What is a Birthkeeper?

People use this term in a variety of ways based on their education sources and beliefs.

A birthkeeper is a birthworker who has experience in physiological birthing experiences, they practice out of system births mainly.

They do not often catch babies or place hands on babies unless completely "necessary" or asked to by the birther. They have a unique knowledge of freebirthing or unassisted birth. Their role is to support/educate/value autonomy.

“Birthkeeper" is a term started in the 70s, it was coined by a midwife named Jeannine Baker. It is a term that comes from the original idea of "Earth Keeper". Meaning a person who respects, protects and honors the earth. Birthkeeping does the same but for birth. No regulation behind this title and roles vary from person to person. Most often they train through workshops, college, self study, apprenticing, doula work, ancestral knowledge and by like minded Midwives. They do not provide clinical assessments or base their role on catching babies.

The primary difference between doulas and birthkeepers is who they answer to. Most doulas are certified in organizations that require them to follow certain policies, while birthkeepers are fully independent and answer only to themselves. The average doula is trained and often times certified with an organization which is regulated by those providing the education and workshops. Although it is unnecessary to certify as a doula, many are pressured into certifying with organizations and paying yearly membership fees. This gives doula certifying organizations control how their brand is represented in the world.

There are training organizations for birthkeepers specifically, some certify in their training just like doula certification. The training for a birthkeeper is different than typical doula training because it touches on mainly homebirth, freebirth, wild pregnancy, and out of system physiological birth. Often times birthkeepers train with various sources and apprenticeships in the homebirth community. Experience is important in birthkeeping, it's needed to understand how to trust the birther and the natural birth process. Experience is a teacher of risk scenarios and how to avoid risks and handle emergencies when/if they arise.

Birthkeepers have a unique and empowering perspective on birth because it is grounded in trusting the intelligence of the woman's body and spirit. It means following the instincts of the birther and the instincts as the birthkeeper. It takes holding space a bit further.

Unregulated. Undisturbed. Birthkeeping.

To learn more, reach out at raisingflowersbirth@gmail.com or schedule a free consultation!