Alisa Tebora Felise, MS, MPH (C), LEC
Traditional Birth Attendant/ Keeper | Birth Navigator | Lactation Education Counselor
My story begins, unironically, along two sacred harbors: one nestled near Pago Pago on the island of Tutuila in the Eastern part of the Samoan Islands - home to one of the largest, deepest natural harbors in the world - and the other situated upon the unceded territories of the Ramaytush and Muwekma Ohlone in the present-day San Francisco Bay Area. Growing up in a vibrant, intergenerational household, I was shaped by the strength of my grandmother (my namesake), my mother and father, and the many aunts who raised me. Though I returned to the States at age six, after attending preschool and being cared for by my maternal grandmother and my mother’s sister, I have kept the memories of my home village of Onesesopo, Aua, intact through what I call "re-remembering" - an active, conscious effort to honor the six senses: sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch, and intuition.
This journey of re-remembering is also a tribute to the many hands that came before me. I carry the legacies of my maternal grandmother Alisa that used to assist with birth attending as a young girl with her grandmother, Lusiana (Ana), a fa’atosaga (midwife) who had experience with ‘catching babies’. Grandma Ana supported the birth of the first triplets on our island, and would travel with her granddaughter (my grandmother) from village to village attending births. As a twin myself, I have always been captivated by the power of birth, constantly asking the women who raised me to recount their stories and watching their expressions of grief, awe, and an understanding of life. As a full spectrum birthkeeper, it is also important for me to be a steward for all natural life transitions, that is, transitions of new life from birth - to the transitions of matrescence from postpartum - to the transition when death is the imminent threshold where life transcends. I believe that when we look further back into our roots, we find an inexhaustible well of strength. My mission is to help other families look back, reach deep, and find that same power within their own stories.
daughter of vai tapu
My journey into birthkeeping and family advocacy
My work in maternal health is rooted in the belief that every birthing person deserves an advocate who understands both the clinical data and the human being. During my time as a Primary Care Manager for expectant families of Black and African ancestry, and as a dedicated advocate for teen mothers in Santa Clara County, I spent years navigating complex healthcare systems to address deep-seated disparities. My approach has always gone beyond simple management; it is a form of mentorship and reproductive justice. I am here to ensure that your voice is heard, your care is prioritized, and you can navigate high-stakes life transitions with dignity and strength.
Currently, as a Birth Navigator for the MANA Pasefika Birth Collective, I focus on the autonomy and sovereignty of Pasifika and BIPOC women. I serve as a bridge, ensuring our families can access modern care and honor their traditional practices. By centering the Fanua - the sacred connection between the land and the placenta, I help families reclaim their inherent strengths. My mission across all communities is to ensure that the journey through birth and postpartum is one where you feel culturally rooted, physically nourished, and completely whole.