“Learn to be Patient”: The Birth Stories and Precious Wisdom of Midwife Francoise “Mamacita” Souverville

“Learn to be Patient”: The Birth Stories and Precious Wisdom of Midwife Francoise “Mamacita” Souverville

Author: Indie Birth Association April 22, 2021 Duration: 1:02:01

With 5 children of her own, Francoise ‘ Mamacita’ Souverville, a Certified Childbirth Educator since 1982, began practicing midwifery in 1972, has assisted more than 2000 births in hospital, home, and nature, and created ‘Preparation for Men’ as a means to transform the attitude of birth in the family.

After playing a decisive role in the establishment of a maternity clinic in southern Arkansas in the early 1980’s, Mamacita organized workshops and conferences toward establishing midwifery legislation in Arkansas, and subsequently worked with the Arkansas Department of Health in forming their rules and regulations.

Having been published in two books, Special Delivery by Rahima Baldwin, and The VBAC Experience by Lynn Baptisti Richards, Francoise has spent her life sharing her knowledge, taking on apprentices, training midwives in the US and Europe, and confirming the tremendous benefits of waterbirth as established in Igor Tjarkovsky’s research on waterbabies.

Below in this week’s shownotes, I have included links to various articles Francoise has written for the publication “Midwifery Today,” as well as articles and podcast episodes from Indie Birth on water birth.

LINKS & SHOW NOTES
Birth Warrior Podcast submissions link
“Using Quinton Hypertonic for Postpartum Issues” by Francoise “Mamacita” Souverville
Midwifery Today, Issue 120, Winter 2016 (contains Francoise’s article “A Glorious VBAC”)
“Waterbirth? Yay or Nay?” via Taking Back Birth
“To Waterbirth or Not to Waterbirth” (blog post)
“Evidence on Waterbirth” via Evidence Based Birth
“What are Sheela Na Gigs?” via The Sheela Na Gig Project
“Sheela na gig: The Dark Goddess of Sacred Power” by Starr Goode (buy book on Amazon)
“The VBAC Experience: Birth Stories by Parents and Professionals” by Lynn Baptisti and Michel Odent (buy book on Amazon)
“Special Delivery” by Rahima Baldwin (buy book on Amazon)
Schedule a virtual prenatal with Maryn or Margo
13 Moons: Epic Eduation for the Birthing Year
Birth Warrior Project: 120 Day Doula Training and Transformation
Indie Birth Midwifery School


The Birth Warrior Podcast, brought to you by the Indie Birth Association, moves beyond mainstream narratives to explore the raw, powerful, and deeply personal landscape of autonomous birth. This isn't a how-to guide, but a collection of voices often left out of the conversation. Each episode features firsthand stories from individuals who have navigated pregnancy and childbirth on their own terms, reclaiming intuition and authority in the process. You'll hear candid reflections on the physical, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of this journey, discussions that intersect with holistic health, alternative family structures, and conscious parenting. The podcast delves into the mental and physical fortitude required, connecting the dots between personal autonomy, fitness, and overall family wellness. By centering these authentic narratives, the Birth Warrior Podcast creates a vital space for anyone questioning conventional paradigms, offering not just stories but a sense of community and validation for those exploring paths less traveled in the realm of birth and motherhood.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

Birth Warrior Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Journey To The End Goal: Kara’s Five Birth Stories [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:41:39
Kara is a homeschool teacher, nature lover, amateur baker, bookworm, and mama of five incredible children. She shares that starting a family has shaped her in many ways, and one of the most significant was the discovery…
“There Is Always More To Learn”: Hailey’s Birth Stories [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:33:14
Hailey Kirksey is a 28 year old Arkansas native, married, and a mother of two young children; holding a Master of Liberal Arts degree in English Literature, she is currently writing a novel while living as a full-time “s…
“Do I Have To Do It This Way?”: Skye’s Freebirth to River Kawai, Making Yourself Unavailable For Unsolicited Advice While Pregnant, and The Importance of Sister Support During The Maiden To Mother Rite of Passage [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:47
Skye is a somewhat transient hippie but mostly just, in her own words, an “ordinary woman,” who hopes her birth story will inspire others to trust their intuition surrounding their births, even (or perhaps, especially) w…