Holistic Doula Training

A birthkeeper holds space for the unfolding of birth as a natural, physiological, and spiritual experience. Birthkeepers draw from ancient wisdom, intuition, and practical skills to provide holistic pregnancy and birth support that nurtures the whole person ; mind, body, and spirit, and offer a ‘wise woman’ presence during labour and birth.

In 1999, as a student midwife, I read two books that changed everything for me: Wise Woman Herbal  for the Childbearing Year by Susun Weed, and Spiritual Midwifery by Ina May Gaskin. Alongside these were the works of anthropologist Robbie Davis-Floyd who named the technocratic model of care in which I was learning and the holistic model that I strived to practice. These each created a foundation for the midwifery that resonated in my bones and their words gave shape to an approach that still anchors my work today: the Holistic Wise Woman model.

A midwife is a registered medical professional who monitors the wellbeing of women, birthing people and their babies during pregnancy, birth and postpartum. A doula is a non medical support who offers education and advocacy for those usually engaging with the medical system. And a birthkeeper is a non medical, holistic support, they often, but not always work with those choosing freebirth.

Over the past two decades, the landscape of childbirth in the UK has changed beyond recognition. From campaigns promoting physiological birth to scandals, safety inquiries, and a growing midwifery crisis, the role of the birthkeeper is now more vital than ever.