Finding the right sovereign professional for you is big. You’re stepping outside the system (maybe for the first time) and wanting to take responsibility for your birth. The woman you hire will be the wise sister who’ll walk with you on your journey; whether that is through pregnancy & birth, fertility coaching, or any other aspect of holistic, embodied womanhood.
Here are 9 of the most important things we suggest you consider when choosing a sovereign professional.
- Connection
It may sound obvious, but the woman who will be supporting you through what can be the most transformative experiences of your life, whether that is birth, postpartum, or cycle work, should be someone you feel a real connection with. Did meeting with her feel vitalizing? Do you feel more relaxed and confident after spending time together? How does your body feel?
- Virtual vs. In Person Support
Would you prefer to work with a woman who will support you in person or online? It could be more convenient for you to meet for virtual sessions, but maybe IRL witnessing is what you are looking for. This will largely depend on what type of sovereign professional you are looking to hire. Coaching and education can be super effective virtually, but with things like birth and postpartum support – virtual will always be second best to a woman being able to be in the room with you, hug you, and tend to you with her hands.
- Location
If you do decide on in person support, it’s important to decide how far you’re comfortable with your sovereign professional commuting. Yes, it can be less convenient to meet up for coaching if you two live a greater distance apart, but for birth support, it might be more important to you that your professional live nearby so she can arrive quickly when you’re ready for her. This may really just come down to who is available in your area, thankfully many birth workers are willing to travel a great distance to support families.
- Education & Certification
Is the type of training and certification your sovereign professional carries important to you? The wise women here have all been called to this work in different ways, and all have walked different paths. For your convenience, our directory notes which professionals have been trained through our programs, and what type of certification they carry.
- Experience
Similar to certification, the sovereign professionals here have varying degrees of experience in their fields. That doesn’t necessarily speak to their quality; specifically, the renaissance of sovereign birth work is still pretty new, and it may not be important to you that your professional has attended a ton of births. Whatever her specialty, it can open up a great conversation to ask about her experience level.
- Shared Values
Of course we all share the core principle of autonomy, but that doesn’t mean we all think the exact same way. Maybe it’s important that your birth support has similar spiritual beliefs to you, or that your cycle coach also believes in incorporating animal fats (or not!) into a balanced diet. Don’t shy away from asking prospective professionals questions that really matter to you. We encourage you to share your values in your interview!
- Licensure
While this directory is for sovereign birth professionals to list their offerings, we do allow licensed medical providers to list themselves. We require transparency on their profiles, so this is something to think about. While anyone listed on this directory that displays licensed won’t be offering anything medically related, it’s still important for you to know how you feel about that, and if that attracts, or deters you.
- What’s in the Toolkit
Would you be extra psyched to learn that your postpartum support woman who will be cooking you meals also specializes in the healing art of reiki? Like any group of women, the sovereign professionals here all boast an array of talents they’re ready to share with you. See what professionals are hyped to bring to the table in addition to their category of sovereign support.
- Trust
In any relationship, trust is key. It’s also a major tenant of sovereign womanhood to trust in our intuition. The woman you decide to bring into your life for this epic sovereign journey must be someone you trust. She should also be someone who you can recognize trusts you and your body to do the beautiful work you were perfectly designed to do.
- Credibility
WIthout licenses, how do we know professionals are credible!? Great question. Read through their websites, follow them on social media, conduct an interview, don’t ignore any red flags, have transparent conversation, and don’t hesitate to ask for referrals!
Let these considerations guide you as you begin your search for the perfect sovereign birth professional, and get curious what other elements are most important for you. No one knows what you want and need better than yourself.
Take the Next Step: Find Your Sovereign Birth Professional
Now that you know what to look for in a Sovereign Birth Professional, it’s time to take action. The MatriBirth Directory is the largest formal listing of professionals supporting sovereign pregnancy, birth, and women’s health. Explore our directory today to find the wise sister who resonates with you and is ready to walk with you on your journey. Trust yourself, trust your body, and connect with the professional who will support you every step of the way.