In this episode, Blyss and Stu delve into a rich conversation with Billie Harrigan, who discusses her role as a traditional birth companion and the importance of home birth. Billie offers insights into the origins and flaws of regulated midwifery, the rise of obstetric violence, and the increasing stillbirth rates. She emphasizes the need for resilience and trauma-informed care, and shares her approach to prenatal and postpartum care. Billie shares about her training program for aspiring traditional birth companions and underscores the critical role of community support and autonomy in childbirth.

About Billie Harrigan:

Billie Harrigan is a fierce advocate for restoring safety and sanity to modern birth practices. She has served birthing families for about 40 years and has taught midwives and other birth practitioners in 125 countries. The technocratic birth services industry is out of control and needs a new approach with a different understanding of how humans arrive.

To that end, Billie offers training in the knowledge and skills of traditional birth companionship. This is a role once held by the Canadian neighbour who had both common birth knowledge and developed birth skills but has been appropriated by the medical cartel and bastardised into what we know as medical midwifery. 

Billie is also the founder of Birth Trauma Ontario, an agency dedicated to the education and healing of both perpetrators and their victims from the global scourge of obstetric violence. She has authored the world’s first and most comprehensive online course in becoming equipped in the skills of trauma informed care specific to the childbearing experience.

She is the founder and director of the private member association, The Hive Collective, which brings together a community that is creating holistic alternatives for reclaiming our sovereignty over our bodies, births, babies, families, finances, and future.

Website: www.billieharrigan.com / www.birthtraumaontario.ca / www.harriganhive.com / www.thehivecollective.life

Instagram: @billieharrigan / @birthtraumaontario

Resources

Dopestick Mini Series

Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art, by James Nestor

In This Episode

Understanding Trauma-Informed Care

Empathy in Medical Training

Midwifery vs. Obstetrics

The Role of the Birth Companion

The Importance of a Calm Birth Environment

Challenges in Modern Midwifery

Obstetric Violence and Resilience

Rising Stillbirth Rates and Systemic Issues

This show is supported by

• WeNatal | Go to WeNatal.com/Birthinginstincts for a free magnesium with any subscription order. 
• BIRTHFIT | Go to birthfit.com and use the code INSTINCTS for 20% off any fitness program.
• Pique Life| Go to https://piquelife.com/birthing to get 10% off for life on Pique's Herbal Teas!
• Mama Meals | Go to mama-meals.com code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS for $10 off a small box or $20 off any other box. Go to mamamealspantry.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS for 10% off pantry items.

Connect with Dr. Stu and Blyss

• Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcast
• Instagram: @birthinginstincts/@birthingblyss
• Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Call-in line: 805-399-0439
• Podcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com