The rollout of COVID-19 vaccines has begun across the globe, and there’s hope that we may finally be able to get the virus under control in the coming months. However, the release of vaccines has become another source of stress for women who are pregnant, thinking about getting pregnant, or are breastfeeding, as they wonder: “Should I get the vaccine?”

As Weymouth resident Esther Nganga sat holding her beautiful 11-week old son, Jabari, she laughed recalling her initial skepticism of having a midwife birthing experience. “Growing up in Kenya, I always heard tales of midwives—tales of women laboring and giving birth without the option for pain intervention,” Esther said.

One of the most stressful events in adolescence, for both parents and teens, is when a girl gets her first period. Here are some ways you can help your daughter prepare for the transition from girlhood to womanhood.