'Sustainable Doula Work' |
Saturday, 1:30pm |
About Amanda WatkinsAt the age of twenty I started sitting with women in circle, for days at a time, under the guidance of Shivam Rachana. It was a depth of relating that I loved, a raw honesty and deep level of self enquiry that was scary, yet nourishing to be around.
We spoke of all things pertaining to a woman’s journey. During this time I listened to countless birth stories. I paid close attention as women processed trauma from difficult births. I developed a deep understanding of what nourished a woman and of what depleted her. Armed with this gift, I birthed my babies at home. My first son was breech and I was lovingly supported by my midwife Marie-Louise Lapeyre, and doula Sunderai Felich. I came to know the transpersonal nature of birth and I was inspired to become a Doula. After divorce in 2012, it has been trickier to drop everything to support a labouring woman. I have continued to support women/couples during pregnancy, birth and postpartum, but less frequently. I find now, as I get my hands dirty as a gardener, my deepest yearning is always to be in that intensely honest place with a woman as she births. |