My Philosophy of Birth

A philosophy of birth is a set values that guide how a birthworker (like a doula, midwife, or doctor) approaches care. It reflects what you believe about the birthing process, the roles of everyone involved, and the type of decision-making you value. When choosing a doula, understanding their philosophy can help you know whether their approach aligns with your vision for birth.

Here are the beliefs that shape my philosophy of birth:

All birth is natural.

I don’t view birth on a spectrum from “natural” to “unnatural.” Instead, I see all births as an inherently normal and healthy process- whether it’s an unmedicated vaginal birth, a birth with medical interventions, or as a planned (or unplanned) cesarean birth. I hold deep reverence for undisturbed physiological birth and believe the body knows, intuitively, how to bring a baby earth side. I also recognize that interventions (when used with full, informed consent) can be valuable tools to help manage pain and prevent complications. 

Human rights don’t disappear in labor.

Every birthing person deserves to be treated with dignity. You know your body (and your baby) better than anyone else, and your choices should be trusted. Being in labor does not suspend your right to bodily autonomy, informed consent, or self-determination. These rights are always non-negotiable.

The birth space is sacred.

Coercion, shame, and discrimination have absolutely no place in the birth room. When the space feels safe and sacred, birthing people can turn inward and connect with their bodies, promoting the release of oxytocin and moving labor along more smoothly. Protecting the sanctity of this space ensures that birth is a transformative and healing experience, rather than a source of trauma.

Birth shapes relationships, families, and communities.

Birth is truly a powerful experience. A person’s birth story leaves a lasting impact on their mental health, and overall well-being, and this can be both positive and negative. Empowered birth experiences don’t just benefit birthing people and their children- they strengthen families, communities, and society as a whole. Birth is truly the key to collective liberation and thriving communities for generations to come.

Oppression and birth are deeply intertwined.

Our current disparities are not accidental- they are rooted in a history of racism, colonization, and misogyny. Modern gynecology was built on the violent experimentation of enslaved Black women, and traditional midwifery and ancestral knowledge were intentionally stolen then erased by Western medicine. Until reparations are made, these inequities will continue.

All feeding choices are valid.

Families should feed their babies in ways that work for them- whether that’s through breastfeeding, formula, pumping, bottle-feeding, co-nursing, induced lactation, donor milk, an at-chest supplementer, or any combination. What matters most is that babies are nourished, and parents feel supported in meeting their feeding goals. Supported is best.

Love makes a family.

DNA doesn’t define relationships. Families built through adoption, donor conception, foster care, informal caregiving, or surrogacy, and families of all structures and sizes, are equally as valid and valuable. Welcoming a child into your life, regardless of whether or not you share a genetic connection, is always a profound and transformative rite of passage.