Healing the Tigress Ep. 39 - Birthkeeping From a Daughter of Samoa with Leonora Ilovea Willis
In this episode, we explore how doulas or birthkeepers can be so powerful and helpful during the birthing and postpartum experience with Leonora Ilovea Willis.
Leonora is a native-born Samoan, born on the island of Tutuila in the great Pacific ocean, but who is practicing and working in diaspora as a Birthkeeper, childbirth educator, lactation education specialist, perinatal yoga teacher and bodyworker, serving her community in Oakland and the greater Bay Area. She owns and operates her own birthwork business called Daughter of Samoa, which is part of the title of a book that an ancestor wrote and published in 1889, The Story of Lauli’i, A Daughter of Samoa.
We talk to Leonora about:
- The importance of having a postpartum plan and community
- Generational trauma to be addressed before motherhood
- Why it is important to have cultural congruency in birth work
- Where the word "doula" comes from and the importance of language to describe birthkeepers
- What the difference between a doula/birthkeeper is versus a midwife
- What kind of systemic level changes would be ideal
Leonora humbly and graciously imparts her wisdom and experience of the birthkeeping world with us and we hope this episode can help others learn more about the power and importance of working with a birthworker or building a postpartum team with intention.
Find more of Leonora at:
Website: https://leonorawillis.life/
IG: @daughter_of_samoa
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/daughterofsamoa/
Resources:
Leonora's ancestor's book: The Story of Lauli'i, A Daughter of Samoa
Tema Mercado, midwife from San Diego
Healing the Tigress Episode 21--Healing our Makuahine with Dr. Kalena Kaopuuokalani Lanuza
Healing the Tigress Episode 32-- Expecting the Unexpected: A Realistic Look at Ways to Prepare for Postpartum
Note: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speakers' own. This podcast is not a replacement for therapy or professional/medical advice. If you need more support or advice, please reach out to your own medical professional who can answer your questions with your individual medical history and background in context.
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