Companionship from preconception to parenting
What is a traditional birth companion?
A traditional birth companion follows in the footsteps of those women who came before her, humbly serving the family in the way that best meets their needs. She brings wisdom, experience, and knowledge to a timeless process that unfolds more simply in the presence of understanding and compassion. She carries ancient wisdom regarding herbs, remedies, nutrition, family and faith, and brings new knowledge in the science and physiology of healthy pregnancy and safe birth. The wisdom of a traditional birth companion encompasses much more than just support women in their sovereign choices. It addresses generations of misinformation, fear, trauma, and bondage to a system that harms women. It addresses current concerns with new strategies for wellness and wholeness.
A traditional birth companion is not a regulated midwife or doctor. There are no primary health care services, medical tests, drugs, prescriptions, or other restricted practices. No mother is risked out of care or is obligated to take tests she doesn’t want, but rather is invited to explore options for wellness, healing, and choosing the medical and complementary services that best meet her needs. A companion serves as a mentor and a guide along the journey to a holistic, safe, and healthy pregnancy, birth and postpartum.
At a time when the world around us has adopted a technocratic approach to birth, we are seeing increasingly concerning outcomes. A technocratic model means that we have placed our trust in technology, surveillance, testing, and clinical judgement to keep us “safe”. Indeed, there are times when this technology and clinical assessment is wise and prudent. However, for the most part, it’s failing families as almost half of all mothers have a traumatic hospital experience, almost half of all women will have major surgery, 1 in 3 or more will struggle with postpartum depression and/or anxiety, 1 in 10 will have thoughts of self-harm in the first year, and up to 1 in 3 will enter parenthood with postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder.
Canada now leads the developed world in physically harming women in childbirth during instrumental deliveries with no signs of caring enough to make a change. Horrifically, suicide is now a leading cause of postpartum death in the first year. When something becomes harmful to far too many women, it’s time to think differently about how we welcome our babies into the world.
A companion offers a different kind of care where you at the centre of your decisions in determining what is best for you.
When working with a traditional birth companion that has trained with Billie Harrigan, you will have someone who has invested in a comprehensive education in trauma informed care (unlike any midwife or OB), pregnancy concerns and holistic means to address many of those concerns, the physiology of safe and joyous birth, the skills for non-medical problem solving, birth emergency skills, breastfeeding, newborn care, new mother care, and so much more. Indeed, this is much like the neighbours of yore that had common knowledge and skills that sustained communities and built families.
Your experience with your companion will be tailored to your needs and wishes. Prenatal visits often last a couple of hours while you get to know each other, address your questions, review your concerns, create a plan that excites you, and just talk about life in general. We can do that! We might even enjoy a cup of tea and a snack together. You decide how many visits best meet your needs (within reason).
Birth support looks like whatever you ask for. It might include your family, your friends, your pets, or no one. You might call your companion, or not. Your companion doesn't come assessing, monitoring, charting, directing, managing, conducting, or telling you what to do. She comes to observe with reverence, help when invited, and offer useful skills where desired. This is your home, your body, your baby, your journey, and your responsibility. You are in charge.
Your relationship with your companion continues as you need her. She offers support in the postpartum season to help with yours and your baby's transition, connecting you to more resources if needed, and providing information to answer your questions. You might like a few visits or none. Again, it's your journey and you are in charge.
If you're looking for a companion, download the contact form and send it to our encrypted email findacompanion@protonmail.com. Your request will be posted in a private group of Hive trained companions who will respect your privacy. If someone is available, they'll reach out directly to you. Please let us know when you choose someone and we'll update your request.
This is not that!
A TBC does not replace a licensed medical provider. You are responsible for accessing the services of a licensed doctor or midwife for any medical concerns as needed or desired and for choosing what you do with their input and recommendations. We embrace your sovereignty over your body, birth, and baby.
A TBC does not provide prenatal, postpartum, or newborn testing; administer, inject, or prescribe prescription medication; provide a medical assessment, diagnosis, or treatment; or provide recommendations or referrals to medical services. A TBC will not perform any act that is restricted to a licensed practitioner. Any medical testing is completely at your discretion. You are responsible for choosing or not choosing testing and the information it provides to take action or not according to your own goals and values.
A TBC does not provide a Provincial Health Card, newborn registration, or affidavit of live birth. This is your responsibility to decide which paperwork you want for your child and whether or not you wish your newborn to become a member of the corporation of Canada or any other corporation.
A TBC does not make decisions for you. She will help you gather the information necessary to make an informed decision. She will share her observations and information, but you are responsible for making decisions concerning your care, including accessing hospital-based services. It is not the role of a TBC to tell you to go or not go to a hospital (except in a dire situation). A TBC is there to help you make decisions that are in yours and your baby's best interest. Emergent situations may require emergency care; she will encourage this if such a situation arises.
A TBC does not carry oxygen or other restricted pharmaceuticals. She will do her best according to her skills if needed until medical help arrives to the best of her ability and cannot be held liable for the outcome. You will have plenty of opportunities to discuss this at length.
A TBC serves a specific role as agreed upon together where additional support may be best served by the inclusion of a doula or other loved ones.
A TBC endeavours to have birth emergency skills as would have been expected of the Canadian neighbour who served her sisters in the absence of midwives or family physicians. Their outcomes were 4-10x better than what was happening in hospitals with physicians. We are working to reclaim birth and re-learn those lost skills.