African American Birth HERstory Traditions

12/9/2019 Comments

Advocating for VBAC Moms and Helping Pregnant Moms Experience "Pregnancy Without Fear"

"There's so much that we've lost and we are now regaining. There's so much we've gained but we don't understand... Women want to enjoy their pregnancies, but a lot of times it's fear, worry, concern , anxiety... Why? It's because women don't know how to say, 'Ahhh... I'm at peace...' Even for five minutes, 'I'm at peace...'" ~Delia Muhammad

Delia Muhammad is a VBAC advocate from the UK who is helping women find their path to Vaginal Birth After Cesarean by providing support and resources to people around the world. She has a podcast titled Pregnancy Without Fear that can be accessed on various podcast platforms.

Speaking to Delia was a pleasure. With more than 25 years in birth culture, her decisions to participate in birth work in ways that resonate with her is an example for others. She continues to transform herself and find ways to be a gift to birthing women. Her commitment to sharing a message of deconstructing the fear that women experience around the childbearing year is necessary for women who desire to have empowering birth experiences.

If you are a mother desiring a VBAC or looking to deal with fear, worry, concern or anxiety in your pregnancy, allow Delia to be a resource for you. See her information below.

Topics discussed:

Preparing for a VBAC
Being calm in chaos
Mindfulness in pregnancy
Getting started in birth
When "ignorance is bliss..."
Our relationship with our physiology
The "nature" of our body's function
Coming out of your comfort zone
Being guided through birthwork
Doulas in the NHS
Supporting VBAC mothers internationally
Dealing with and deconstructing fear
Cultures of fear in the medical profession

Listen to the podcast:

Get connected with Delia and get support for your VBAC journey by reaching out to Delia:

Website: http://www.pregnancywithoutfear.com/
Podcast: https://anchor.fm/pregnancy-without-fear
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/delia-muhammad-5442b179/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/delia.muhammad.18
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pregnancywithoutfear/

Comments

11/17/2019 Comments

Activating Our Creatrix Power to Reclaim Birth as an Inheritance for Future Generations

"Ultimately, if we are going to be reclaiming the systems that our people have created, there is no equivalent role called “doula.” That role is wrapped up in mother, grandmother, auntie, sister, cousin, best friend... That is just what was done. There is no word for it because it wasn’t a separate role. It was encapsulated in FAMILY." ~ Aisha Ralph

I am constantly researching something. This week has begun with me reading more about the Grand (granny) midwives of the south... Those who "waited on women" because it was something that they felt God had called them to and taught them how to do as they listened and learned from older women who "caught babies." Women who believed that birth was a spiritual thing as much as it was a physiological thing. Speaking with Aisha Ralph, I knew I was speaking to one who was following a similar path.

My conversation with Aisha was so rich that by the end I was FULL. Aisha is from Antigua and, as a daughter of the African Diaspora, is mindful of how her actions will impact future generations. There were several instances while I listened to her speak that I knew that she was speaking from beyond herself on behalf of our ancestral mothers, sharing truths that span beyond her years, that are necessary to sustain our families. We need midwives in our generation who can hear and recognize their role in preserving our birth traditions and our lives and African descended people. Aisha is also planning a journey with midwives in Uganda to enrich her personal midwifery journey, which you can support.

I am excited to share Aisha with you. She has a beautiful spirit I am sure you will appreciate.

Topics discussed:

Being attracted to birth at a young age
Considering birth options in Antigua
Dealing with the medicalization of birth
Protecting ‘your’ spirit in birth environments
Being holistic vs being compartmentalized
How you feel about your "divine creative energy"
Creating legacy as an "ancestral mother"
Reconsidering a system that is not serving you
Dealing with cognitive dissonance
Ensuring our personal autonomy
Speaking with the elders
How a generation forgets ritual and tradition
Allowing ourselves to be empowered to RE-MEMBER
“Ancestral connections cannot be broken”
“Doulas” in indigenous cultures
Universal birth and postpartum practices
Answering “the call” of your ancestors
Embodying our full experiences in birth work
Ceremonies vs family practices (rituals)
Birth memories… “a woman never forgets”
Feeling called to birth? JUST DO IT!

Aisha Tewerat Akua offers this gratitude:

"To the ones in my ancestral lineage from the beginning of time to present, whose names are not known to me, who were themselves guardians of birth, and in whose footsteps I trod...

To the ones whose memory and legacy live on in the title "Granny Midwife"...

To my elders in birthwork, especially Jennie Joseph, Makeda Kamara, Debbie Allen, Racha Lawler, and Toni Hill, who have been a huge inspiration and have guided me with their words (most times without even knowing it)...

To my sister midwives, especially Janell, Efe and Tiffany, who have never failed in giving me encouragement and who have been consistent examples of perseverance and strength...

And to my biggest supporters and cheerleaders, my mother Daphne, my husband Nekia and my best friend Marcella"

Listen to the Podcast:

Here are some ways you can connect with Aisha to learn more about what she is doing:

Support Aisha's journey with midwives in Uganda

Email: nurturingbirth4u@gmail.com
FB Personal: Aisha Taweret Akua
FB Page: Birth Matters

Comments

10/28/2019 Comments

Re-Normalizing Homebirth in a Fear-Based Society with the Homebirth Queen

"Find other women who have given birth [at home]. Women around the world have been doing it for years... giving birth without a hospital. They’re doing it right now. You have to do what’s best for you. If you want to do a home birth, prepare and educate yourself." ~ Talise "Homebirth Queen" Xavier

I recently heard media mogul Byron Allen say this: "You can't live in fear because fear is another form of slavery..." I have mentioned before that Black women have been inundated with messages about their increasing maternal and infant mortality rates. When that message is not presented in an empowered manner it becomes counterproductive and produces FEAR in the hearts of Black women about their ability to birth their babies. It is not uncommon for Black women to desire a doula because they fear that without one they will die.

I have always appreciated speaking to women who recognized the sacredness of birth, no matter where they birthed. Still, because of my southern roots and being of the first generation born in a hospital, I recognize that those who chose to birth at home must have certain conviction about the ability of healthy bodies to birth without medical intervention. Talise has that conviction.

Talise Homebirth Queen Xavier uses her five homebirth experiences to help renormalize birth, breastfeeding, and postpartum practices. We had some technical difficulties before we were able to talk about breastfeeding and postpartum, but I believe our conversation will be encouragement to those contemplating homebirth. We also talked about the personal responsibility that every person needs to take for their birthing choices, whether birthing in the hospital, a birthing center or at home.

Topics Discussed:

Making the decision to birth at home
Managing the “risks” surrounding birth
Making a birth plan to manage risks
Unpredictable and predictable reasons for being in the hospital
PTSD of hospital experiences vs hospital births
The business of birth in hospitals
“White Coat Syndrome” in hospital births
Trusting yourself in birth
Indoctrination of birth in society
Using hypnobirthing to manage childbirth
The importance of babies’ introduction to the world
“Spoiling” new babies
Birthing twins at home
Birthing in a safe place
Doing what's best for you

Note: For those who watch the video, you will notice that Talise lost video reception toward the end of the conversation. Eventually, we were disconnected, but the audio works well throughout our conversation. Enjoy!

Listen to the Podcast:

Here are some ways you can get in touch with the Homebirth Queen:

Email: talisemotherofsix@gmail.com
Phone: (913) 251-5386
Facebook: Talise Homebirth Queen
Instagram: Talise Homebirth Queen
Twitter: Talise Xavier
LinkedIn: Talise Xavier

Purchase your copy of Home is Where the Birth Is!:
https://www.amazon.com/Home-Where-Birth-Stories-Homebirth/dp/1733681124

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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 Vlog & Podcast

Advocating for VBAC Moms and Helping Pregnant Moms Experience "Pregnancy Without Fear"

Activating Our Creatrix Power to Reclaim Birth as an Inheritance for Future Generations

Re-Normalizing Homebirth in a Fear-Based Society with the Homebirth Queen

Dr. Doula

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