DrDoula.com
  • Home
  • About
  • Education
    • Mentoring
    • Learn w/ Dr. Doula
    • "10 THINGS"
    • Birth Ambassador
  • Astrology
  • D.O.A.D. Alliance
  • Dr. Doula Crafts
    • Wraps & Carriers
    • D.O.A.D. Jewelry
  • Birth HERstory
  • Dr. Doula Says BLOG
  • Contact
  • Home
  • About
  • Education
    • Mentoring
    • Learn w/ Dr. Doula
    • "10 THINGS"
    • Birth Ambassador
  • Astrology
  • D.O.A.D. Alliance
  • Dr. Doula Crafts
    • Wraps & Carriers
    • D.O.A.D. Jewelry
  • Birth HERstory
  • Dr. Doula Says BLOG
  • Contact
Search by typing & pressing enter

YOUR CART

Birth HERstory Vlog & Podcast


​Celebrating the HERstory of Black women in birth in the 21st Century

4/10/2019 Comments

A Candid Conversation with a Historian & Herbalist of Southern Black Midwife Traditions

"What we throw away, somebody picks up, repackages it, and sells it to you and then you want to buy it... Your assimilation and throwing away of  your culture does not help you and you end up being lost." ~ Divine Bailey-Nicholas

Picture
From the moment this interview began, I knew that it would be special. The southern girl in me instantly felt a connection with Divine Bailey-Nicholas and the knowledge and experiences she was sharing. Before we ever talked about herbalism, our conversation revolved more around the rich Black culture of the South, how it developed and the importance of its legacy to our longevity as Black people and Black birth in this country.

​Divine is the creator of 
Grandma's Hands Pregnancy and Postpartum Herbs & Nutrition in the Southern Tradition, a "6 week Online Course Focusing on the Herbs and Healing Modalities Historically used by Black Southern Midwives." She is not only a birth worker and herbalist, but also a repository of Southern history explaining ways that southern birth and postpartum traditions have influenced various aspects of broader Black culture and even the Black church in previous generations. 
​​This extensive interview with Divine is divided into two parts. In the first part, Divine provides historical context for southern Black culture, which is important to fully embrace the historical context of birth among Diasporic Africans in the U.S. In the second part, she shares about herbs and how you can develop a healing relationship with plants around you.

​Topics discussed:
  • The connection between northern and southern traditions in Black communities
  • ​Considering "the branches" of your family
  • Our history and Black culture in plain sight
  • Protecting the legacy of Black midwives 
  • The similarities in the diversity of Black American Culture
  • Valuing others cultures more the we value our own culture
  • The intermingling of religion and Black birth culture
  • The value of the south to the African American’s story and honoring Southern traditions 
  • The herbalist as a healer
  • BEING in your community and NOT BEING a Savior
  • RE-MEMBERING who you are
  • The danger of revisioning YOUR OWN history
  • How Black Birth workers are viewed in their communities
  • How to SURVIVE and THRIVE as a Black birth worker in Black Communities
  • The need for cultural competency within Black communities​
Picture
Picture
Listen to the Podcast:
Picture
You can connect with Divine to learn about her current workshops and  the work she is doing:

Website: https://www.divinebirthwisdom.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DivineBirthWisdom/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/divinebirthwisdom/
Non-profit: http://communitybirthcompanion.org/
​

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.
Picture
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:

Picture
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

2/5/2018 Comments

A Home Birth in Chicago in the 1970s

#BirthHERstory - I am so excited to share this video of Mama Roberta Ingram. As I listened to her share about her own self-discovery and how she and the sisters she surrounded herself with reconnected to our birth traditions, I am inspired to believe that it is possible for Black women to do that again in their own circles. I am convinced that the ability to heal ourselves and our families is within our power, as it always has been.  I believe this is especially true because we have so many resources available through technology and are able to communicate with one another as never before.

Mama Roberta did not continue in birth work, however, she gave a bit of advice at the end to those that may be considering birth work. It reminded me of a comment I made recently on a Facebook post:
"All I can think about are our ancestral mothers... They have so much expectation for us. They want to us to restore. They want us to 're-member' who we are and walk confidently. They want us to manifest our gifts and talents in ways they could not. Through our success in our passions, callings and chosen career paths in birth, we vindicate them and bestow upon them the honor they were denied. Let’s be bold as we move forward in this work."


Mama Roberta represents the type of women I hope will rise up to reclaim the birth rites of our grandmothers and great-grandmothers. 

Picture

Do you have a birth tradition or story you would like to share from an elder?
​#BirthHERstory on DrDoula.com

Comments
Forward>>
    Picture
    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!
    Picture
    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.)

    Archives

    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    February 2018
    April 2017

    Categories

    All African Women BirthHERstory Black Midwives Black Women Breastfeeding DrDoula Home Birth Postpartum Pregnancy

    RSS Feed

Note: Dr. Doula's educational resources are available to all with whom her message resonates; however, all services, mentoring and workshops will be presented from the historical context and perspectives of African women on the Continent and throughout the Diaspora. The needs, protection, and promotion of Black women are prioritized.
Contact
​1 (844) 811-2099
© COPYRIGHT 2013-2020. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.