The Truth About Postpartum Care with JaLisa White

In this episode, I sit down with JaLisa White, a working doula from Newcastle, Delaware, for an honest, unfiltered conversation about pregnancy, loss, and postpartum survival.

JaLisa shares her journey through three pregnancies — starting with a stillbirth at 16 that she went through largely alone, a second pregnancy navigated inside a toxic relationship, and finally her “COVID baby,” where she became her own advocate against a hospital system that didn’t always have her best interests in mind.

We talk about the breastfeeding struggles nobody prepares you for, the isolation of postpartum during lockdown, and the moment she checked herself into a mental health facility just to get a break — and what she learned from that experience. JaLisa also opens up about how becoming a doula gave her a way to turn her own hardest moments into support for other mothers.

This conversation covers what’s missing in postpartum education for young Black women, why awareness of support programs is so scarce after birth (not just during pregnancy), and why having a real support network — not just a service — changes everything.

If you’re a mother, a doula, or someone who loves one, this episode is for you.

🔗 worthhh.org

💬 Heal Her Village (Discord): discord.gg/UpqyqPaWp6

In this episode of Heal Her Chronicles, Tasha sits down with Angelique Adderly, MHA, M.Jur., CD, CLE — Founder & Executive Director of Sereni Postnatal Retreat — to talk about what real postnatal recovery care looks like in practice.

Angelique shares the story behind founding Sereni Postnatal Retreat, what inspired her to build a dedicated space for postpartum healing, and why rebuilding “the village” around new mothers matters now more than ever. We talk fourth-trimester emotional wellness, what people get wrong about postpartum recovery, and what she wishes every mother knew before giving birth.

🌸 Learn more about Sereni Postnatal Retreat: www.birthingwithserenity.com

💛 Heal Her Chronicles is brought to you by WORTHHH (Women’s Oasis for Rejuvenating Therapies and Holistic Health Healing), a nonprofit supporting Black maternal and postpartum health.

📖 Get the Heal Her Workbook: [Amazon link]

📱 Download the Heal Her App: [App Store / Google Play links]

💬 Join Heal Her Village (our free community): discord.gg/UpqyqPaWp6

🌐 worthhh.org

#PostpartumCare #FourthTrimester #MaternalHealth #BlackMaternalHealth #PostnatalRecovery #HealHerChronicles

In this episode of Heel Her Chronicles, Tasha interviews her best friend Dolores Reed, a neurodivergent mother, about her experiences with pregnancy, childbirth, and raising a neurodivergent child. Dolores shares her journey through the challenges of postpartum life, the importance of support systems, and the complexities of navigating her son's autism diagnosis.

Takeaways

• Importance of support systems
• Navigating neurodivergence in children

Chapters

• 00:00 Journey into Motherhood
• 01:04 Navigating Pregnancy and Childbirth
• 08:04 Postpartum Challenges and Support
• 14:57 Understanding Neurodivergence
• 22:00 Advocacy and Resources for Neurodivergent Children
• 28:00 Advice for New Mothers

The conversation covers Dr. Mary Lewis's journey into motherhood, from planning for birth to postpartum recovery and mental health. It delves into the challenges of preparing for motherhood, setting boundaries, and the importance of support during the postpartum period. Dr. Lewis shares her experiences and insights on navigating the complexities of motherhood and juggling responsibilities. Dr. Lew shares her journey of rediscovering freedom after becoming a mother, transitioning to a career in acupuncture, and finding a new path in Oregon. She discusses the healing power of acupuncture and the importance of reconnecting with oneself after giving birth.

Takeaways

• Preparation for birth involves detailed planning and research.
• Setting boundaries and saying no is essential for new mothers.
• Postpartum recovery requires support and self-care. Rediscovering freedom after motherhood
• The healing power of acupuncture

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Motherhood
• 02:02 Planning for Birth
• 02:59 Preparing for Motherhood
• 05:12 Setting Boundaries and Saying No
• 07:59 Postpartum Recovery and Support
• 22:01 Mental Health and Juggling Responsibilities
• 25:10 Rediscovering Freedom
• 29:12 The Transition to Acupuncture
• 32:05 The Journey to Oregon
• 38:14 The Healing Power of Acupuncture
• 45:50 Reconnecting with Self

Guest & Artist Highlight : Alana Yaa Ifanike DaCosta

She's a mother of two, a singer/songwriter, a yoga instructor, and a therapist and on this episode of Heal Her Chronicles, Alana Yaa Ifanike DaCosta joins host Tasha Lewis for an honest conversation about postpartum healing, creativity, and what it really means to hold space for yourself while holding everything else together.

Alana is also the founder of KR8TiVE Uprising, a creative arts and dance company, and brings her Jamaican American roots and whole-person approach mind, body, and spirit into everything she does.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Healing through movement, music, and creative expression

• What therapy and yoga taught her about postpartum recovery

• Building community and culture through KR8TiVE Uprising

• Honest talk on postpartum awareness and depression among Black mothers

If you're a mother, or you love one, this conversation is for you. Listen, share it with someone who needs to hear it, and remember — healing doesn't happen alone.

Connect with Alana: alanadacosta.com | IG & TikTok @alanadacostamusic | Facebook: Alana DaCosta

Connect with KR8TiVE Uprising: KR8TiVEUprising.com | IG @kr8tiveuprisinginc | Facebook: KR8TiVE Uprising

WORTHHH is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit working to build back the community of healing.

worthhh.org | discord.gg/xmu9Cf7H4 | "Heal Her Workbook" on Amazon

Follow: IG/Facebook @worthhhinc | YouTube/TikTok @worthhhorg