HIPAA, client confidentiality, and the birthworker
Nickie is the Co Founder and Co Executive Director of Cornerstone Birthwork Training. She’s also an RN, harm reductionist, parent, partner, and friend who loves to incorporate birthwork, Reproductive Justice, harm reduction, and trauma informed care into all aspects of her life.
Happy Transgender Day of Visibility!
Today, on Trans Day of Visibility we’re sharing post by Cornerstone alumn and Co President of QueerCare Inc. Lee Mariño Clyne.
STAY READY so you don’t have to GET ready!
Staying prepared as a birthworker/doula is incredibly helpful in ensuring smooth transitions and optimal support for our clients as well as ourselves. In this blog post, let’s talk about the significance of being prepared and put together some practical tips for us to remain in a constant state of readiness as birthworkers.
Intuition, Messages, & Guidance from Beyond: A Midwife's Story (part 2)
One beautiful day, Camila and I drove to the Oregon coast and planted ourselves down on the sand overlooking the ocean. After we had settled in with our snacks and picnic blankets, we picked back up our chit chatting, something we do with glee and ease whenever we hang out. At some point in the conversation Camilla told me she was pregnant. She also asked if I would be her Midwife..
Intuition, Messages, & Guidance from Beyond: A Midwife's Story (part 1)
I recently had an inspiration in the form of a loud thought, along with a big lightbulb moment. The idea was to write a story about intuition in birth work. The inspiration for this article was a message in and of itself. I never ever get excited about writing, but from the moment this idea hit me, I have not been able to stop thinking about it, taking notes, and actually being super excited to write!
Touchstone Update!
We’ve added some new modules, overhauled our course delivery model, and are so excited to welcome you all back into the classroom. Touchstone is frfr THE childbirth education course that will guarantee to level any birthworker’s practice allll the way up.
Happy World Doula Month!
Happy World Doula Month - celebrate your local community birthworker by offering yourself care!
Trauma is the only gateway drug
Addiction medicine is slowly catching up to the idea that substance use disorder has both genetic and environmental risk factors which include intergenerational and childhood trauma, but stigma and all the isms continue to drive the treatment, marginalization, and criminalization of people who use drugs despite scientific evidence of substance use not being a moral failing being readily available for 20 years.
How does fatphobia show up in reproductive healthcare?
There’s a new module in Capstone US: Dismantling Fatphobia in Reproductive Healthcare with Brooke Patmore. Let’s talk about how fatphobia shows up in reproductive healthcare and what we can do about it! Overall, as community birthworkers, part of our role includes preparing our clients for the system systeming, supporting them to advocate for themselves as they’re moving through their experience and calling on healthcare providers to recognize and address fatphobia in reproductive healthcare in order to provide equitable and effective care for all patients.
Resting in Community
If you’re struggling to make space for rest, imagine what your clients might be going through? Especially in postpartum. You’ll find that many postpartum birthing folk struggle with rest and one of the biggest challenges of your practice will be supporting your clients with this.
Meet our Capstone US collaborators
Meet our Capstone US facilitators! An incredible group of birthworkers, sacred healers and reproductive justice activists with lived experience who are incredible educators! We are so excited to collaborate with them!
Talking to teens about drugs and overdose risk (for parents and caregivers)
‘… even though they may act like they’re not, your kids are listening. They hear us, they see us, and teens can detect our bullshit from a mile away. So, be honest. Be humble and listen, as well. You just might learn a thing or two from your kids!’
Can I enroll in a full spectrum birthwork training if I’m not a doula?
Are you interested in learning about pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum support? Do you want to become a part of a community that supports birthing people and folks capable of conceiving during one of the most vulnerable times in their lives? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you might be considering enrolling in a full spectrum birthwork training. However, if you're not a doula or don’t plan to be one, you may be wondering if you're eligible to enroll. Well, let’s talk about it…
Why you should care about Reproductive Justice even if you don't want babies
When life begins, Reproductive Justice is there. When life ends, Reproductive Justice is there. The time we spend living our lives between life and death is where we fight for Reproductive Justice!
Meet our Capstone Canada collaborators!
Here are the incredible folks who’ve come together to make this offering as expansive and radical as it is! Please explore their work, their incredible offerings and support them in all the ways you can!
Capstone Canada (and US) is coming up… here’s what you need to know.
Capstone Canada starts this March! Sign up now to delve deeper into full spectrum birthwork, learning from 12 incredible guest speakers with 2 year access to all modules!
Facilitator Highlight: Dora
Collaborator Highlight: Dora ‘Zeliatl’ Martinez (Ella/she/her)
Please welcome our new abortion support trainer - who will be facilitating capstone this Sunday. Tap in to learn more about them and their work!
Disrupting Productivity Culture
A guest post from Ajira Darch & Jewel Buchanan-Boone uplifting the upcoming HIP Wellness & Roots of Labor Birth Collective skillshare - Coming Home to Self: Capacity Building for Femmes
My favorite mantra is “healing is a lifestyle, not a destination.” And, while society insists that we always work harder and rest when we’re dead, I plan on living until I’m 111, happily and healthily.
I want this, and more, for all of my friends and community members. Particularly, my fellow Black women and femmes. The world is gonna world - it’s time to save ourselves.
But what if I can’t?
Rest doesn’t always look like it does in IG - might not be palatable or pretty, it just has to make sense for you.
Takeaways of the last year
2023 is all about moving deeper into our purpose. This is an ongoing project that we’ve been continually working on for years, but this year feels particularly potent. 2023 is about connecting with our community in a deeper way. It’s about generativity, meaningful connections, collaboration, and collective growth.