African American Birth HERstory Traditions

3/18/2019 Comments

A Trailblazer's Journey from HOSPITAL BIRTH to HOME BIRTH

"Having a baby is the only 'well ' thing that happens at a hospital, so why should I have my baby at this place where sickness is going on? " ~Tanita Fadyeyola

There are several elder Black midwives that I admire and respect for the work they have done and continue to do to preserve and protect birthing traditions among women throughout the African Diaspora. Jennie Joseph is one of them. She is the developer of the JJ Way® and soon will have the only Black-owned midwifery school, Commonsense Childbirth School of Midwifery. So when I was visiting with my sister friend and soror (?Z-Phi!), Tanita Fadyeyola, and she told me that she had experienced home birth with Jennie Joseph, I made her sit down and tell me EVERYTHING!

Tanita told me about her first birth in the hospital, how she made the decision to birth at home with her second child, and the opportunities she had to help her family and friends who Jennie Joseph also served as a midwife. AND she allowed me to record an impromptu interview with her so that I could share her animated adventures with all of you.

Tanita's stories are an example of the ways that Black women can begin to reclaim their birth rites and support their sisters in birth, whether having been trained through a doula course or not. Start where you are and be willing to learn. We have always had the responsibility to help ourselves and heal ourselves in order to save ourselves.

Topics discussed:

Thinking about a home birth
Not knowing what you don't know
The realization of being alone without birth support
Not knowing family birth stories
Her hospital birth story
Getting rid of misconceptions about home birth
Making the decision to birth at home
Her first home birth with Jennie Joseph
Learning to support women in birth
"Singin' the Baby Down"
What happens when women gather...
Being a Movement Meditation Specialist
Finding healing, alignment and balance in movement

Listen to the Podcast:

You should know that Tanita is full of "Black Girl magic" in her own right. You will understand what I mean as you listen to her. She is the originator of AfroFunk DanceFit™ and the Creatrix of the Move.Dance.LIVE. Method™. She is a trailblazer with international influence who teaches people to use movement as medicine with the power to heal.

You can connect with her and the work she is doing:

Website: https://www.movedancelive.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afrofunkdance/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/movedancelive/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tharisligons/

Comments

3/4/2019 Comments

Uncompromised Pursuit of PEACEFUL BIRTHS in the Hospital Environment

“You do what’s best for your family. Always follow your heart to the degree it is respectful for the people who are a part of your life. And don’t let anyone discourage you. Whatever your passion is, you go for it." ~ Tunisia Macklin

Meet Tunisia Macklin, the Peaceful Birthing Doula. She has been a massage therapist for more than 15 years and professional doula and a placenta encapsulator for almost 10 years. However, birth has always been a part of her life and and a passion to which she feels called. While her nature is the "peaceful doula", she is also known to be unrelenting in her passion to teach women how to advocate for themselves in the hospital environment.

Tunisia Macklin of Peaceful Birthing Doula

TOPICS DISCUSSED

Passion and "the call" to birth
Birth as a family affair
Birth as a HOLY THING
How to manage the hospital birthing environment
The role of the partner during birth
Interpreting the CUES and CLUES in the medical environment
Understanding "medical necessity"
Posturing and positioning yourself in the medical environment
Helping moms navigate tough decisions
Knowing the difference between "policy & procedure" and "the law"
Knowing what you are "allowed" to do in birth
Preparing the next generation for birth
To GET PAID or NOT GET PAID for birth work

If you are ready to be inspired as well as ignited toward work with birthing families, you will appreciate this interview. Tell us what you think in the comments.

Listen to the Podcast:

Tunisia has expressed her interest in sharing with other doulas and supporting their journeys. Here are some ways you can reach out to her:

Website: www.peacefulbirthingdoula.com
Blog: peacefulbirthingdoulaservices.blogspot.com/
Email: peacefulbirthingdoula@gmail.com
Phone: (630)481-6079
Facebook: www.facebook.com/peacefulbirthingdoula
Twitter: www.twitter.com/peacefulbdoula
Instagram: www.instagram.com/peacefulbdoula

Comments

What are YOU waiting for to start learning about how to care for women during the childbearing year? Whether you are considering a career in birthwork, want to learn to help your family and friends or desire to be a resource for your community, "10 THINGS" is your starting place! Learn from from a Black historical perspective... learn from "someone who looks like you"... STOP WAITING... START LEARNING RIGHT NOW!

The voices of Black women have long been censored and/or edited. These conversations with Dr. Doula are an opportunity for Black women to share their truths and experiences in birth and birth culture in their own voices.

In other words, "She said what she said..."

When we help Birth HERstories we are acknowledging the BLACK BIRTH RENAISSANCE that is happening around the world! When we share our stories, practices, or traditions from women of African descent in America, we help preserve Black Birth HERstory. It is our responsibility as descendants of African women who were trafficked to the U.S. to hold their stories and know their practices, so that we are able to continue their tradition of being self-reliant and self-sustaining as communities of Black women.

Dr. Doula

My work is informed by my background – experiences, expertise, exposure, education & environment – as a woman, mother, wife, sister, educator, researcher, scholar, advocate, birth ally and legacy builder. #IAmTheAnswer #WeSaveOurselves
(Please note that the information shared on this blog is for information purposes only. Pregnant women should consult their PCP before following any practices found within the Birth HERstory Series Blog.)

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Birth HERstory Blog

A Trailblazer's Journey from HOSPITAL BIRTH to HOME BIRTH

"Having a baby is the only 'well ' thing that happens at a hospital, so why should I have my baby at this place where sickness is going on? " ~Tanita Fadyeyola

Uncompromised Pursuit of PEACEFUL BIRTHS in the Hospital Environment

“You do what’s best for your family. Always follow your heart to the degree it is respectful for the people who are a part of your life. And don’t let anyone discourage you. Whatever your passion is, you go for it." ~ Tunisia Macklin

Dr. Doula

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