BIRTH: The Middle Way Podcast

026: The Way of the Matrona: A Conversation with Elder, Midwife, & Teacher, Whapio.

This conversation was a long time coming, and a true honour. I am beyond excited to introduce you all to one of the most important women along my path as a birth attendant thus far. Whapio is an Elder who has truly devoted herself to studying the depth of birth, and weaving the wisdom she has absorbed into a women lead model that I feel is truly world changing. It has been nothing short of life changing to sit at the feet of this woman. She has both expanded and reshaped my understanding of what is possible in the realm of women and family lead birth support. I really hope that you enjoy this opportunity to hear her speak into her experiences and ideas around birth and life as much as I did. In this episode of Birth: The Middle Way, Whapio shares many layers of both her wisdom and her experiences. We explore topics such as: finding trust in birth, home birth, the role of a midwife, the power found in listening to women’s stories, birth complications, intuition, altered states of consciousness, Ayahuasca, blame culture, the healing potential in birth, and so much more! Whapio has created many teaching portals and opportunities for women and birth workers, including a doula program, and her staple Matrona Midwifery Certification. She is a homeopath who weaves the wisdom of homeopathy into the essence of her teachings, alongside an extremely in-depth exploration of anatomy and physiology. She empowers her students to know and understand the body in a pursuit to trusting birth MORE, a truly refreshing approach from what is offered in so many other realms of birth education. I honestly couldn’t recommend studying with her more. You can explore her offerings here: The Matrona [https://www.thematrona.com/] Check out her instagram here: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/whapio_and_thematrona/] And remember to share this episode with anyone who could use a little Elder wisdom and medicine to bless up there day! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit birththemiddleway.substack.com/subscribe [https://birththemiddleway.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

025: The Resurrection of Mother-lead Birth. A Storytelling Journey with Jess Shinneman.

In a world where birth is so frequently viewed through a clinical lens, as though it is a deeply unsafe event that needs constant monitoring and intervention, the personal experiences and wisdom of mothers, as well as birth attendants (who hold less rank than a doctor)… are all too often overlooked. If you believe in the innate wisdom carried in the experiences and stories of women, then this episode is for you! I’m thrilled to introduce you to one of my own mentors Jess Shinneman. Jess is a mother of four beautiful children, two of which were born in the hospital, two born at home, completely wild and undisturbed. Jess worked as a labor and delivery nurse for a decade, witnessing over 1000 births. She loved supporting mothers (especially when unmedicated) within the walls of the system, but towards the end of her career she couldn’t help but feel something was missing. She found herself at Whapio’s feet, studying to become a doula, and realized it wasn’t just a little that was missing, it was the whole experience. Jess ended up being fired for following the law of informed consent, serving families before the system she worked for. But, before she was fired she saw a family birth unassisted in the hospital, she watched as Whapio’s words came true… a dad stood up for his wife and caught his own baby! Jess shares, “when you see what birth can be, when you watch a couple fall more deeply in love than they even thought possible, seeing the wounds of the past heal before your eyes... you can’t unsee it”. It changed her, and her path forever… Jess is the director of programs, and a teacher at The Matrona (an educational birth program created by my elder mentor Whapio which I HIGHLY recommend), a birth photographer, and homesteader. With these vastly differing sets of experiences, Jess’s stories carry unique perspectives, ideas, and wisdom for us all to receive and contemplate. She is able to share perspective, not only on what is offered in the hospital, but what can be offered at home when families find themselves needing and different option, or extra support. It is Jess’s mission to help families as they navigate all the options of pregnancy and birth, and she carries a deep prayer that every family at least considers home birth as a safe option. In this discussion Jess invites us to deeply consider the importance of listening to mothers' intuition, the importance of self-advocacy, the emotional toll for those working in a broken system, the beauty and necessity of empowering families during childbirth, and the deep need for true informed consent in maternal care (a thread that seems to be an important theme in BTMW conversations). This episode is truly a beautiful story telling journey. The truth that has been uncovered in one woman’s heart as she has centered her life around birth, motherhood, and supporting women. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shinewildwithjess?igsh=NzQyMTR2NjdoZ3V3&utm_source=qr [https://www.instagram.com/shinewildwithjess?igsh=NzQyMTR2NjdoZ3V3&utm_source=qr] Matrona Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whapio_and_thematrona?igsh=aWVpd2xiNXd3cjd6&utm_source=qr [https://www.instagram.com/whapio_and_thematrona?igsh=aWVpd2xiNXd3cjd6&utm_source=qr] There is still time to join Jess and Whapio in their year long devotion to birth in this years Matrona program. Matrona Website: https://www.thematrona.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit birththemiddleway.substack.com/subscribe [https://birththemiddleway.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

024: Birth Belongs to Families. A Raw Conversation with The Midwives of Foundational Concepts.

Join Sami Love for another deep conversation on Bith: The Middle way, with a group of powerful women all walking the path of traditional midwifery! The midwives from Foundational concepts, Sarita Bennett, Rowan Bailey, and Alicia Juarez Meyer bless us all with a very raw and real discussion exploring many topics in the realms of birth, family, informed concept, family care, politics, and much more. Together we explore the complexities of midwifery education, the impact of institutionalized systems on women and families, and the necessity of transparency and TRUE informed consent in pregnancy care and birth spaces. We dip into the intersection of physiology and spirituality, and the importance of creating space to deeply nurture relationships with mothers and families within the scope of midwifery practice. As we have explored in many other conversations in this space, birth has many complexities and nuances, and this episode isn’t void of following that thread of exploration. From speaking into the importance of understanding birth physiology to different political themes currently alive in the world of birth work each of us share from the heart and the truth of our differing experiences on it all. We also focus on the continuum of womanhood and the role of elders in guiding the next generation of midwives, and the necessity of reclaiming traditional midwifery as a role, title, and wellspring of wisdom. Foundational Concepts is a collective created by these three women, who not only serve birthing women, but also educate the next generation of birth attendants. They share a new approach to midwifery that emphasizes experiential education and community support. Let me share a little about each of these wonderful women! Rowan Bailey Rowan shares.. I may or may not have been known to jokingly say my purpose is to make more outlaw midwives. In reality my mission is to be a mirror and a reminder that when we break out of captivity and become our most powerful selves we can make the movement move. Rowan describes her mission in birth by saying “I want us all to find our feet and our breath and be fully who we are meant to be: wild, raw, messy, and beautifully ungovernable”. Sarita Bennett Sarita is a retired midwife and osteopath who is naturalized to the Appalachian Mountains she lives in. She continues to serve midwifery through offering mentorship, experiential education, and restorative peer review. Alisha Juarez Meyer Alisha has been serving birthing families since 2014 in various capacities and locations, now in southern California she is serving families through a Faith-Based Family Fraternal Association and Fellowship Ministry. Links: Website: https://foundationalconcepts4mws.org/home [https://foundationalconcepts4mws.org/home] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093100200353 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093100200353] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foundational.concepts4mws/?fbclid=IwY2xjawO4DwxleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFGd0M3QVR0TVduZFNWdWdKc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHojNcj3y9nDCzRPowSuOfMfHnKzeWvoyMcyAPH0NPIwU7EvnyBmn60jSb9Di_aem_I0hs5x_q3I6FokFOQeXsEw [https://www.instagram.com/foundational.concepts4mws/?fbclid=IwY2xjawO4DwxleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFGd0M3QVR0TVduZFNWdWdKc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHojNcj3y9nDCzRPowSuOfMfHnKzeWvoyMcyAPH0NPIwU7EvnyBmn60jSb9Di_aem_I0hs5x_q3I6FokFOQeXsEw] The women of Foundational Concepts have also put a call our to our community here at Birth: The Middle Way to support a midwife who is currently undergoing unjust prosecution for her work as a traditional midwife. Please, if seeing traditional midwifery stay alive in this world is something that feels important to your heart, consider supporting Moira in raising her restitution funds https://foundationalconcepts4mws.org/pay-it-forward [https://foundationalconcepts4mws.org/pay-it-forward] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit birththemiddleway.substack.com/subscribe [https://birththemiddleway.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

023: From OBGYN to the Pursuit of New Possibilities in the realm of Birth with Nathan Riley.

Nathan Riley has truly walked a unique path in the realm of birth. After 14 years spent devoted to the path of becoming an OBGYN, he lost his job for taking his mask off during the pandemic, while supporting a patient who was in the active process of dying. He chose humanity over rules and regulations in that moment… and in that moment, everything changed! One path closed, and another opened. Yet the theme of prioritizing humanity and pursuing new paths of possibility (outside of the boundaries of the systems “right” and “wrong”) was infused into his path forward. Nathan is a lot of fun to speak with, and I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. It’s such a gift to cross paths with someone who has been educated in different ways, and has experienced so many different possibilities, not only in the realm of birth, but in life. Nathan and I explore many layers in this conversation, but I really enjoyed our ability to connect in the realm of psychedelics, and altered states of consciousness. We dive into the idea that psychedelics can be an incredible thread of preparation for birth (for some women), and share some of our own personal experiences and observations of this concept. Birth is an altered state, a psychedelic state, and we share the belief that allowing your psyche to learn how to navigate altered states before entering the birth portal, has immense benefit! We’d love to hear your thoughts on some of these topics, that are address less often in conversations around birth, yet hold a deep potent potential. I pray you enjoy this conversation as much as I did! If you are inspired by Nathan and want to connect more with him and his offerings you can check out: Check out Nathan’s most recent project, The Born Free Method, where he and his team are on a mission to place birth back in the hands of women, and families! The Born Free Method is an educational space of comprehensive programs for soon-to-be parents (and birth workers) who want to feel empowered, confident, and informed about their fertility, pregnancy and childbirth journeys. Born free method is the most comprehensive birth support program on the planet, which includes direct access to both a midwife and OBGYN who hold birth to be a sacred transformation rather than a medical procedure. click here [https://www.bornfreemethod.com/] Nathan is the host of his own podcast: The Holistic OBGYN Podcast: click here [https://open.spotify.com/episode/6ZRbz6ndNORkenBMEQGd8F?si=eRCY7XnFRhC-sMB0Upv6dQ] And you can connect on Instagram: click here [https://www.instagram.com/nathanrileyobgyn/] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit birththemiddleway.substack.com/subscribe [https://birththemiddleway.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

022: Reflections & Announcement re: My Experience with The Guardian’s Investigation into FBS

ANNOUNCEMENT: Hello Birth: The Middle Way community — I am taking a step back for the next little bit as I integrate my experience within the Guardian’s investigation into the Freebirth Society. My prayer from the beginning has been to find a middle ground between the polarizing beliefs in the birth world. It is not anyones place to judge how a woman chooses to birth — for with every choice, there is risk, and no guaranteed outcomes. However, when incorrect or incomplete information comes pouring out from groups claiming to teach others about birth — that is where problems lay. Birth: The Middle Way is a community conversation space — so please share your thoughts in the comments, hop on a recorded conversation, and share your story if you feel called to do so. BTMW does not claim to have answers or give anyone a singular truth — it is made up of all the women who choose to join in respectful dialogue. That is the beauty of this community, that is the prayer for this space. At this time I am choosing the medicine of silence in this space while I integrate my time post-Guardian FBS investigation. Sacred listening to my own story, to the Earth, and to the world around me. Thank you endlessly for being here. I love you. See you soon, Emma Cardinal Relavent links: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit birththemiddleway.substack.com/subscribe [https://birththemiddleway.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]