“New research in the Journal of Marriage and Family reveals what many of us already feel in our bones: Moms carry the majority of the daily invisible labor that keeps families afloat (scheduling dentist appointments, keeping track of the grocery list and remembering it’s pajama day at school).” The data reveals that fathers report they’re carrying their weight, too, although “they’re more likely to handle occasional ‘episodic tasks’ (remembering to service the car or fixing the broken dishwasher) than everyday mental labor.” [Motherly]
Alert! Two recent recalls of two popular children’s products
Baby gear company Nuna voluntarily recalled 600,000 of their RAVA car seats over a harness defect that could cause the restraint system to fail in a crash. What to do: Perform a harness safety test (this video via @safeintheseat helps show it) to determine whether you need a cleaning kit and a new seat pad from the company.
Kids audio player brand Yoto issued (another) recall for the Yoto Mini due to speakers that can overheat and catch fire. What to do: Stop using the device entirely and contact the company for a free battery replacement. More deets here.
Australia bans social media for everyone under 16
“It’s one of the world’s most comprehensive measures aimed at safeguarding young people from potential hazards online. The law sets a minimum age for users of platforms like TikTok, Instagram and X, but many details are still unclear — such as how it will be enforced and what other social media platforms will be covered.” Wherever you are in the journey that is navigating social media usage with your family, this law can serve as a reference or conversation starter with older kids. [New York Times gift link]
» Related: ‘Psychologist Jonathan Haidt predicts majority of US schools will be 'phone-free' by next fall’
America’s youngest mothers are being murdered: “It’s much more comfortable to grapple with America’s maternal mortality rates by staring down the faceless threats of hypertension and hemorrhage. The killings of young mothers are far uglier deaths. But that is precisely why we must not look away,’” writes Sara Chodosh in a New York Times op-ed. [New York Times gift link]
First legislation addressing military mothers’ mental health included in final National Defense Bill
“The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) — one of the largest pieces of legislation orchestrated by the federal government — includes a new program to address the mental health of active duty service members and their spouses during and following pregnancy. The legislation calls for establishing a standing program in the military health care system that will provide resources to prevent and treat maternal mental health conditions and raise awareness of these resources among military service members and their families.” [Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance]
New York employers must now offer paid medical leave during pregnancy
“Pregnant New Yorkers will be entitled to at least 20 hours of paid leave to attend prenatal medical appointments under a law that took effect Wednesday. Gov. Kathy Hochul said the policy makes New York the first state in the country to offer paid leave for prenatal care.” [The Associated Press]
Sexual assault survivor Gisèle Pelicot has become ‘the image of bravery across the globe’
“Until Sept. 2, 2024, most of the world did not really know what Gisèle Pelicot looked like. There were almost no photographs of Ms. Pelicot, a 72-year-old grandmother, online. She wasn’t on social media. No one except her friends and family knew she had an orange Louise Brooks bob and a penchant for round John Lennon sunglasses. But by Thursday, as Ms. Pelicot stood with her head held high in a courtroom in Avignon, France, as the verdicts in the harrowing four-month rape trial of her ex-husband and 50 other men were read, she had become the image of bravery across the globe.” [New York Times gift link]
«Currently listening to» Two new podcasts on our radar…
Kylie Kelce talks minivans: “No need for a wellness check. You heard right. Minivans are IN for 2025.”
‘We Didn’t Turn Out OK’ is the new podcast from respectful parenting pro and Charmspring co-founder Jennie Monness: “Can’t wait for you to tune in and be part of this movement where we dive into what most of our parenting roadblocks are really about — the parts of us that need a little more growth.”
If you’re looking for ways to help, many organizations and news outlets have rounded up ways to support relief efforts. Here are just a few that came across our feeds:
If you’ve been impacted personally, know that many of your favorite baby brands are offering their services/products/support, including these ones:
To help support families impacted by the LA fires, Bobbie is donating 1,000 cans to grassroots relief efforts and covering the feeding journeys of LA families who’ve lost their homes. Gift a can and join them in showing up for communities that need help right now in LA. And if you have lost your home or been impacted by a similar loss resulting from the fires… please apply here to have the rest of your feeding journey covered by Bobbie’s LA Fire Relief Fund.
Slumberkins is sending stuffed animals to those in need. Email them at california@slumberkins.com if you’ve been impacted.
Owlet will send those impacted a Dream Duo 2 at no cost.
LA-based Perelel is encouraging subscribers in need to fill out this form to receive essential supplies, such as formula or diapers.
And We’ll Leave You With This…
✨ 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.
The ‘Ask For Help’ study provides new, third-party research commissioned by Bobbie and led by three leading experts in maternal and perinatal health: Dr. Ashurina Ream, a licensed clinical psychologist; Dr. Pooja Lakshmin, a board-certified psychiatrist; and Dr. Mona Amin, a board-certified pediatrician and IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant).
We’re proud to partner with Bobbie to bring you this segment. Click here to learn more about our partnership policies and packages.