The Role of Traditional Midwives in Modern Healthcare

As a traditional midwife living in America, I often have to prove my midwifery skills. Traditional midwifery is an ancestral practice that has supported women and families through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum for centuries. Our program, Rooted in Wisdom, is our community-centred women’s group; we receive this care personally.

Midwives were originally of nature, spirituality, and community; traditional midwives—especially Afro-Indigenous birth workers—offer a holistic approach to maternal care that prioritises emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being. In the face of modern healthcare medicalisation of birth, these midwives play a crucial role in reclaiming autonomy, ensuring culturally competent care, and reducing maternal mortality rates, particularly among Black and Indigenous women.

Preserving Ancestral Wisdom in Maternal Care

Afro-Indigenous midwives have historically been the pillars of maternal health within their communities. Passed down through generations, their knowledge encompasses herbal medicine, hands-on techniques, spiritual rituals, and a deep understanding of the body’s nabody’srhythms. Unlike hospital-based obstetrics, which often treats birth as a medical event requiring intervention, traditional midwifery respects birth as a sacred, physiological process.

These midwives provide personalised care that integrates practices such as womb massage, herbal remedies for pregnancy ailments, yoni steams for postpartum healing, and nutritional guidance tailored to a mother’s needs. They also acknowledge the spiritual significance of birth, using prayer, ancestral reverence, and rituals to create a safe and empowering birthing environment.

Bridging the Gap Between Traditional and Modern Healthcare

Despite the efficacy of traditional midwifery, mainstream healthcare often marginalises these practices in favour of Western medical models. However, many holistic health advocates and birth justice activists are working to bridge the gap between traditional and modern care.

Many Afro-Indigenous midwives collaborate with licensed healthcare providers to ensure safe births while maintaining their cultural practices. They may refer clients to hospitals when necessary, advocate for the rights of birthing people within medical settings, and integrate evidence-based practices with traditional techniques. This balance creates a comprehensive care model that respects cultural heritage and modern medical advancements.

Addressing Maternal Health Disparities

The role of traditional midwives is particularly critical in addressing the maternal health crisis affecting Black and Indigenous women. In the United States, Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women, while Indigenous women face similarly high risks. Structural racism, lack of access to quality healthcare, and medical bias contribute to these alarming disparities.

Traditional midwives provide a solution by offering culturally competent, patient-centred care. Their holistic approach ensures that birthing individuals are heard, respected, and provided with the tools needed to advocate for themselves within the medical system. Studies have shown that midwifery-led care significantly reduces unnecessary interventions, lowers preterm birth rates, and improves maternal outcomes.

The Revival of Traditional Midwifery

As more women seek alternatives to conventional maternity care, traditional midwifery is experiencing a resurgence. Community-based midwifery collectives, birth worker training programs, and advocacy initiatives are reclaiming and restoring ancestral birth practices. Afro-Indigenous midwives are leading the movement to ensure future generations have access to holistic, culturally affirming care.

Moreover, traditional midwives are key players in reproductive justice efforts, working to dismantle systemic barriers to maternal healthcare. Their presence in both homebirth and birth centre settings empowers families to make informed choices about their birthing experience while reconnecting with ancestral knowledge.

Conclusion

The role of traditional midwives in modern healthcare cannot be overstated. As custodians of ancestral wisdom, they offer an invaluable service that prioritises holistic, respectful, and culturally competent care. Their work improves maternal health outcomes and challenges the dominant medical model by proving that birth is not merely a clinical event—it is a sacred, transformative experience. By honouring and integrating traditional midwifery into contemporary healthcare, we can build a more inclusive, equitable, and empowering birthing landscape for all women, especially those within Afro-Indigenous communities.