My path to becoming a midwife
Midwifery is a Calling
I knew since I was a teenager that I was going to be a midwife. I’m not sure where the idea emerged from, as I had never met a midwife or seen a birth. But once the idea had emerged, I knew with certainty that this was my path in life. Many midwives describe their role as “a calling;” it’s more than a job or a career, it’s an identity, a way of moving through the world.
Midwives Create Safe Spaces
At its core, being a midwife is about holding space, keeping sacred stories, guiding birth and death, and meeting people at the edges of portals. It’s about creating a safe container where the client can fully relax into their body; where they can feel the energy surging through them as power and aliveness and meet it with courage. Birth is a portal of transformation, and to meet a midwife is to meet someone in that portal-space between worlds and to guide them through.
Walking the Spaces of the Great Unknown
For as long as I can remember (and probably before), I’ve been an edgewalker. I feel most at home in the spaces between life and death, in the great depths of the unknown, where time becomes elastic, contracting and expanding and spiraling. While it may seem odd to talk about birth and death in the same breath, they are of the same energy; a liminal space. I was initiated into the profound power of death and loss from a very young age, losing a parent suddenly when I was seven years old, and the birth of my younger brother just a few months after. I learned how to be with, and exist inside of, the energies of life and death happening almost simultaneously, from the experiences of my childhood. And to walk alongside others as they pass through these portals has become my greatest gift.
A Political Undertaking
For me, midwifery is also a political undertaking. Our mainstream healthcare system views pregnancy and birth as medical events to be managed and controlled, rather than as normal life transitions to be held and supported. My path to becoming a midwife was a journey of reclaiming reproduction as a site of immense power and a pathway to transformation, in myself and in others. I hold deeply the belief that our bodies are wise and knowing and that reproductive healthcare holds the potential to guide people closer to their own intuition and inner power, rather than away from it.
Midwifery: Combining Science and Spirituality
Midwifery combines two of my favorite things: science and spirituality. I am a total nerd; I like to research and read and stay up to date on the latest studies. And, there is so much about conception, birth, and parenting that goes beyond what can be hypothesized and studied. It’s emotional. It’s intuitive. It’s creative. And it’s about choice and autonomy. Everyone will weigh risks differently. And everyone’s unique passage through the portal of labor and birth will look different. I am here for all of it. And most of all, I’m here to meet you just where you are in your own journey.
Are you Ready to Explore the World of Homebirth with Midwives in Berkeley, CA? Reach Out Today.
Choose homebirth with our dedicated midwives at Emunah Midwifery for a personalized and empowering prenatal care and birthing experience. Our one-hour appointments go beyond physical assessments to address all your questions and concerns, setting the foundation for a healthy and connected birth and the postpartum period. Experience the comfort and autonomy of birthing in your own space, supported by skilled midwives who offer water submersion for relaxation and safe options for low-risk births. Our postpartum care includes home visits and support for breastfeeding/chestfeeding, respecting your choices, and prioritizing your well-being.
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