To be a midwife: overcoming the obstacles in Canada

This two-part article introduces my working background in grassroots Canadian midwifery, and my subsequent shift into 'thinking birth' through what I call the 'philosopher-midwife'. I broach the idea that midwifery is a site of not only holistic birth care, but of woman-centred birth studies and enquiry. Part 1 conveys a storied account of my working background in midwifery care, situated in the re-emergence of North American midwifery. I discuss how midwifery is a relational, woman-centred method of knowing and enquiry. I have come to understand midwifery as a metaphor for attending to the gift of life, a woman-centred way of healing, and an ongoing practice of overcoming oppositional circumstances. Part 2 will introduce ideas on how birth, in concept and experience, has not been adequately addressed in social philosophy and understanding. I suggest this be remedied through attention to midwives' and women's birth experiences. In this attention, I muse on how the 'philosopher-midwife' may further guide new birth-based enquiries.