Introduction to Healing Through Birth

Hey! Thanks for taking the time to visit my blog.

I’m Sophie, a student, nanny, surfer, writer, thinker, healer, gardener, beekeeper, explorer, and much more! I’m a sophomore at The Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA, but I am currently studying from Kapaa, HI. I am taking a doula training course through the Sacred Birthing School with an incredible woman named Barbara Essman. This 18 week course provides an opportunity for students to explore their own births to discover how our entire lives are modeled after our first moments of life. I am also hoping to get my doula business underway in the near future and begin attending births if time allows. Island life is surprisingly busy- I have my doula class, this Independent Learning Contract, a job nannying a sweet 4 month old, and so many other projects on top of my school and work commitments! Most days start with the sunrise though (so gorgeous they’re hard to sleep through on the Eastside of the island!!) and there is almost always time for an afternoon swim on hot days; I can see the ocean from my front yard! One of my intentions for my time on island is to develop a healthy and sustainable self-care routine. I’m looking forward to sharing what self-care looks like for me right now and documenting how it changes based on my needs and surroundings through poetry, pictures, and occasional blog posts.

I first became interested in birthwork a few years ago when I came down with the flu; I was in bed for days and when I finally had energy to watch a movie I chose one on birth. I was fascinated by the strong, wise people who so calmly brought life into the world! The way midwives and birthing people held each other warmed my heart. So I decided I would become a midwife. I have never felt such a strong calling to any occupation or lifestyle. Since then I have created quite the library and have begun researching the fascinating world of birth. This project is a continuation of my in-program ILC from spring quarter 2016 entitled The Terroir of Birth. Here is a link to that blog:

http://blogs.evergreen.edu/terroir-sophie/

Next quarter I plan to look further into nutrition during pregnancy and the long-term health impacts, which will have some overlap with my Terroir of Birth project. As I discovered during my Terroir of Birth project, birthwork is incredibly diverse and complex; every field within the scope of birth is wildly intersectional. It’s impossible to look at, say, nutritional impacts on fetal development, without taking into account socioeconomic factors, cultural backgrounds, microbiological environments, and so much more. That being said, I am trying hard to stay focused on the history and commodification of birthwork this quarter, and may uncover aspects of this topic that take me down another path next quarter!

Last June I took a Birth Doula Skills course at Bastyr University with Penny Simkin and Sharon Muza; the first of many trainings and encounters with various forms of doula work. I hope to acquire a wide array of doula skills over the next few months to become a birth doula, postpartum doula, and abortion doula. I am passionate about providing folks with support during moments in their lives that can be challenging to navigate alone.

My ILC this quarter will look at tradition, ritual, and birth, as well as the many ways that birth has been commodified- primarily by white men with access to wealth and higher education. I will touch on a variety of topics including:

Appropriation of birth traditions and rituals

Reclaiming wisdom in the face of a rapidly changing political climate

A history of birthwork; a review of Witches, Midwives and Nurses

Hawaiian traditions surrounding birth

Self-care as a revolutionary act

What people of privilege in the doula circle can do to create more opportunities within their communities

A large portion of my learning will be through my doula class and the resources my teacher is able to provide in the form of books, potential contacts, and documentary videos. My peers in the doula class also hold much wisdom and knowledge and I am looking forward to sharing in their stories. Once I begin attending births, my learning will come from hands-on experience and the birthing-people directly. In addition to these resources, I have found many books and articles online to augment the knowledge I am taking in from my community.

Check out my instagram @terroirbaby for weekly pictures, stories, and updates, and check back here soon for more posts.

If you have questions, comments, or are in need of a doula, you can contact me at tucsop03@evergreen.edu

Love and Light,

Sophie