In this episode of The Mama Psychedelia Podcast, I interview birthkeeper Linda Hamilton. Linda is a mother of 7 and grandmother and the founder and previous director of the non-profit organization “Birth Without Boundaries”. She continues to be an advocate for peaceful birth practices and honouring of the 42 day postpartum nest, and is currently writing a book exploring her life’s work. Linda has lived between Costa Rica and Pennsylvania since 2001 and has been supporting many families during their pregnancy journeys in person and remotely.
During our discussion, Linda shares a few of her own birth experiences, starting with what it was like desiring an unmediated birth in the 80’s at 19 years old when having her first, declaring after her 4th that she would never birth in a hospital again, on to the story of her glorious free birth of her daughter at home. Linda talks about the early days of being a birth companion in her communities as a young mother, her role in advocacy & activism, time shared with Ina May Gaskin & Michel Odent, living in the jungle of Costa Rica and supporting families in wild free birth settings in their full undisturbed power. She illuminates the importance of witnessing the sacredness that is taking place in birth and giving mothers the opportunity to harvest that magic, and how that sets them up for successful, connected mothering.
She tells a story of a client’s beautiful birth by the ocean, we talk about birth imprinting, and how the prenatal and birthing time impact each of us and how we relate to the world, and how many of our foundational subconscious beliefs are created at this time. She shares how we can all listen deeper to the baby’s intrinsic intelligence during the birthing process alongside their mothers.
Multi generational living, coming together with community, pulling together resources. And finally, one of my favourite topics, the importance of centering & honouring mothers in our communities so they can fully thrive in their role of power and guardianship, how we can serve mothers, and stop perpetuating cycles of self sacrificing behaviour so they can better serve the future.
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Resources: Where you can find Linda:
Linda's Website
Mackenzie's offerings:
https://snipfeed.co/hunnywomb
IG: @mamapsychedelia
@hunnywombdoula
Intro Music Snippet of "Waters of the Earth" by Satori covered by me, Mackenzie.
(For more of her music, check out her Spotify.