The Doula: An Origin Story

Birth Before Colonization: A Communal Celebration

Before the intentional dismantling of midwifery and the forced shift from home to hospital, doulas as we know them today were unnecessary. Birth was never meant to be a solitary experience. Grand midwives, the wise elders of their communities, attended to births, while "doulas" were family members, friends, and trusted community members who provided comfort and support. Birth was a sacred rite, a communal celebration, and a revered passage of life.

Among most cultures, birthing in solitude was rare. However, some indigenous and African tribes did practice forms of isolated birth. The Taíno people of the Caribbean, for example, sometimes required women to birth alone in huts, with a postpartum period of seclusion. Similarly, some African tribes, such as the Gikuyu of Kenya, expected women to birth in solitude as a test of endurance. These traditions, dictated largely by male leadership, remind us that while we honor our ancestors, we do not do so blindly.

The Midwife: Keeper of Birth Since Time Immemorial

Midwives have always been at the center of birth. In ancient texts, we see their presence acknowledged—Shiphrah and Puah, the Hebrew midwives in the Book of Exodus, defied Pharaoh’s orders to kill Hebrew newborns. Across Africa, Asia, and the Americas, midwives were the primary caregivers, ensuring the health of both mother and baby.

Black midwives in particular have a long and storied history in the U.S. Notable figures such as Margaret Charles Smith, Onnie Lee Logan, and Biddy Mason played crucial roles in preserving traditional birthing practices and ensuring safe births for Black families, despite growing systemic barriers.

The Erasure of Midwifery and the Rise of Obstetric Violence

The attempted erasure of midwifery was not incidental—it was strategic. Physicians like Joseph B. DeLee, one of the earliest obstetricians, characterized birth as a pathological process requiring medical intervention. In 1915, he infamously wrote: *"If a woman falls on a pitchfork and drives the handle through her perineum, we call that pathologic, but if a large baby is driven through the pelvic floor, we say that is natural and normal... the midwife is a relic of barbarism."*

The push to delegitimize midwives came with the rise of white male doctors and white female nurses who sought to regulate childbirth through restrictive laws and certifications. Figures like Mary Breckinridge, while pioneering nurse-midwifery in America, also played a role in the exclusion of Black midwives through her Frontier Nursing Service. Laws were enacted that criminalized traditional midwifery and required expensive, inaccessible training, disproportionately affecting Black midwives and their communities.

The Modern Doula: A Response to a Broken System

Today, the necessity of doulas arises from the medicalization and industrialization of birth. The United States has the worst maternal mortality rate among developed nations, and for Black women, the statistics are even more dire—Black women are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than their white counterparts. Doulas now serve as advocates and protectors, reclaiming the sacred space of birth and ensuring that birthing people are heard, respected, and safe.

Our Training: A Call to Action

Unlike most doula trainings, our Full Spectrum Ancestral Doula Training is not rooted in the watered-down, medicalized model of birth work. We honor traditional practices that have protected birthing people for generations while addressing the realities of modern maternal care. Our program is action-oriented, designed for those who wish to reclaim birth as a sacred, community-centered experience while actively combating the racial disparities in maternal health and usher new families into the 4th Trimester safely. We take it step further and deeply rever the postpartum and prepare our families for their new journey into parenthood—it is new every time, with every precious soul.

If you feel called to this work—to stand in the gap, to protect and uplift birthing people, and to carry forward the wisdom of our ancestors—then this training is for you. Join us as we honor the past, engage with the present, and prepare for the future of birth work. Together, we reclaim what was lost and build a birth culture centered on respect, safety, and community.

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