April Birth Worker Circle

For most of human history, birth was a communal and woman-led rite of passage, guided by midwives, wise women, and the collective knowledge of generations. Over time, childbirth moved into hospitals and became increasingly medicalized—shifting birth from a physiological and relational experience into one that is often controlled, monitored, and managed.

In this Wise Women Doula Collective circle, birth worker Cherish DeGraaf will share insights from her research paper “The Golden Hour: Birth Work as Devotion to Life and Liberation.” Together, we will explore the historical transformation of childbirth—from ancient midwifery traditions to modern obstetric care—and examine the cultural and institutional forces that shape how birth unfolds today.

During the first hour, Cherish will guide participants through a lecture and reflective exploration of:

• The historical roots of midwifery and wise women

• The rise of modern obstetrics and the medicalization of childbirth

• How institutional systems shape the experience of labor and delivery

• The role doulas and birth workers play in restoring autonomy, dignity, and physiological birth

In the second hour, participants will gather for discussion and a hands-on activity centered around protecting one of the most sacred moments after birth: the Golden Hour.

Together, participants will create Golden Hour Protection Tokens—small symbolic keepsakes that represent our commitment as birth workers to protect the immediate postpartum bonding period between mother and baby. These tokens serve as a physical reminder of the work we do to safeguard this critical time of attachment, regulation, and connection.

Participants will be invited to reflect on the values they carry into the birth space and imprint those intentions into their token. Each person will leave with a meaningful object they can carry in their doula bag, keep on their altar, or hold as a reminder of their role in honoring the sacred transition into motherhood.

✨ What to Expect

• A thoughtful lecture on the history and politics of childbirth

• Group discussion with fellow doulas and birth workers

• A reflective hands-on activity creating Golden Hour Protection Tokens

• A meaningful take-home keepsake

This gathering is designed for doulas, midwives, birth workers, and anyone interested in the cultural, historical, and social dimensions of childbirth.

Together we will reflect on the past, examine the present, and consider how we can help shape a future where birth once again honors the wisdom of women’s bodies.

Come gather, learn, and reconnect with the deeper purpose of birth work.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher Dani Enkey