At Birthwise Midwifery School we see midwives as spinning a continuous thread through time, maintaining a steadfast tradition of women being with women in childbirth. In their work they have safeguarded the dignity, power, beauty and reverence of this transitional event. We view midwives as protectors of natural childbirth in an age when women’s collective memory of giving birth under their own power is in jeopardy of being buried under modern birth technology. Birthwise participates in preserving and building on traditions of family centered natural birth that have been preserved by our sister midwives before us.

We believe that :

Midwives should be available as primary childbirth attendants.

Pregnancy and birth are natural processes that normally do not need to be tampered with or improved upon.

Birth has a spiritual power, beauty and purpose beyond its purely functional qualities.

Giving birth outside the hospital is a safe and important option to offer and preserve for future generations.

We feel a responsibility to uphold these basic tenets in a way that honors traditional midwifery while being mindful of our present historical context. This careful blending of tradition and science is taken seriously at Birthwise. We encourage an ongoing dialogue which explores the line between when technology is appropriate and when it, instead, leads to alienation from the normal birth process. 

We see informed choice, continuity of care, client responsibility, and client education as cornerstone concepts for midwives. This clear distinction between midwife and physician care changes the relationship between caregiver and client from one of dependence and passivity, to one of empowerment and mutuality. The effects of this approach can be transformative for clients and can have repercussions in all arenas of her life.

We believe that as many families with diverse needs and desires exist, so should there be midwives to reflect this variety. We resist the homogenization of the birth process by encouraging diversity in our students and faculty and teaching respect and appreciation for a spectrum of approaches to midwifery care.

We see midwifery as an integral part of global ecology and politics. In its strengthening of family units and women in particular, respect for the natural process, holistic approach, and economic feasibility, we see midwives as being a key ingredient in creating a sustainable birth culture in a sustainable world.