A Midwife’s Birth Stories and Honoring the Lying In Period

In this episode of The Birth Hour, Shafia Monroe shares her unique birth experiences, reflecting on her journey as a midwife and mother. She discusses her first home birth, the challenges of postpartum care, and the importance of support systems for new mothers. Shafia emphasizes the need for nurturing and care during the postpartum period and shares insights from her book that focuses on the significance of honoring mothers after childbirth. She also provides nourishing recipes that can aid recovery for new mothers.

Shafia Monroe Bio

Shafia is a Master of Public Health (MPH), a renowned midwife, doula trainer, cultural historian, and author of Mothering the Mother: African American Postpartum Tradition, Recipes, and Healing. A leading voice in Black maternal health, she founded the first Black-led doula training program in the U.S. in 2002 and has trained over 5,000 doulas nationwide. As president of Shafia Monroe Consulting/Birthing CHANGE, she advances cultural competency in healthcare and helped pioneer Medicaid reimbursement for doula care in Oregon. Her work has earned numerous lifetime achievement awards and national recognition, including being named by Scientific American as one of four leaders “Making Health Care More Fair.” Monroe is a wife, a mother of seven, and a grandmother. She loves cooking for family and friends, gardening, swimming, and horseback riding.

Resources

• Postpartum Support International
• Mothering the Mother: African American Postpartum Tradition, Recipes, and Healing
• ICAN – International Cesarean Awareness Network

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