In this episode, I am joined by Denise Bolds, a New York City-based medical social worker and DONA International certified birth doula. She specializes in high-risk VBACs and first time pregnancies, as well as same-sex and hospital births. She also supports breastfeeding, and is an Evidence Based Birth Instructor.
Denise has served as a regional director with DONA International, and she is a published author of a self-help book called Raising Princes to be Kings: A Single Black Mother’s Guide to Raising Her Black Son. She has a successful blog called The Audacious Black Woman, as well as an internet radio show – Birth While Black – which reflects her passion for maternal health disparities awareness, and equity in birth work.
We talk about the political atmosphere surrounding doula work, particularly in New York City, as well as what it’s like to give birth in the complex healthcare systems of NYC. We also look ahead to the state of maternity care in 2020.
For more information and news about Evidence Based Birth®, visit www.ebbirth.com. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. Ready to get involved? Check out our Professional membership (including scholarship options) and our Instructor program. Find an EBB Instructor here, and click here to learn more about the Evidence Based Birth® Childbirth Class.
Resources:
Follow Denise on her website, Facebook and Instagram.
Check out Denise’s book, Raising Princes to be Kings, here.
More of Denise’s content: The Audacious Black Woman blog and Birth While Black podcast.
Find the Black Mamas Matter paper on doula reimbursement here.
Listening to this podcast is an Australian College of Midwives CPD Recognised Activity.




Stay empowered, read more :
EBB 251 – Naseema McElroy, Founder of Financially Intentional, Shares her Courageous Story of Speaking up as a Labor and Delivery Nurse
Don't miss an episode! Subscribe to our podcast: iTunes | Stitcher | Spotify On today’s podcast we talk with Naseema McElroy, Labor and Delivery nurse and the Founder of Financially Intentional about racism, workplace trauma, and inequities in the US healthcare...
EBB 250 – 2022 Year in Review
Don't miss an episode! Subscribe to our podcast: iTunes | Stitcher | Spotify In this week’s episode, I'm going to cover the “2022 A Year in Review” and reflect on all the projects and research we accomplished at Evidence Based Birth®. I share my favorite projects...
EBB 249 – The Joys and Challenges of Surrogacy with EBB Instructor Doula Scarlett Lynsky
Don't miss an episode! Subscribe to our podcast: iTunes | Stitcher | Spotify In this episode, we are talking with Scarlett Lynsky (she/her) from Hatchings Doula all about her experiences as an Evidence Based Birth® Instructor and two-time gestational surrogate....