8-Hour Live Skills Workshop: Practicing African American Postpartum Care – January 10, 2026

Workshop Overview:

World Health Organization (WHO) says, most maternal and infant deaths occur during the postpartum period. African American postpartum care is a rite of passage that restores strength to the mother and protects the newborn against illness.

The African American postpartum care model extends beyond the western standard of 6 weeks postnatal care. Science has confirmed that certain parts of recuperation after birth can take up to a year. “The understanding of traditional postpartum practices can inform the provision of culturally competent perinatal services“,Womens Health (Lond). (1).

With African American postpartum care, maternal morbidity decreases, and rituals celebrating the mother and her baby are embraced.

Core Components:

This in-depth workshop features a range of interactive formats:

• Lectures
• PowerPoint Presentations
• Discussions
• Videos
• Question and Answer

Designed for experienced doulas, midwives, maternal and child health professionals, and birth workers, this educational session aims to deepen your understanding of African American postpartum care practices. Participants will have the opportunity to delve into the rich history and traditions that shape African American postpartum care.

Instructor:

Shafia Monroe is a Master of Public Health, tmaster midwife, author, and cultural historian. Monroe is the founder of the International Center for Traditional Childbearing (ICTC) now NAABB, Shafia Monroe Consulting, Birthing CHANGE and SMC Full Circle Doula Birth Companion Training, LLC.

Shafia Monroe is the leading voice on African American birth traditions, postpartum rituals, nutrition,  parenting, and leadership development.  She teaches and shares her wisdom from a place of love, eldership, experience, and validation. 

Certificate and CEU’s:

Certificate of Completion: Participants are required to attend the full training session and complete a short quiz in order to obtain a Certificate of Completion.
Continuing Education Units: 0.6 CEUs from the Midwife Education Accreditation Council (MEAC) will be issued to each participant who successfully completes the workshop.

Training Goals:

Goal: The Purpose of African American postpartum care.
Goal: Improve the postpartum recuperation period.
Goal: Connect African American mothers to their culture

Learning Objectives:

After the conclusion of this live skills workshop, participants will be able to:

• List vital steps in providing African American postpartum care.
• Describe the physiological needs in the postpartum period.
• List best practices to heal the birth canal.
• Discuss African American postpartum care extending beyond 42 days.
• Demonstrate African American postpartum care methods.
• List and describe maternal morbidity prevention measures and postpartum comfort measures based on 20th Century African American Midwifery practices.
• Explain the role of the community in postpartum recuperation.

Who Needs to Be There?

Health professionals, doulas and birth workers who are responsible for or interested in providing postnatal care. This webinar may benefit policy-makers and managers of maternal and child health programmes, health facilities, and teaching institutions currently offering and/or developing maternity and newborn care services.

What Participants are Saying

“I was not dissapointed. The knowledge I attained was beyond what I expected! I’m inspired to preserve these traditional and sacred methods of care and will cherish the knowledge I attained through her guidance!” – Marica Burgess

“I really enjoyed attending this training. I love learning about the history of my people and postpartum rituals to attend to birthing persons. This is an invaluable training and I highly recommend it. It is well worth the cost.” – Alexis Richmond