Season of Gratitude

It takes a village!

As we enter this season of gratitude and celebration, our hearts are full. We are especially Thankful for YOU-Our Village. To everyone who has believed in us, supported us and walked alongside our mission, we couldn’t do this without you. Together, we are working to improve maternal health outcomes, reduce mortality rates among African American women, expand access to doula services and strengthen communication between patients-families and their healthcare providers.

UPDATES

Moms and Mocktails 2025- This event was an incredible success! Hosted by Gennisi Charitable Birth Services, this uplifting gathering brough together mothers, community partners, and supporters for an afternoon of celebration, connection, and self-care. Guest enjoyed refreshing signature mocktails, engaging conversations on maternal wellness, DIY self-care and inspiring stories from women who are transforming their birth and postpartum experiences. Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors and attendees, we raised vital funds to continue proving free and low-cost doula, lactation and parenting support through our Whole Mom/whole Baby program.

This year’s event reminded us that when women are supported, families thrive- and communities grow stronger. Thank you to everyone who made Moms & Mocktails 2025 an afternoon of empowerment, joy and impact!

Strong Dads, Healthy Families: We are preparing to launch the Strong Dads, Healthy Families Program, a ground breaking initiative designed to engage, educate, and empower fathers as vital partners in maternal and family health. Currently in the final planning and partnership development stages, this program will provide an 8 week hybrid course combining mentorship, parenting education, and wellness support tailored specifically for men in marginalized communities. Through interactive workshops, guest speakers, and community collaboration, Strong Dads, Healthy Families will equip fathers with tools to strengthen family bonds, support maternal well-being, and model healthy behaviors for their children. Implementation is expected to being in early 2026, with the goal of fostering lasting change by uplifting fathers as leaders, caregivers, and champions for stronger, heathier families.

If you are a dad or supporter that is interested in being involved, please use the interest form link below.

World Prematurity Day

On November 17th, we honored National Prematurity day and to remember the babies and families whose journeys began far too soon. This day reminded us of the strength of our little fighters, the love and resilience of their families, and the importance of continuing to raise awareness about prematurity and its impact. We reflected on the stories of those we have lost, those who have overcome incredible odds, and those who continue to navigate the challenges of early birth with courage and hope.

As we paused to remember, we also reaffirmed our commitment as a community to support families before, during, and after a premature birth. Together, we recognized the need for continued education, advocacy, and compassionate care to ensure every baby has the healthiest start possible.

May we-continue carrying this awareness and compassion forward every day.

Thanksgiving Quote: “At Thanksgiving, we’re reminded that the heart of community is care - neighbors helping neighbors, families, and love making room at every table.”

Save The Date!

Join Gennisi Charitable Birth Services for our 5th Annual Community Baby Shower, a celebration of mothers, fathers, and growing families.

Saturday, April 11, 2026

The Change Center, Knoxville, TN

12pm-2pm

This free, family-friendly event will feature baby essentials, local resources, games, giveaways, and wellness education designed to support parents through pregnancy and beyond. Whether you’re expecting or a new parent of a baby six months or younger, we cant wait to celebrate with you!

Stay tune for registration, donations, and sponsorship details at www.gencharities.org or email [email protected] for more information.

We are seeking dedicated volunteers to help make our Annual Community Baby Shower a success! We cant do it without our amazing village of helpers. We need volunteers to assist with setup, guest registration, gift distribution, vendor coordination, hospitality, and cleanup. whether you can give an hour or the whole day, your time and enthusiasm will help create a warm, welcoming experience for families across Knoxville.

Sign up to volunteer at www.gencharities.org, use the link below, or email [email protected] for details.

Lets come together to celebrate life, love and community-because it truly takes a village!

Want to Donate or Sponsor?

Gennisi Charitable Birth Services brings together expecting and new parents for a day of celebration, education, and essential support- providing diapers, baby gear, wellness resources, and connection to local services. We’re seeking donors and sponsors to help us expand our reach and ensure every family has what they need to start strong.

Your contribution, whether financial support, in-kind donations, or event sponsorship directly impacts families in need across Knoxville. Partner with us to build healthier beginnings and stronger communities.

To sponsor or donate, visit www.gencharities.org or email us at [email protected] for our sponsorship packet. Together we can make a difference-one family at a time.

Thank you Jack & Jill for supporting our community Baby Shower!

Jack and Jill of America, Inc. is a national organization of mothers dedicated to nurturing future leaders through service, education, and community engagement. With chapters across the country, they empower children and families to make a positive impact through volunteerism, cultural enrichment, and leadership development. Partnering with organizations like Gennisi Charitable Birth Services, Jack and Jill helps strengthen families and build healthier, more connected communities.

Giving Day- December 2nd

This Giving Tuesday, December 2nd, 2025, we invite you to stand with Gennisi Charitable Birth Services as we continue empowering mothers, fathers, and families through compassionate, cultural responsive perinatal care. Every gift-no matter the size helps us provide free and low cost doula support, childbirth, lactation care, and fatherhood mentoring for families who need it most. Your generosity fuels our mission to close the gap in maternal and infant health outcomes, ensuring that every parent has the tools, knowledge, and support to thrive before, during, and after birth. Together we can create healthier beginnings and stronger families across Knoxville, Please stay tuned to our website for your opportunity to give! Give hope. Give Support. Give life-changing care this Giving Tuesday.

Expecting a baby and need extra support? Gennisi Charitable Birth Services offers free and low-cost doula care for qualifying families through our Whole Mom/Whole Baby program. Our trained doulas provide compassionate guidance throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum-helping you prepare for labor, advocate for your needs, and adjust confidently to life with your new baby. Applications are open year round for families in Knoxville and surrounding areas.

Apply online at www.gencharities.org or email [email protected] or the link below to get matched with a doula today. Because every mother deserves support, and every birth deserves care.

A postpartum body has heightened senses, particularly smell and hearing.

Talk about superhuman: after giving birth, you can expect that your senses will be heightened particularly when it comes to the sense of smell and hearing.

This heightened sense of smell can be explained two-fold. For one, studies show that moms, can identify their baby’s smell within days of giving birth (fun fact: newborns can identify mom, too) which promotes bonding. Two, a mother’s heightened sense of smell has been linked to possibly help in identifying environmental threats to their baby.

Some mothers experience increased sensitivity to sound when they’re postpartum, possibly due to hormonal changes or heighted awareness while caring for their newborns.

One of 7 fascinating facts about postpartum: https://perelelhealth.com/blogs/news/postpartum-body-changes-facts?srsltid=AfmBOorK-Ga0cXFmDKVEDcILqtKS-LhxEZWoTAf7jaPPMeoFwniCH6ZI

Reference: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6726625/