When he was asked, “What is a friend?” Aristotle answered, “One soul inhabiting two bodies.” When asked, “What is a doula?” I answered, “One soul inhabiting two bodies,” … the privilege to be in union—nonseparate from another with a shared intent or purpose. Read more…. An Intimate Dance with Birthing Women
On September 24, 2003, a group of traditional midwives from Mexico gathered at the Iglesia de los Pobres, a church in Oaxaca de Juarez, to write these declarations about midwifery and birth. Read more…. Pronunciamiento/Pronouncement
Salt, sodium chloride or common rock salt is dissolved in the same proportion to water in the Earth’s oceans as it is in our blood, amniotic fluid and tears. Salt plays a vital part in every cell of the human body, and the ideal amount of salt for human babies is perfectly found in human breast milk. Read more…. Salt of the Earth: Homeopathic Natrum Muriaticum
We began the Oaxaca, Mexico, conference with an exercise in global healing. Marina Alzugaray and Yeshi Sherover Neumann created the idea of splitting our group of about 275 people into "conquered" and “conquerors.” Read more…. Healing in Mexico
Is our profession a barrier to instinctive birth? Are we, whose calling it is to protect and care for motherbaby in the birth year, actually forming a barrier? If so, how do we change our profession to meet the real needs of women in pregnancy and birth? Read more…. Two Important Keys: Autonomy and Working Together
Women believe that birth is a dangerous medical event. The fact is that normal birth is safer than many things we do each day without a thought. Read more…. The Ties that Bind – How Belief Creates Birth Realities
I have the good fortune to be attending births with younger midwives right now. I see the future of midwifery right before my eyes. These women are smart, alert and have the same vision of care that I do. Read more…. Maturing Midwifery
Here at Midwifery Today, we have been working hard on our country contacts. The goal is to have a contact person or persons in every country of the world. Read more…. International Networking
There are little things we can do each day, just by being who we are. Wear a shirt or earrings—or carry a bag—with a birth saying or image on it that leads to dialog about midwifery or birth. Read more…. One Birth, One Woman at a Time
Since founding Midwifery Today magazine in 1986, I have had an interest in international midwifery. I have always had the feeling that the keys to helping and understanding the birth process would be found all over this marvelous globe with its many cultures. Read more…. Enlisting Change Around the World
I have a vision: I think we need to have a museum of midwifery. The thought first came to me when I was at the New York City MANA conference a decade ago. Read more…. A Vision to Share
We will look back someday and say, “We had a legendary meeting at the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) meeting in Vienna in April 2002.” It was not a sanctioned meeting but one where we discussed issues many midwives have been concerned with. Read more…. Inclusiveness—The Essence of Midwifery
