Whapio Diane Bartlett has been an independent midwife and educator since 1985. In 2001, she founded The Matrona, an online portal providing entry-level holistic education for midwives, doulas, and birth attendants. The focus and curriculum are centered on melding the intuitive with the academic and the mystical with the intelligent.

In this conversation, Whapio shares her perspective on birthing and the changes she has seen over the years, emphasizing the importance of mentoring rather than managing women during birth, the shift towards women and families making their own choices, tapping into instinctual responses, and building trust.

Whapio also discusses the stages of birth, from the foothills to the portal, and the importance of creating a supportive environment for women during labor, including the need to trust the body's instincts and the role of fathers as support persons during birth.

Check out her website, The Matrona: https://www.thematrona.com

The Illuminated Wise Woman: https://www.thematrona.com/the-illuminated-wise-woman

The Holistic Doula Program: https://www.thematrona.com/holistic-doula-program

Follow Whapio on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whapio_and_thematrona

Keywords: midwifery, birthing, mentoring, quantum birthing, altered state, instinct, trust, stages of birth, supportive environment, labor, transition phase, act of will, trust the body, support person, fathers, holding the charge, protecting the baby, quantum midwifery