My reasons for becoming a Birth Keeper stem back to my birth experience with my son, which was far from great. It left me physically and spiritually scarred, and also dumbfounded as to how this could be the normalized and accepted way of bringing life onto our planet. My son’s birth was a trauma that I have catalyzed and transformed into an offering to this world. I consider birth to be nothing short of miraculous and it should be treated as such. As I began to integrate and share my story, I came to understand that I was not the exception in my experience; so many women were telling the same story.

How could we have gotten so far off track? How could it be that nearly every woman I spoke with was coming through the other side of birth traumatized?

Are we given birth, or giving birth? We get lost, then we find our way.

– Whapio 

There are exceptions to every rule, but 3 years ago I made the decision to step away from attending births in the hospital setting. To put it simply, this paradigm does not align or resonate with who I am, and I cannot knowingly  participate in the accepted abusive practices performed by the medical system.

There is a time and place for everything and my personal decision to step away from hospital births are not a judgement on anyone else’s choices. For me to move in alignment and with integrity through this world I need to put my attention and energy behind what I believe is true. Birth is not merely a medical event, but a rite-of-passage and a normal, healthy expression of womanhood in which medical interventions should be minimal. The pathology of birth sets women up for unnecessary failure and trauma. As a birth keeper I hold the highest potential outcome and vision for the women I work with. I hold space for this divine transformation and help guide and educate women on the childbearing continuum path.

 

“Imagine what might happen if the majority of women emerged from their labour beds with a renewed sense of the strength and power of their bodies, and of their capacity for ecstasy through giving birth. When enough women realize that birth is a time of great opportunity to get in touch with their true power, and when they are willing to assume responsibility for this, we will reclaim the power of birth and help put technology where it belongs – in the service of birthing women, not as their master.” – Dr. Christiane Northrup, M.D.

 

We remember the experience of birth for the rest of our life, and I want to help you so that you can tell a story you’ll be proud of. I birthed my daughter into this world in love, safety, in my personal power and authority. I didn’t outsource anything. And in that experience I felt a renewed passion and trust for birth. My spirit was overjoyed, and as I revelled in the most exalted and expansive moments of my life, drunk on a hormonal cocktail of oxytocin and endorphins, I just knew that I was to be a lighthouse for mothers to come.

We can do this. We can restore birth for our daughters and granddaughters.

I believe that women and mothers are the back bones of not only their families, but their communities at large, and the way they are treated and cared for during the childbearing year directly impacts, imprints and informs the rest of their life moving forward. I bring tried and tested traditional practices, herbs, education and over a decade of experience with me in my tool kit. I occupy one of the oldest jobs on earth… women witnessing and sitting with other women during transformation. I have experienced both sides of the birthing spectrum, and as a result, makes me very informed and aware of the landscapes a woman will journey through.

I have attended births in the hospital, the home, birth centre, as well as free births for the past 14 years.

My services include:

– one initial zoom interview to make sure we are a good match

– 2 educational prenatal visits.

– being on call 2 weeks on either end of your estimated due date

– access to my vast lending library

– continuous presence and support during your labour and delivery up until about 1-2 hours postpartum

– 1 postpartum visit with herbal remedies, birth recap, and a postpartum meal.

Please email me at [email protected] for availability and pricing.

“Birth is not only about making babies. It’s about making mothers ~ strong, capable mothers who trust themselves and believe in their inner strength” -Barbara Katz Rothman