This project entitled Healing Through Birth, is designed to investigate the connection between mind and body as they relate to birth. The project will document the recovery of the wounded healer. It will also explore the history of commodification of birthing processes. The project will consider the ways that ancient knowledge has been deemed “unsafe”, labeled as “witchcraft”, and has been stolen by men with access to higher education and wealth and sold back to birthing people. Specific learning objectives are to gain a foundational understanding of the business of birth, the history of sexism and racism within birthwork, ways to heal from our own births, and hands-on skills in supporting self and birthing people. Written work includes a blogpost update each week highlighting events relevant to the learning objectives, and two Instagram posts per week. Texts to be studied include: Witches, Midwives, and Nurses by Barbara Ehrenreich and Deirdre English, Sacred Birthing; Birthing a New Humanity by Sunni Karll, Pushed: The Painful Truth About Childbirth and Modern Maternity Care by Jennifer Block, and many more peer-review articles and resources from members of the birth community. The student will incorporate information from the Preconception/Community Doula Course with Barbara Essman January through May and will be connecting with other doulas and midwives on Kauai.
Sacred Birthing School Doula Course
The student will complete all assignments as described on the syllabus, including weekly documentation on the Project pages of the SOS program website. Whenever possible, the student will provide the faculty with a field supervisor, subcontractor, or mentor’s descriptive assessment of in-program ILC work completed with their guidance, expertise, or supervision. The student will post, and when possible present, a no more than 10 minute PowerPoint Presentation of 10-15 slides with text that demonstrates the highlights of the student’s in-program ILC Project website at <https://sites.evergreen.edu/comalt/projects/ >. The student will complete comprehensive mid-quarter and final self-evaluations and submit them to faculty prior to mid-quarter and final end of quarter student-faculty conferences.
4 – Commodification Processes: Racism and Sexism in Food and Health Systems
4 – Community Doula Skills
4– Individual Learning Project: Trauma Studies: Healing Body and Mind
4 – Creative and Expository Writing: WordPress ePortfolio
| Learning Objective | Activities | What Will Be Evaluated |
| To explore racism and sexism within birthwork | Read Pushed: The Painful Truth About Childbirth and Modern Maternity Care by Jennifer Block
Witches, Midwives, and Nurses by Barbara Ehrenreich and Deirdre English The Woman in the Body by Emily Martin Interviewing and networking with people in the birth/medical community |
Weekly blogposts documenting my struggles, celebrations, and critiques of the commodification of birthwork
Review of Bibliography |
| To develop concrete skills to support pregnant and/or birthing people from preconception to postpartum | Attend the Community Doula
Read: Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin Spiritual Midwifery by Ina May Gaskin Look for opportunities to further learning |
Blogposts summarizing learning and sharing resources for maintaining a well-rounded education as a doula
Field Supervisor Evaluation Final blogposts |
| To develop web design and creative and expository writing skills | ePortfolio
Instagram gallery Explore websites for birth services and begin brainstorming business strategies Weekly blogposts documenting experiences in a variety of writing styles |
Review of ePortfolio
Review of Instagram gallery |
| To connect to the wisdom of Kauai as it relates to birthwork and birthing-people through lore and history. | Interview elders and community members
Research and read: The Polynesian Family System in Ka-‘U, Hawai’i by Edward Smith Craighill Handy Ritual: Power, Healing, and Community by Malidoma Patrice Some Selections from Daughters of Haumea by Lucia Tarallo Jensen and Natalie Mahina Jensen |
Review of blogposts
Review of Instagram gallery |
| To heal my own mind and body so that I can help others | Eat well- begin to explore my relationship with nutrition
Begin to become familiar with herbal remedies and supplements Exercise- create a strong self through surfing, dancing, swimming, hiking, and other activity Work through mental trauma- sleep well, meditate, create a support network Work through physical trauma- attend physical therapy, appointments, stretch daily |
Self-Care Blogposts and updates
Pictures and captions in Instagram gallery documenting healing progress Final Eval description of healing |