“The first question we were asked when I sat with my new circle of women was why we were here. I answered that I did not know. I knew I had signed up for a doula/childbirth educator course, I knew I wanted to work with birth, I knew that somehow I had been drawn to this particular course but why? As each of us tried to answer this question I felt more and more that I was in the right place, even if I didn’t know why!
As I look back over my notebooks, journal and think about all the experiences of that year I feel a great sense of awe. It was not what I expected it to be. Yes I learned so many new things about pregnancy, labour and beyond…..I learned new skills….got great advice and feedback about each birth I attended…..gained confidence in dealing with midwives and the medical profession….and was directed to a huge wealth of knowledge and experience in the wider world. But there was so much more. Learning to sit and be with whatever happened in a birth journey. Firstly with our own journeys, our personal births, our families births, our childrens births. Finding support to really delve deep, grieve, rage, accept and just be with those experiences. Realising our own strengths and frailties, and being able to reach out to those around us.
One of our first assignments was to write about our ideal birthing environment, I did not include a doula in this scenario! This allowed me to really question my beliefs about doulas, about why parents would want one, about the way our society looks at emotional support. And this major one…..do I deserve a really empowering birth experience?
I listened to a talk by Christiane Northrup on a birth seminar who said that most people drawn to work with birth are trying to deal with their own birth trauma. As I worked through this course I realised how true this was for me. And as I continue on this path I feel that Birthing Wisdom has given me the tools, support and respect to acknowledge and be with anything that comes up.
Olivia is my favourite kind of teacher, you know that this strong capable experienced woman has her own opinions but she never imposed them on us, she created a space where we were free to express, play, rest, learn, experience and create. And she brought in so many interesting and diverse teachers including Jolie who supported us and her in countless ways.
I cannot finish this testimonial without mentioning how important our circle of women was and is to me. I learned so much from the other women and valued their support and love, their laughter and tears, their sharing and strength and most of all their food!!!!”