Yaya DaCosta Instagram – May 2023 began in Colombia at a birthworker immersion program lead by the sagacious and sexy midwife @sumistouch I’ve done multiple “doula trainings” but in my 14 years of doing this work “on the side”, whenever I feel the need to sharpen my skills in, I return to her trainings. Her revolutionary spirit, her clear channel, her commitment to tradition, and her honoring of the innate power of the birthing person, resonate deeply with the part of my soul that has carried this wisdom for lifetimes. At Asoparupa, a birthing center in Colombia, we sat at the feet of granny midwives and attended the World Pre-Summit of Traditional Midwives, where a hundred joined in person and at least a hundred more joined online. To witness their passion for returning to a culture of sacredness in birth, for returning to the ways of the midwife as the solution for the maternal health crisis plaguing the world right now, was beyond inspirational, and beyond necessary. Thank you, @sumistouch , for bridging the gaps, uniting newbies and experts, and showing us the path to a future where Black women, and subsequently all women, can bring forth new life in safety, health, joy and community. At the end of the video, Sumi says: “menos miedo, menos dolor” when responding to a young woman’s learned fear of birth. Translation: “less fear, less pain.” Then, I’m thanking the midwife for the love I feel in her birthing center and wishing for everyone who comes through their door to feel the same love, to have beautiful, successful births, and to leave with a better understanding of how natural and supported the birthing process can be. We chant “nacer con partera es nacer en comunidad.” “To be born with a midwife is to be born in community.” 🎵 @in.iko