Birth as a Rite of Passage: The Transformation of Pregnancy and Motherhood

Pregnancy and birth create transformation in the full spectrum of a women’s life.

During the childbearing year, women experience deep changes on all levels: physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

Pregnancy and birth are profoundly transformational experiences in which a woman becomes a mother, and her life is never again the same. 

Birth has been considered by cultures all over the world to be a sacred rite of passage in which the power of the transformation shapes both the baby, mother, family, and community.

For this reason, people all over the world have created ways of honoring and celebrating pregnancy, birth, and the newborn through physical, social, and spiritual rituals and ceremonies for healing.

Pregnancy and childbirth are times in which dramatic changes occur in a pregnant woman’s body, brain, hormones, and heart.

Birth is a rite of passage and how you choose to treat your pregnancy, birth your baby, and care for your newborn creates the foundation for their life.

Today, birth is highly medicalized, rates of intervention are rapidly increasing worldwide, and 70 to 80% of new mothers experience the "baby blues" and are at risk for more severe postpartum depression. 

We can change this by holistically supporting women through integrative care, advocacy, and education that honors ALL the changes of pregnancy and birth - from the physical to the spiritual. 

Birth is our primal imprint, and our birth experiences impact us for life. Whether or not you are a parent or intend to be, we all started our lives through being born, and birth effects EVERYONE. 

It's more imperative than ever before that we support mothers through the sacred journey of pregnancy and birth. 

For over 20 years, I have been passionate about empowering women's wellness through all the feminine cycles of life.

I've worked in women's wellness and birth as a birth and postpartum doula, childbirth educator, pregnancy massage therapist, maternal and infant craniosacral therapist, women's healing arts teacher, doula trainer, birth educator trainer, women's circle leader, workshop facilitator, writer, and speaker.

I've been a featured speaker at birth events from the Midwifery Today conference, Mama and Baby Expos, and the Association for Pre and Perinatal Psychology and Health International Congress. 

I'm also the mother of three boys, all born at home. My eldest is a college student, my middle son is homeschooling, and my youngest is a toddler, and I’ve been active in advocating for mother and baby health since before I was a mother.

With all that I do to support women's health and wellness, it all began with birth.

Supporting women to have empowered gentle births will create the best possible beginning for the life of a new child and the future of humanity.

Birth is a powerful sacred experience in which mothers, babies, and families deserve the highest care and respect.

Many blessings,

Kara