Let's talk about Black birth and COVID-19 Birth While Black is already a challenge in the USA, with a global pandemic where Blacks have more incidents of contracting the virus, sever complications and even death. Black woman are still giving birth in these times. Courtnie Carter gave birth to her son in early March 2020 as the virus was introduced …

It's a year into the COVID-19 globla pandemic. Black maternal health is still at a crisis. Please join producer/host of Birth While Balck Denise Bolds and special guest Michele Gabriel-Caldwell as they talk out what is going on! Michelle is the owner of Baby, Please Birth Services located in NJ. She is a certified Doula and Childbirth Educator teac…

It's 2021 and the world is growing with technology and social media. Birth work is growing with education, adovcacy and of course technology. Unique ideas and concepts are moving the birth work industry. As a result, diversity and inclusion can no longer be ignored nor kept in the back. BIPOC and LGBTQI+ are contributing to birth work more than eve…

2020 will be remembered for COVID-19 a pandemic that is barreling though the nation with a quick spread of the virus that has shut down the nation like not seen in decades. Hospitals are widely hit with maternal health in labor and childbirth resulting in birth doulas and support persons such as partners and spouses not being able to attend the bir…

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Birth While Black! An Evening with Missouri's 1st Black CPm Brittany Kellman! Let's talk about the issue with Ms. Kellman's appointment and news announcement article! Brittany Kellman is an author, educator, birth justice advocate, wife and mother. This podcast will be open and transparent! Get ready to be empowered. Special guests - Black midwives…

Black breastfeeding – a major challenge in Black reproductive health. August is National Breastfeeding Awareness month and this week commemorates Black Breastfeeding Awareness week. What are the challenges? How to promote and support Black breastfeeding. Where are the positive images supporting Black breastfeeding? Why is it a challenge to locate B…

What is happening in today's Black birth? Let's talk it out! Please join Birth While Black Producer/Host Denise Bolds with special guest Takiya Sakina as the discussion goes into Black birth. Takiya is the owner/midwife for Sakina Midwifery here in New York. http://www.sakinamidwifery.com Denise Bolds is a doula in NY she also serves NJ and CT. www…

Birth work is a demanding, unique miracle, where not every birth begins in life. With the stats for Black birth outcomes so very high, it is imperative that doulas are trained and empowered to support families that face fetal demise and stillbirth. Please join Birth While Black producer/host Denise Bolds and her special guest Nneka Hall, an expert …

About Dr. Worth: Jaqueline Worth, MD, graduated from Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons. She has been an obstetrician for nearly 20 years, her practice, Village Obstetrics, is one of the top practices in NYC. She lives in New York City with her family where she spends most of her time delivering babies at Mount Sinai Hospital.…

Birth While Black – Case Study: Black doula trainers! What’s it like? What is working and what’s not! The discussion tonight during World Doula Week is powerful with special guests Black doula trainers from all over the world: Kira Kimble, Hakima Payne, Mars Lord, Pamela King, Dr. Doula Andrea Mason, Amadoma Bediako, Sabia Wade, and Scihonor Ruiz. …

We know there are a few... Black sudent midwives in the United States. Here in the U.S. there is a shortage of Black midwives with some states/cities not having any. Why? What is it like to be a Black midwifery student in a predominant white education system? We will be discussing the financial, and social barriers Black student midwives face. Plea…

2019 hearalds more focus on Black births. The time of generalization is over. These podcasts will now focus in on Black births as "Case Studies." Each case study will foucs on the specifics and the solutions with the expert special guest contributing. The first show special guest is with Michelle Gabriel-Caldwell as she discusses why the omission o…

Community doulas. What are they? What do they do? Whom do they support and how does Community Doula work impact maternal health outcomes? Please join Birth While Black Producer and host Denise Bolds with special guest Tia Dowling-Ketant a Community Doula in New York City. Tia will be breaking down the myths and uplifting the Community Doula and the…

Let’s talk about doula training. There’s a lot of them out here; many that are substantial and many that are the reflections and result of trauma and challenges. All of these trainings utilize valuable resources of time, presence and money. The question is begged; will the training improve a doula’s skills? Let’s talk about that devaluingand misgui…

Doula expectations – What are your expectations of the doula? Doulas, are you having this query as part of your interview? This show will be exploring the meaning of expectations of the client in doula work AND the expectation of the doula and the client. Please join host/producer Denise Bolds of Birth While Black with special guest Lindsey Bliss o…

NYS will have a pilot doula program in place as of 1/1/2019 thanks to Gouvernor Andrew Cuomo. What is this program, who will it work and whom will it serve? There's a ton of speculation and we are here to talk it out! Please join producer/host Denise Bolds and her special guest Shannon Johns - Certified Birth Doula in Buffalo (Erie County) - one of…

Please join producer/host Denise Bolds and co-host Nikia Lawson in a hearty discussion on the paradigm of ‘centering’ and the necessity of education in Black births. Centering & Pregnancy is an evidence-based health care delivery model that integrates maternal health care assessment, education, and support. Patients meet with their care provider an…

Doulas establish relationships with the institutions that they are trained by. Being ‘branded’ has its benefits and it is imperative to maintain a healthy relationship among doulas and the communities they serve. Are you a CAPPA Doula or DONA International Doula? Let’s talk about being ‘branded’ in the birth work community. What does it mean? What …

“She was just here a minute ago…” “I spent over an hour speaking with them, and now they’re gone…” “I was invited to their home, gave references and did a video chat with them and they are gone…” “I labored with this couple for over 30 hours… Never heard from them again after the birth…” The doula – a consultant; a contractor experiences ‘ghosting.…

Please Join Denise Bolds Producer/host and special guest Jodi Selander! Jodi Selander is the Founder and Director of Placenta Benefits LTD! Jodi will discuss PlacentaCon and its invaluable resource! Who is Speaking: Experts in placentophagy, postpartum support and breastfeeding; published authors; and business coaches. Who Should Attend: The Placen…

Advocacy, awareness, birth justice, community; the combination cultural competency is a paradigm that is growing in birth work. What exactly is it anyway? Why is it necessary? How does it relate to me as a birth worker? Please join Denise Bolds, host and producer with special guest Shafia Monroe in discussing cultural competency. Shafia Monroe: mid…

Sharon Muza Interviews Denise Bolds On Podcasting as a benefit for birth business! Sharon Muza Sharon Muza, BS, CD(DONA) BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE has been an active childbirth professional since 2004, teaching Lamaze classes and providing doula services to more than a thousand families through her private practice in Seattle, Washington. She is …

What is Birth Justice? Activist Loretta Ross is shedding light on this topic! Loretta J. Ross is a Visiting Associate Professor at Hampshire College in Women's Studies for the 2017-2018 academic year teaching "White Supremacy in the Age of Trump." She was a co-founder and the National Coordinator of the SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justic…

Birth allies connect us all! In The Light of Birth recognizes the importance of allies. It is an honor to have special guest Ginger Breedlove on the show. Ginger is a midwife, consultant and founder of March For Moms. Ginger will discuss the importance of diverse advocacy and why NOW Time’s up! March For Moms Rally May 6, 2018 Washington D.C 1-4PM.…

This has been a long time in the making. In the Light of Birth is proud to have midwife Claudia Booker as special guest with show producer/host Denise Bolds. For Black History Month, Claudia Booker will be discussing birth, Blackness, and how we can do better. She will also bring light to the myths of homebirth. Claudia’s life is rich with history,…

In the Light of Birth, justice and equity are necessities for success. It cannot be assumed in health care that these two entities will always be inherent, especially for African Americans. Today's special guest, Dr. Aletha Maybank will be discussing justice, equity and maternal health. Please welcome Dr. Aletha Maybank and producer/host Denise Bol…

2018 begins a news series: In The Light of Birth. Light is so special; we follow the light to life, we follow the light to death. Light reveals and heals. Light nourishes and promotes transformation. In The Light of Birth kicks off for Black History Month with a grown up discussion about birth, doulas and training: “Say That!” Please join producer/…

A new definition of high blood pressure (hypertension) 2017 (Please note that all numbers refer to mm Hg, or, millimeters of mercury.) The guidelines, in a nutshell, state that normal blood pressure is under 120/80, whereas up until recently, normal was under 140/90. Now, elevated blood pressure (without a diagnosis of hypertension) is systolic blo…

2017, birth givers are demanding more in pregnancy and birth; and rightfully so. This support goes way beyond a pronoun or an acronym. It’s time to have the conversation here on Awake in Birth. Please join Denise Bolds host and producer of Awake in Birth as we welcome special guest Morgane Richardson; LGBTQ educator, advocate, and doula extrodinare…

National Black Doulas Association. Let THAT sink in for a minute… Now, hear Kayne West song “Power” playing in the background. You are about to ride a tsunami. Are you ready? It’s the back room discussion, THE ‘what if’ and now is here. An association for BLACK DOULAS. Please join Denise Bolds, Bold Doula and her special guest, Tracie Enis. Tracie …

Speaking about Matrona with Whapio Diane Bartlett! At The Matrona, we believe that childbirth is a transformative event and pregnant women have access to altered states of consciousness that allow them to have an expanded perspective of life and of themselves. This culminates in the birthing process. We realize that many women desire to be witnesse…

She didn't have to die… Kyira Adele Dixon, age 39, she was a vibrant, amazing woman, wife and mother who walked into Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles for a scheduled C-Section, April 12, 2016. Kyira would not walk out, she would not get skin-to-skin, to breastfeed, to watch her sons grow up. Kyira did everything the right way and it was s…

Noun, Verb, Adjective & The Doula! In the past few weeks, there has been a whirlwind of rhetoric on social media when it comes to identifying birth work… New, unfounded terms are popping up: ‘Student Doula’ ‘Low Income Doula’… and it’s ALL related to race! Get ready to be Awake In Birth with Denise Bolds and Nikia Lawson! The Dynamic Leo Doulas! Jo…

Blurred Lines of Race in Birth Work In the past few weeks, there has been a whirlwind of rhetoric on social media when it comes to race and birth work… Get ready to be Awake In Birth with Denise Bolds and Nikia Lawson! Join the Two Dynamic Doulas as the discussion around race and birth work is pushed (pun intended) to another level. It’s time to ca…

Get ready for the fiyah! Today’s show has two producers and hosts of internet radio: Cristen Pascucci of ‘Birth Monopoly’ and Denise Bolds’ ‘Awake In Birth 2017’. This show will focus on the discussion of the role of the doula. Cristen Pascucci, a former communications strategist at a top public affairs firm in Baltimore, Maryland, she’s the founde…

Fetal positioning is vital in birth. As a baby is born, alignment facilitates the type of birth a person may have/exposed to. Birthworkers are constantly facing this paradigm, with training and education being absent. Gail Tully, founder of Spinning Babies has changed all of this. Gail Tully is the midwife from Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA who conce…

As feminism migrates to the internet, full-spectrum doulas remain focused on life’s physically intimate relationships: between caregivers and patients, parents and pregnancy, individuals and their own bodies. They are committed to supporting a pregnancy no matter the outcome—whether it results in birth, abortion, miscarriage, or adoption—facing the…

Birth work is evolving in 2017 with a major event in maternal health happening: March For Moms May 12 -15, 2017 in Washington D.C. Why is this so important? The U.S. has witnessed a rise in mothers dying in childbirth or due to pregnancy related causes. There are many reasons for this increase including poor access to healthcare, discrimination, la…

Ina Mae Gaskin, Margaret Sanger and J. Marion Sims ... the history of reproductive health in America remains white influenced and supported while women of color, black women face higher negative statistics and blame. Gaskin gave an inflammatory rationale for black women having poor birth outcomes in Texas recently, causing a firestorm of conversati…

Laying it to rest: pregnancy & bedrest. Common in pregnant women for a variety of medical & obstetrical conditions. The debate on whether it is proven to support a high risk pregnancy to term is another question. Tonight’s show, the real experts speak: women who were put on bedrest during their pregnancies. Join Denise Bolds, DONA certified birth d…

Pregnancy and birth are often accompanied with anxiety. How a persons mindset is about pregnancy and birth is a large factor of successful birthing. Please join Denise Bolds, certified birth doula and her special guest: Ajamu James Ayinde, M.A., A.C.H. Ajamu is a Certified Medical Hypnotherapist and Master Mental Coach. Although certified as a hypn…

Please join Denise Bolds producer/host, certified birth doula - Bold Doula and her special co-host Kimberly Seals Allers as the discussion of breastfeeding and Kimberly's new book goes deep! In the introduction to THE BIG LETDOWN: How Medicine, Big Business, and Feminism Undermine Breastfeeding (St. Martin’s Press; Jan 24, 2017), advocate and journ…

Awake in Birth is talking with leaders in doula training! Please join producer/host Denise Bolds, certified birth doula and her special guest founder and president of Birth Arts International, Demetria Clark. Demetria will share her testimony of how Birth Arts International came into existence and what the future holds in pregnancy, birth and mothe…

Awake in Birth 2017 is part of a tsunami of conversations, connections and collaborations of diversity in birth work! Please join Bold Doula - Denise Bolds with co-host Gena Kirby of The Cultured Doula; a mosaic of leaders and legends in maternal health - ‘globally.’ We are going around the world at our own kitchen table tonight! Gena Kirby is on a…

2017 - Awake In Birth! How is your doula business? Do your intentions match your income? Please join Denise Bolds - Bold Doula and co-host Nikia Lawson - Build Your Better Business, this discussion is serious! Denise Bolds - Bold Doula is a certified birth doula. She is an advocate, educator and mentor. Denise is the producer and host of Awake in B…

Denise Bolds is back with a new 2017 series: Awake In Birth! Get ready to transcend! The first co-host of this birth worker series: Lakeisha Dennis - President of ICAN - International Cesarean Awareness Network. Ms. Dennis is a certified birth doula with DONA International, she provides holistic and evidence-based support for pregnancy, labor & bir…