“The Process” shot by Artemus Jenkins. This is an edited version of the full video, as some parts were too intimate to share. 2/1/19 at 11:40pm, I got the call. It was time. I just loved watching Sundiata love all over Bridgett during labor... so I wanted the fathers/ partners/ husbands to see how vital they are to the process as well. When I’m your birthworker, I don’t ask for permission or approval from any facility. I simply respectfully yet firmly inform them of your plan. And the plan is your plan unless it has to be remixed during the process, but you’re still in control. Don’t allow anyone to make you believe any different. No less than 20 minutes before this video was shot, the nurse on duty informed me that she was only four cm dilated. Bridgett kept saying she felt like she needed to poop. I knew what that meant, it meant we were about to have a baby. The nurse did not believe Bridgett- and that was fine- I didn’t need her to, because I did. This was not the original birth position we were going for, but it’s the position Bridgett submitted to. She labored to my heartbeat and affirmations I’ve memorized that were written by Kimberly Stewart- Lucas of @WarriorMammas. I told them when we first met that they could birth their way, no matter the location. And birth their way they did. I’m honored to have been present, caught the new life in my bare hands... and that the first two words their new daughter heard spoken to her were “Asé,” and her name. Your body, your birth, your baby... and I’m your advocate. All births are special and my favorite... this was my first delivery as a newly initiated Iya- my first catch as a priestess of my first spiritual goddaughter, as my Iya blessed me to keep working through my Iyaworaje. Happy Belated International Day of the Midwife to all the midwives around the globe... from traditional to spiritual to clinical. #thugbirthwork #myfirstgoddaughter #makingsustainabilitydope #internationaldayofthemidwife #illnevergettiredofthisvideo 🥰 “Africa” by D’Angelo *I do not own the rights to this music* https://www.instagram.com/p/B_2TJ7hJz-g/?igshid=xm5iq68m49yk
