“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
Kicking Fear Off Her Throne: Kimberly’s Birth Story [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:05
Kimberly is a certified high performance coach, bestselling writer, health junkie, freedom-lover, wife, momma, and unsinkable optimist. After 24 hours of natural labor and childbirth, and dismissing the camera that was i…
“Birth Transforms Us All”: Megan’s Birth Story [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:13
Megan is a mom of 2 from Northern CA who, after experiencing an unexpected hospital induction with her 1st child, decided to take her 2nd pregnancy and birth into her own hands. After countless hours spent in excited pre…
Ecstatic Grief: Birthing Baby Sage Without a Heartbeat [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:58
Being initiated into Motherhood with empty arms, Athanasia used her Shamanic Yoga background and Spiritual connection as a Psychic Medium and Energy Healer to dive deep into the healing journey her sweet daughter, Sage,…
Embracing Her Wild Nature: April’s Birth Story [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:40
April is a nurse and mother of two girls living in a smallish town on the east coast of Australia. Through her process of self-discovery, trust and reconnection with women and sisterhood, April triumphantly birthed her s…
Katrina’s Off-Grid Freebirth and the Need For Fostering Community [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:25
Katrina is a Self employed, Hardworking off grid homestead mother of two. Deep in the forest in an earthship she built with her partner, she had an unassisted birth with her second son. On this journey she learned lots a…
In Her Primal Power – Valerie’s Fourteen Birthing Journeys [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:10
Valerie is a first-year alumnus of Indie Birth Midwifery School serving Northern Arizona with Sacred Pregnancy, Birth, and Postpartum support. A leader in the Sacred Living Movement, she trains people online worldwide in…