Rethinking Birth: Reflections from My Doula Training in Zanzibar

his past week in Zanzibar has been nothing short of transformative. Immersing myself in the traditional wisdom of Birth Doulas alongside extraordinary women has given me profound insight—not just into birth itself, but into the very fabric of humanity. More than anything, it has deepened my understanding of masculinity and the role men can play in honoring and supporting life’s most sacred transitions.

The violence embedded in modern birth practices, shaped by centuries of patriarchal control, is staggering. How did we reach a point where men dictate how women should bring life into the world? This week has reinforced a truth that should be obvious—birth belongs to women. Their intuitive wisdom, passed down through generations, has been systematically dismissed, replaced by sterile, clinical control that often strips birth of its natural power.

If we cannot bring life into this world with reverence and peace, how can we ever expect to build a society rooted in harmony? The way we birth reflects who we are as a species—our fears, our power struggles, and our willingness (or unwillingness) to surrender to nature’s intelligence. I’ve heard stories that shook me to my core, making me question everything we assume to be true about birth and where that knowledge originates. It has made me reflect deeply on my own place in this unfolding conversation.

I will continue my training to become a certified birth and death doula—not to claim a title, but because there is so much to learn from these liminal spaces. As a facilitator, a therapist, and simply as a human being, understanding the thresholds of life and death feels like essential - and exciting - work. Eventually, I hope to bring one day my contribution to this wonderful and powerful space in all humility.

Birth belongs to women, but as a man, I recognize my responsibility—to learn from them, to hold space with reverence, and, if ever called, to be a steady and supportive presence in service of life itself.

#birthing #pregnancy