About this episode

Dr. Rebecca Dekker interviews Shafia Monroe about African American postpartum traditions and their significance in modern care.

Postpartum care wasn't always rushed, clinical, or isolating. In many African-American communities, the weeks after birth were treated as sacred time where families and communities gathered to care for the mother so she could focus on caring for her baby. In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Dekker talks with renowned midwife, cultural historian, and author Shafia Monroe about the traditions documented in her new book Mothering the Mother: African-American Postpartum Traditions, Recipes, and Healing . Mama Shafia shares how historically rooted postpartum practices—from the 42-day "lying-in" period to nourishing soups, herbal teas, and hands-on community support—helped mothers rest, recover, and bond with their babies. They explore what's missing from the modern Western postpartum model, how traditional wisdom from Black midwives supported physical and emotional recovery, and why caring for mothers is essential for healthy families and communities. (02:43) Why Shafia wrote Mothering the Mother and the lack of resources on African-American postpartum traditions (07:47) The love letter to Black mothers and words of affirmation for postpartum parents (11:56) What's missing in modern…

People in this episode

Host: Rebecca Dekker

Guest: Shafia Monroe

Topics covered

• postpartum care
• African American traditions
• community support
• motherhood
• healing practices

Keywords

• postpartum
• African American

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Mothering the Mother

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