This programme outlines our projected itinerary over the 12  month immersion.

The course will run from 7 November 2024 when our learning environment opens on Teachable until it closes on 11 December 2025.

We will meet monthly (EXCEPT AUGUST) as a group via Zoom from November 2024  to November 2025 between 11 am - 2 pm SAST (SOUTH AFRICAN STANDARD TIME).  The only exception is that we will not be meeting in August 2025, this will be an opportunity for you to have a holiday and to catch up on any material on Teachable you may not have gotten to.

To double check your time zone again this time slot please see HERE: 

The intention of the monthly calls it to check in, dive deeper into the subjects covered, answer questions and support one another.

THESE ARE THE SCHEDULED DATES FOR OUR CALLS:

1. 14 November 2024 - Opening call and orientation
2. 12 December 2024 - Walking this Path of True Midwifery
3. 16 January 2025 - Taking care of ourselves and one another on this path
4. 13 February 2025 - Creating our Learning Container
5. 13 March 2025 - The Basic Needs of a Woman In Labour
6. 10 April 2025 - Birth Stories
7. 8 May 2025 - Pregnancy Care
8. 12 June 2025 - Attending Births
9. 10 July 2025 - The Baby and Postpartum (MotherBaby)
10. NO SESSIONS IN AUGUST 2024
11. ** 11 September 2025 - Disability and Death**
12. ** 09 October 2025 - Sexual Abuse Triggers in Pregnancy, Labour and Birth**
13. 13 November 2025 - Project Presentations// Closing of our Bones

**Please note the highlighted Programmes - the material for ‘Birth and Death’ and ‘Sexual Abuse Triggers in Pregnancy, Labour and Birth’ -  are potentially triggering and we recommend that you make space for yourself when accessing this content to digest and possibly process it. You may want to make space on a weekend, or take some time away from your family or work to digest, journal, rest.

If you are unable to make a call please note ALL calls will be recorded and uploaded to the Teachable platform for you to view and listen to within 48 hours of the call. At this stage Ruth only has a few  birth commitments - if these coincide with our scheduled time together the meeting will be moved to the next available Thursday at the same time.

New material and modules will be released the week that we all meet via zoom. Teachable should send you an email (if you have opted in for emails) on the day of the release. 

There is a private Telegram group for ongoing check-ins and discussions. Interaction on the Telegram group is optional but we would like to encourage you to use this space to share what you are learning, what inspires you and to evoke discussion. It is also a good place to lean into for support as a birthkeeper.

You can also reach out privately to [email protected] 

We are a small community of women from around the world who have chosen to journey together for 12 months to unravel and relearn the mystery of womanhood, birth and motherhood. We hold each other in a safe container. Whilst we maintain structure we also allow for what arises to unfold. Your feedback and guidance are very welcome. This is YOUR course. Together we are creating this space. 

DISCLAIMER

This course will not qualify you to practise as a midwife. This is purely an explorative journey for those interested in pursuing a path of birthkeeping, or deepening the learning of those walking this path already.

Recommended Reading List for the course (subject to addition and change):

Books

The Basic Needs of a Woman in Labour by Ruth Ehrhardt

Do We Need Midwives by Michel Odent

The Scientification of Love by Michel Odent

Primal Heath by Michel Odent

Spiritual Midwifery by Ina May Gaskin and the Farm midwives

The Babycatcher by Peggy Vincent

A Book for Midwives by Susan Klein

Heart and Hands by Elizabeth Davis

Practical Skills Guide for Midwifery by Pam Weaver and Sharon Evans

Reclaiming Childbirth as a Rite of Passage: Weaving Ancient Wisdom with Modern Knowledge by Dr Rachel Reed

When Survivors Give Birth by Penny Simpkin and Phyllis Klaus

Invisible Earthquake by Malika Ndlovu

Pathways to Midwifery - Midwifery Today

Time to Think - Nancy Kline

The Red Tent - Anita Diamant

Vagina - Naomi Wolf

Our Bodies Ourselves - Boston Women’s Health Collective

Websites

The Primal Health Research Database – http://www.primalhealthresearch.com/

Sara Wickham – https://www.sarawickham.com/

Dr Rachel Reed/Midwife Thinking – https://midwifethinking.com/

Evidence Based Birth – https://evidencebasedbirth.com/

Midwifery Today - https://www.midwiferytoday.com/