RECLAIMING YOUR BIRTH RIGHTS
Reclaiming our birthright is a powerful and transformative process that involves reconnecting with our ancestors. There is a war over the womb, especially for our BIPOC. As traditional midwives, we teach the families we work with how essential it is to reclaim their birthright. It is a journey of self-discovery, empowerment, and liberation from the constraints imposed by societal norms, expectations, and limitations.
We control our bodies, babies, and ceremonies by recognizing and honoring our birthright. We are bringing birth back home as it should be, like how our ancestors did it. If you ask your great-grandmother where she was born? she will most likely tell you at home in a safe, sacred space with her family.
As we reclaim our birthrights, we honor our ancestors physically and spiritually. We change and cultivate a sacredness for our people and our families. We continue to empower women with this knowledge and wisdom and create sacred spaces for them to give birth!
HISTORY OF TRADITIONAL MIDWIFERY
Midwives have historically played a vital role in supporting women during childbirth. This ancient tradition involved women assisting other women through the birthing process. Unfortunately, in older times, challenges such as women with small pelvises facing higher risks during childbirth and premature or sickly babies having lower survival rates were more common. The act of civil disobedience where a midwife refused to kill Hebrew male babies is one of the first recorded instances of such resistance. Despite their crucial role, midwives often faced accusations of witchcraft due to their knowledge of natural healing and the mysteries of birth, such as using herbs for birth control or abortion. This led to a dark period where thousands of midwives were falsely accused, discredited, and even subjected to torture or execution through burning, hanging, or drowning, particularly during the Middle Ages. Male physicians were only called upon in rare, life-threatening birth complications, highlighting the central role midwives traditionally held in childbirth practices.
MIDWIFERY PHILOSOPHY
Traditional midwifery philosophy is a holistic approach to childbirth that emphasizes the natural processes of pregnancy and labor while prioritizing the health and well-being of both the mother and the baby. Midwives who follow this philosophy provide personalized, continuous support to women throughout their pregnancy, birth, and postpartum journey. They focus on empowering women to make informed choices about their care, sharing knowledge, emotional support, and practical guidance. By valuing each woman's needs and preferences, the traditional midwifery philosophy promotes a deep trust, respect, and partnership between the midwife and the mother, ultimately leading to positive birth experiences and outcomes. FOR MY HOLISTIC JOURNEY, READ PG HOLISTIC PRACTITIONER
