When you sit with a woman in labour,

Allow yourself to become soft...

🌿 “You are a midwife, assisting at someone else’s birth.

Do good without show or fuss.

Facilitate what is happening rather than what you think ought to be happening.

If you must take the lead, lead so that the mother is helped, yet still free and in charge.

When the baby is born, the mother will rightly say, ‘We did it ourselves.”🌿

— Tao Te Ching

The Silent Birthkeeper

Sacred Invitation

5 February 2026 - 11 February 2027

There was a time when birth was sacred.

When women laboured surrounded by silence, reverence, and trust.

When those who tended birth understood their power lay not in doing—but in being.

The Silent Birthkeeper: One Year Immersion into True Midwifery 

is an invitation to remember that time. To return to the quiet presence that honours birth in its most primal, spiritual form.

The Silent Birthkeeper Journey begins on 5 February 2026.

Together, we will walk for one full year, completing our circle on 11 February 2027.

So much of modern birth training encourages doing.

Coaching. Speaking. Intervening.

But here, we learn to pause before we act. To soften before we speak.

We learn to sit in the stillness.

To listen.

To become spacious enough to hold birth—without filling the space with noise.

A Silent Birthkeeper knows that sometimes, the most powerful thing we can offer is our quiet, embodied presence.

We breathe.

We become soft.

We melt into the edges of the room—holding space as vast as the ocean, as ancient as the earth.

The term Birthkeeper was first gifted to us by Jeannine Parvati Baker, inspired by the Indigenous American concept of the Dreamkeeper—those entrusted to guard our dreams.

In the same way, a Birthkeeper tends the threshold between worlds, holding space for the mystery, the primal, the unseen.

This course is not a manual. It is not a checklist.

It is a gift—one I offer to you, and one I first offer to myself when I began walking this path.

Whether you are just stepping onto the track, meandering gently, or have already worn your shoes thin along the way—Silent Birthkeeper meets you where you are.

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"Peace on Earth Begins at Birth.."

- Jeannine Parvati Baker

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Together, we will:

Remember the sacredness of birth

Explore how to truly hold space, with humility and presence

Learn to care for ourselves and each other, so this work remains sustainable and nourishing

Reconnect with the ancient, while honouring the modern tools that serve birth without disrupting its wisdom

You may already know:

We often aren’t taught how to care for ourselves as birthworkers, or how to care for one another.

That this work can be isolating.

The Silent Birthkeeper invites you into a community—a place to feel seen, supported, and reminded that you are not alone in this calling.

Birth continues to teach me, every day.

I don’t stand before you as an expert.

I stand with you, as a student—learning from every birth, every woman, every child.

If you feel the whisper of this remembering, you are in the right place.

Welcome, Silent Birthkeeper.

Let us begin...

Who Is This For?

The Silent Birthkeeper is for those who feel the quiet calling in their bones.

The ones who know there is more to being a birth attendant than protocols and procedures.

The ones who long to sit at the edges of birth, holding space with reverence, humility, and trust.

This journey is for you if:

You feel called to walk this path and would like a safe container to explore what it means to hold space for birth

You are seeking depth, not titles—a remembering, not a certificate

You understand that being present is sometimes more powerful than speaking or doing

You ache to reconnect with ancient knowledge while integrating modern wisdom that honours birth

You long to be part of a supportive community of birthkeepers walking this path alongside you

You are ready to care for yourself as deeply as you care for the families you serve

You know birth is a spiritual, primal threshold—and you wish to honour it with quiet presence

You are a doula, midwife, aspiring birthkeeper, or simply a woman answering the call to remember

This work is not for everyone.

But if you feel the stirring—the whisper in your chest—this is your space.

What You Will Receive

Silent Birthkeeper is not just a course—it is a year-long initiation.
A space to soften, listen, and root yourself in the ancient art of holding birth.

Over 12 months, we journey gently through knowledge, presence, and practice, weaving together both sacred tradition and practical midwifery skills.

What to Expect on this

12-Month Journey

Throughout this offering, you will immerse yourself in:

🌿 Exploring True Midwifery
What does it truly mean to midwife from the heart? How does it look in practice when we strip away the noise and return to reverence?

🌿 A Deep Dive into Birthkeeping
Reflect on both the collective history of birthwork—and your own personal path. Discover where you stand in the lineage of those who have held this sacred role.

🌿 Clarifying Your Path
Find your direction. Understand your unique role within the birthkeeping continuum, whether you are just beginning or walking this path for years.

🌿 Ceremony, Dance, Tradition, Meditation, and Song
Integrate ancient ways of knowing into your daily life and practice—remembering that birthkeeping is both skill and soul work.

🌿 Creating an Optimal Learning Environment
Learn how to nurture yourself and each other. Sustainable birthwork begins with how we care for ourselves as we walk this path.

🌿 The Art of Listening
Cultivate deep listening—for yourself, for women, for the spaces between words.

🌿 Self-Care for the Birthkeeper
Explore why tending to your own well-being is essential in this work, and how to nourish your body, spirit, and community.

🌿 Birth Stories & Storytelling
Learn through the ancient practice of shared stories—real experiences, lessons, and reflections from the birthing field.

🌿 The Basic Needs of a Woman in Pregnancy, Labour, and Birth
Understand the simple, essential care that supports physiology and honours the primal blueprint of birth.

🌿 Foundations of Midwifery
Familiarise yourself with basic terminology, record-keeping, and the respectful, grounded language of midwifery.

🌿 Antenatal & Prenatal Care
Discover key aspects of serving women through pregnancy in ways that honour their autonomy and wholeness.

🌿 Your Role in Birth
Clarify your place within labour, birth, and postpartum spaces—with humility, presence, and trust.

🌿 Immediate Postpartum Care
Learn how to tend to both mother and newborn in those sacred, fragile first hours after birth.

🌿 Introduction to Newborn Care & Assessment
Explore the basics of newborn well-being, while honouring the physiology and instincts of the MotherBaby dyad.

🌿 Maintaining the MotherBaby Dyad
Understand why protecting this bond is the cornerstone of postpartum care—and how to hold that space.

🌿 Cultural Competency in Childbirth
Offer care that is respectful, informed, and attuned to diverse cultural traditions and practices.

🌿 Recognising & Addressing Sexual Abuse Triggers
Learn how to navigate sensitive terrain with compassion and awareness—honouring the deep layers that may arise in pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.

🌿 Pregnancy & Birth Complications
Develop your ability to recognise challenges, respond calmly, and uphold the sacredness of birth, even when the path twists unexpectedly.

🌿 Difficult Outcomes, Grief & Loss
Hold space for grief, loss, and the complexities of birth—not turning away, but standing present with compassion.

🌿 Homeopathy & Herbal Medicine
Explore gentle, holistic tools to support women, families, and yourself along this journey.

🌿 Building Connections & Relationships
Strengthen bonds within the birthkeeping community—because we were never meant to walk this path alone.

You will also receive:

🖨️ Printable resources and guided practices to anchor your learning

🎥 Video and audio teachings, as well as demonstrations, to support both understanding and embodiment

🌕 Monthly Zoom calls with the closed community—intimate circles with a maximum of 12 participants per cycle

💬 A private Telegram group for continued community, connection, and ongoing dialogue

🌍 Access to a global and supportive birthkeeping community that centres the Basic Needs of Women in Labour in their work and practice

🤲 A non-judgemental learning space that celebrates diversity in background, belief, and experience

🗂️ All course materials accessible for one full year through our learning space on Teachable

🌿 Reflections, meditations, and gentle invitations to integrate this work on every level—mind, body, spirit

📖 Stories, songs, articles, research studies, and discussions to deepen both your knowledge and connection to this path

What Others Are Saying:

MORE TESTIMONIALS FROM PREVIOUS STUDENTS:

🌿 “I am part of a worldwide web of women weaving the future of birth into a blanket of safety, trust, and love.”

— Laura, Doula, Wales, Silent Birthkeeper 2022

🌾 “The Silent Birthkeeper course has integrated everything I’ve learned into one sacred space. It deepened my connection to birth, myself, and a worldwide community of birthkeepers.”

— Nicola, Doula, Grandmother, Paris, Silent Birthkeeper 2022

🌸 “This space has helped me see birthkeeping with fresh eyes—and to look at myself gently. I’ve learned how to face the challenges without losing my passion or faith.”

— Marianna, Doula, Italy, Silent Birthkeeper 2022

Course Details & Logistics

🌿 Course Format
Silent Birthkeeper is a 12-month guided journey. The course includes a combination of self-paced learning, monthly live Zoom circles, and ongoing community connection.

🌿 Duration & Schedule

The journey unfolds over one year

New learning materials are released monthly

Monthly Zoom calls provide space for reflection, questions, and shared stories

You can engage with the materials at your own rhythm, with full access for one year

🌿 Community & Connection

Small, intimate groups—maximum of 12 participants per cycle

A private Telegram group for ongoing conversation, connection, and support

Access to a wider global birthkeeping community that honours the Basic Needs of Women in Labour

🌿 Platform

All course materials are hosted on our dedicated Teachable learning space, accessible from anywhere in the world.

🌿 What You’ll Need

Access to reliable internet to be able to access the course content our live sessions

A journal or notebook for reflections and exercises

A quiet space to listen, integrate, and participate in live sessions

An open heart, a willingness to listen, and your own curiosity

🌕 Course Schedule🌕

The Silent Birthkeeper Journey begins on 5 February 2026, when our Teachable learning space opens. Together, we will walk for one full year, completing our circle on 11 February 2027.

We meet once a month via Zoom from February 2026 to February 2027 (except in August — time to rest and integrate). Calls take place on Thursdays, 11 AM – 2 PM SAST (South African Standard Time).

Check your time zone here.

Please ensure you have Zoom installed and reliable internet for our sessions.

Each gathering includes reflections, shared discussion, and space for your questions.

Calls are recorded and made available within 48 hours on our Teachable learning platform. 

New materials are released a week before each call so you can engage at your own pace and arrive prepared.

We also stay connected throughout the year via our private Telegram group for ongoing discussion and support.

🌿 Monthly Gatherings 🌿

2026

• 12 February – Opening Call & Orientation
• 12 March – Walking the Path of True Midwifery
• 9 April – Caring for Ourselves & Each Other
• 14 May – Creating Our Learning Container
• 11 June – The Basic Needs of a Woman in Labour
• 9 July – Birth Stories
• 🚫 August – No session (time to rest & integrate)
• 10 September – Pregnancy Care
• 8 October – Attending Births
• 12 November – The Baby & Postpartum (MotherBaby)
• 10 December – Disability & Death (Sensitive Content)

2027

• 21 January – Sexual Abuse Triggers in Pregnancy, Labour & Birth (Sensitive Content)
• 11 February – Project Presentations & Closing Ceremony

⚠️ Sensitive Content: The sessions on Disability & Death and Sexual Abuse Triggers may be emotionally challenging. We encourage you to set aside quiet time for journaling, reflection, or rest as needed.

If you miss a session, you’ll have access to the recording in Teachable. If Ruth has to reschedule due to a birth commitment, the session will move to the next available Thursday at the same time.

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About Ruth

My name is Ruth Ehrhardt.

I am a mother, traditional midwife, writer, and birth attendant from South Africa.

My journey has been shaped by the women who came before me — my grandmothers, midwives, healers, and mothers who held life, death, and birth with their hands and hearts. Their strength, resilience, and reverence for the sacred continue to guide my path.

I am a Certified Professional Midwife (NARM, USA) and a registered Traditional Birth Attendant in South Africa. I have worked with birth communities locally and internationally, co-founded Home Birth South Africa, co-organised the Cape Town Midwifery & Birth Conference, co-directed the Compassionate Birth Project, and co-authored global educational initiatives on respectful maternity care. I am also the author of The Basic Needs of a Woman in Labour, translated into more than 15 languages.

I feel deeply honoured to have been both a student and a friend of Michel Odent (1930–2025). His teachings remain a guiding thread in all that I share, and I do my best to stay true to the wisdom he entrusted to us.

I have held space for women and their families, taught courses and retreats across the world, and collaborated with fellow birthkeepers to create spaces of compassion and remembering.

I live by the sea in Kommetjie, South Africa, with my life partner and our children where I write, teach, and continue to learn from birth itself.

👉 For more about my work and story, visit truemidwifery.com

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“Birth continues to teach me, every day. I do not stand as an expert, but as a student — learning from every birth, every woman, every child.”

Frequently Asked Questions

🌿 Who is this course for?

This journey is for anyone called to hold space for birth outside the confines of the system—whether you are new to birthwork, an experienced doula or midwife, or simply someone feeling the quiet pull to deepen your connection to true midwifery.

🌿 Do I need prior birth experience to join?

No previous experience is required. This journey welcomes those just beginning as well as seasoned birthkeepers seeking to reconnect with the roots of this work.

🌿 Is this course self-paced or live?

Both. You will receive monthly learning materials to explore in your own time, along with monthly live Zoom circles to connect, share, and integrate together.

🌿 How long will I have access to the course materials?

You will have access to all course content for one full year through our Teachable learning platform.

🌿 How many participants are in each group?

We intentionally keep each circle intimate—limited to 12 participants per cycle. This allows for deep connection, meaningful sharing, and personal support.

🌿 What currencies can I pay in?

You can enrol in US Dollars 🇺🇸, Euros 🇪🇺, British Pounds 🇬🇧, or South African Rands 🇿🇦—choose the currency that suits you.

🌿 Are payment plans available?

Yes. We offer both once-off payments and flexible payment plans, allowing you to choose what feels sustainable for you.

🌿 Do you offer scholarships or sliding scale options?

Yes. We are committed to accessibility. Scholarships and sliding scale options are available—please reach out if cost is a barrier.

🌿 What if I can’t make all the live sessions?

All live Zoom sessions are recorded and shared within the learning space. While we encourage attending live when possible, we understand life’s rhythms.

🌿 Will I receive a certificate or qualification?

This journey is not about external titles or formal certification. It is an invitation into deep learning, remembering, and self-led growth as a birthkeeper. You will receive a certificate of participation and completion upon completion.

A Quiet Invitation

This journey is not for everyone.
It is for those who feel the quiet pull—the remembering that stirs in your bones.

The Silent Birthkeeper is a space to slow down. To soften. To listen.
To sit at the edges of birth with humility, reverence, and spacious presence.

If you feel the whisper, the knowing, the ache to deepen your connection to this work—
you are welcome here.

We walk gently. We honour the unseen.
We tend to ourselves as we tend to others.
We remember together.

The circle is small. The work is deep. The invitation is yours.

🌿 Join us for the Silent Birthkeeper Journey 🌿

ENROL NOW IF YOU FEEL THE CALL

Disclaimer

This course does not provide formal qualifications to practise as a midwife.

It is an exploratory journey for those interested in birthkeeping and for those already on this path who wish to deepen their learning.

 “To change the world,

we must first change the way babies are being born.”

— Michel Odent

(The Grandfather of True Midwifery, 1930 - 2025)