November 2025 Awareness Month Highlights
- Raelyn Flores
- Nov 1
- 6 min read
Updated: Nov 11
Content warning: Loss, PTSD, and domestic violence
AWARENESS MONTH
MILITARY FAMILY APPRECIATION MONTH: Every November, we honor the incredible families who support our nation’s service members. Since 1993, the Armed Services YMCA, celebrates the strength, resilience, and sacrifices of military families who serve a crucial role in supporting our nation’s service members, during their long training, relocations, and deployments. According to Military On Source, dependents (spouses, children, and adult family members) make up over 50 percent of the Department of Defense community, highlighting the importance of these members to our armed forces.
This month, show your appreciation by thanking a military family, volunteering with a local organization, or donating to a non-profit such as the Armed YMCA (ASYMCA), which helps support military families. You can also explore CCCN’s membership directory to find our many doulas and support services along the Central Coast. To learn more about childbirth demonstrations and lactation support contact Zabrina Cox at zabrinacox.co. (Photo Credit: Army Resilience)
NATIONAL DIABETES MONTH: November is the month to recognize National Diabetes Month. Nutrition plays an important role before, during, and after pregnancy. Gestational Diabetes can affect your plan of care. It is always important to talk to a medical provider to diagnose and treat health related conditions. Gestational diabetes (GD) is a condition when excess glucose, or sugar, stays in the blood stream instead of being used by the body for energy and functioning. This can lead to a variety of health concerns for an individual and can affect pregnant women in a multitude of ways. To learn more about GD, visit the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists.
For those experiencing GD or want resources and support, we invite you to check out local providers who offer nutrition support in our CCCN Member directory.
One of our members, Pregnant and Hungry, offers nutritional support during pregnancy. They are a subscription-based website featuring simple, pregnancy-safe recipes for the modern mama-to-be.
“We're the only searchable collection of pregnancy-friendly recipes on the internet, every wholesome recipe is developed by women, for women. Eating for two? We got you.” Check out Pregnant and Hungry’s instagram here. (Photo Credit: Gvoke)
NATIONAL ADOPTION AWARENESS MONTH: November as National Adoption Awareness month. It is a time to celebrate families who have gone through the adoption process and to also recognize children who have been adopted themselves. The CCCN recognizes and honors families who have grown through adoption worldwide. It also allows for others to learn more about adoption and to spread awareness.
The CCCN also invites you to listen to one of our members, Michelle Graham, talk about her experiences with adoption. You can listen to our podcast on Spotify titled, “Loss, Adoption & Birth”. Michelle is also the author of Undefined: More than the Sum of My Losses.
“From tragedy to triumph, witness one birth mom’s unselfish love and her heartbreak in giving up her daughter for adoption. A lifetime of faith and strength along a broken road led to the beauty of an unimaginable reunion and New Joy!” Michelle Graham, Author.
To learn more about Michelle Graham and her story visit Michelle’s website here.
AWARENESS DAYS
VETERAN’S DAY: On November 11, we take the time to honor the courage, service, and sacrifice of all U.S military veterans who served both during peace and war. Initially named Armistice Day, to mark the end of World War I, which was then renamed Veterans Day in 1954 to recognize veterans from all the branches and eras of service. On this day, the nation holds the annual wreath laying at Arlington National Cemetery’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which is a reminder of our gratitude owed to the ones who have served.
As we honor this day, let us also acknowledge the challenges many veterans continue to face after service. According to the Discovery Mood & Anxiety Program, about 1 in 10 Iraq War veterans experience serious mental health challenges, which include depression and PTSD. If you, or someone you know needs support, CCCN offers mental health and wellness professionals who can help. Veterans can also enjoy free meals and special discounts offered by restaurants, click here for a list of participating vendors. You can also learn more about community support on our previous blog post on Resources for Military Families. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army)
WORLD KINDNESS DAY: Every year on November 13, people around the world come together to celebrate World Kindness Day, a day that is dedicated to promoting goodwill, compassion, and small acts of kindness. Originally held in Tokyo as a non-governmental organization, the World Kindness Movement, this observance began as a worldwide effort to inspire nations to create a kinder and more connected world. If you would like to spread kindness, we invite you to explore the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, which provides free resources to incorporate kindness in your everyday life at school, home, and work. You can also support organizations like the
the Kindness Campaign, who provides boxes with emotional health tools and resources to schools and communities across the nation completely free of charge. Let us all help make kindness the norm!
On this day dedicated to kindness, let’s take the time to extend that compassion to postpartum families. Take a moment to read our latest blog post on ways to be gentle and kind to yourself during the postpartum journey. As a community, we can make a difference. Here are a few ways to help provide support to postpartum families:
Offer to prepare meals
Lend a hand with household chores
Encourage moments of self-care
Assist with errands
Provide childcare support
INTERNATIONAL PREMATURITY DAY: We want to take the time to recognize November 17th as International Prematurity Day. This global movement raises awareness of premature birth, as well as the impact it can have on families. According to March of Dimes, the United States has one of the highest preterm birth rates among developed nations and this rate continues to rise. In California, 1 in 9 babies in 2021-2023 were born preterm (March of Dimes).We invite you to check out the March of Dimes website to learn more about their mission of fighting for the health and well-being of mothers and babies. Here you can find additional resources and online support communities if you or someone you know is going through hard times or wants more information.
We also want to take this time to help honor and celebrate NICU families globally. The NICU is the neonatal intensive care unit which provides 24/7 support for premature or sick babies. We want to thank our NICU nurses and staff at our local hospitals: French Hospital, Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center, Marian Regional Medical Center, Lompoc Valley Medical Center, and Cottage Hospital.
Acknowledging this time can be hard, but the CCCN wants to remind you that you are not alone. Check out the CCCN low cost/free local resources to find pregnancy and support groups/programs and/or the CCCN web resources also provide additional emotional/mental support groups and other resources.
INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S DAY: November 20th recognizes International Children’s Day which “promotes international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide, and improving children’s welfare” (United Nations- World Children’s Day). The CCCN wants to bring awareness to children’s rights and to celebrate them. The Convention on the Rights of the Child established in 1989 by the UN lists highlights children’s right to
Health
Life
Education
Play
Family life
Be protected from violence
Not be discriminated
Have their views heard
We invite you to check out the United Nations- World Children’s Day website to learn more information and how you can get involved. You will also find some additional resources. In addition, CCCN encourages you to read our previous blog post on connection and family strengthening, which shares meaningful insights and tips.
ELIMINATION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN: November 25th recognizes the elimination of violence against women. This is an opportunity to highlight domestic violence, or intimate partner violence before, during, and after pregnancy.
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, “In the United States, women experience 4.8 million incidents of physical or sexual assault annually.”
If you find yourself, or a loved one is in a violent relationship, please know that you are not alone. Check out the CCCN low cost/free local resources to find domestic violence support and resources. Local organizations, Stand Strong, Domestic Violence Solutions, and Lumina Alliance provide safety, shelter, and support for those who need it. Please dial 9-1-1 in an Emergency and speak with your care provider.
Click here to learn more about intimate partner violence, what it looks like, and first steps.
Authored in collaboration with:
Raelyn Flores, CCCN Intern
Morgan Jamati, Past CCCN Intern
Zabrina Cox, PtC Program Director
Sources:
Disclaimer: The opinions or beliefs expressed by various authors on this blog do not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs, and viewpoints of Central Coast Childbirth Network, INC. Central Coast Childbirth Network, INC does not offer medical advice. The content on this blog is for informational purposes only. The author's opinions are based upon information they consider reliable; thus, Central Coast Childbirth Network warrants its completeness or accuracy and should not be relied upon as such.
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