In this thoughtful, philosophical, and contemplative episode of BIRTH: The Middle Way, we open with a quote that was shared on instagram by 2 beautiful midwives: “Birth is the mirror to our maturity.”
At first glance, this quote may sound insightful—even empowering. But what lies beneath it? How do we define maturity? Does this depict one type of birth as being superior while another remains inferior? Is there room for nuance in a woman and families decision making when it comes to birth? These are some of the questions we explore together in this episode.
We examine the shadow and problematic side of this phrase—how it can inadvertently shame or oversimplify—and why it’s vital to question the narratives we attach to birth, while also taking time to explore the beauty and truth this quote presents.
We explore a parallel idea: “You create your reality.”
While rooted in a desire for agency and empowerment, this belief—like many in the wellness and birth spaces—can erase context, overlook complexity, and unintentionally silence the truth of lived experiences. Adding depth to the latter quote, our conversation leads us to refining the afore mentioned statement to encapsulate something with more accuracy, “You create your reality by choosing how you respond to circumstance”. The nuance of choice becomes a sacred act…a practice of responsibility, maturity, and allowing.
At the heart of this conversation are four powerful forces: ego, bias, belief, and fear. These forces live in all of us. They shape how we show up to birth, how we make sense of what happens, and how we support others. Rather than avoiding them, we explore the importance of recognizing and naming them—not with shame or defensiveness, but with sacred curiosity.
Sacred curiosity invites us to explore with reverence and openness, to hold space for contradiction, and to resist the pull of certainty. It asks us to soften, to listen, and to stay present with the full, messy truth of our humanness.
Whether you're a birth worker, parent, or someone reflecting on your own journey, this episode invites you into the middle ground—not clinging to rigid ideals, not collapsing under uncertainty, but walking consciously through the layered terrain of birth.
Because when we make space for complexity, we make space for each other.
In love and reverence,
Emma & Sami
