In this episode, I’m talking with Malisa Dekker, a Postpartum Doula and Chef based in Brooklyn, New York, about her profound journey through two contrasting birth and postpartum experiences that shaped her passion for postpartum wellness.
Malisa’s first birth took place during the tumultuous times of the COVID-19 pandemic, where interventions and a lack of support left her feeling disconnected and overwhelmed. With the desire for change, Malisa embarked on her second pregnancy, seeking empowerment and a holistic approach to birthing. She details her transformational shift to a home birth with the support of a dedicated midwife, her partner Taylor, and a community of friends who understood the importance of empathetic care and emphasized the profound impact having one’s emotional needs addressed during labor can have on a birthing person’s experience. Malisa’s experience led her to become a passionate advocate for postpartum wellness and support, driving her to become a Postpartum Doula. Through her unique combination of skills as a Doula and Chef, she aims to provide nourishment, care, and empathy to new parents during the challenging postpartum period.
Content Warnings: postpartum anxiety, a pandemic birth story with isolation and interventions
Listen to EBB Episodes
EBB 311 - Creating a Community-Led Birth Center in New York City with Myla Flores of the Womb Bus
EBB 310 - Doulas & Nurses Advocating Together for Positive Shifts in Birth Culture with Joyce Dykema, EBB Instructor & Brianna Fields, RN
EBB 309 - Evidence on Doulas
EBB 308 - The Intersection of Environmental Justice and Midwifery Care with Dr. Tanya Khemet Taiwo
EBB 307 - Unexplained Infertility, Endometriosis, and a Birth Center Birth Story with Ellora La Shier, EBB Childbirth Class Graduate
EBB 306 - Culturally Sensitive Doula Training with Divya Deswal and Neha Misra of the Doula Collective in India
EBB 305 - A High-Risk Pregnancy and Miraculous Birth with Krista and John DeYoung, EBB Childbirth Class Graduates
EBB 304 - Q & A on PPD/Pitocin, Delayed Cord Clamping, Nubain, and Placental Encapsulation
EBB 303 - Advocating for Bodily Autonomy in Pregnancy and Birth with Mama Doctor Jones, OB/GYN
EBB 302 - Solo Delivery: Navigating Birth During Spouse's Military Deployment with Kellie McKinnon, EBB Childbirth Class Graduate
EBB 301 - A Crash Course in Pregnancy and Parental Leave Rights in the U.S. with Daphne Delvaux, Esq. of The Mamattorney
EBB 300 - Evidence on Waterbirth
REPLAY - EBB 130: Home Birth in the Black Community with Isis Rose
EBB 299 - A Breech Vaginal Birth Story with EBB Parents Naoma Kleisner and Mohamed Koraichi
EBB 298 - Overcoming Barriers to Breech Vaginal Birth with Dr. Emiliano Chavira, OB/GYN and Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist
EBB 297 - Frequently Asked Questions about Breech with Dr. Rebecca Dekker and Sara Ailshire, MA
EBB 296 - Evidence on Breech Birth with Dr. Rebecca Dekker and Sara Ailshire, MA
A Story + Special Announcement from EBB
EBB 295 - Evidence Based Birth®️ 2023 Year in Review with Dr. Rebecca Dekker and Sara Ailshire, MA
EBB 294 - Blending Ancestral Wisdom and Research Evidence with Emilie Rodriguez & Guramrit LeBron of Ashé Birthing Services in New York City
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