Episode 18

Midwifery, the work of a skilled birth keeper and how a lack of balance can be so harmful in the world of birth

Published on: 8th June, 2021

Today we hear from Kemi Johnson, Kemi takes us on a journey through her life and explains how she always felt a calling to become a midwife from a very young age. Kemi was finally able to accept that calling in her late 30s and she retrained as a midwife whilst raising her children as a single mother.

Following your dreams isn't always plain sailing and Kemi shares the highs and lows she experienced, including some hard hitting lessons that are painful reminders of how she wants to support the families she works with.

We discuss what it means to find balance in the birth world and the seemingly opposing sides of birth, the medical institution on one side and the staunch opposition of anything medical on the other. We talk openly about the failings of the current maternity system so please take care of yourself whilst listening if you are currently pregnant or have experienced birth trauma yourself.

Kemi shares her experience of racism as a black midwife and what she’s learned by going through the system and coming all the way out the other side.

You can connect with Kemi on instagram @kemibirthjoyjohnson

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About the Podcast

Tipping The Balance
Mental health and happiness is not as simple as arriving at a destination. It takes work everyday. How can we help to tip the balance in favour of our mental health?
We can all admit to wishing we had more balance in our lives. How many times have you said, "I just don't have the right balance at the moment." Maybe you think you need to work less, have more (or less!) time with your children, get outside more, exercise more, eat more healthily. What ever it is you and almost everyone else has an idea of what balance means to them, their lives and their mental health.

'Tipping the balance,' explores these concepts with a range of different people. Parents, business owners, people living with grief, overcoming abuse, mental health specialists. We have it all here and I hope you can listen to these shows and feel in someway you have spent time tipping the balance in favour of your own mental health.

You can find me on instagram @thebalanceddoula

Love Katie x

About your host

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Katie Hickey

I am a birth doula, podcaster and vet! All my areas of work bring together elements of balance, growth and self-development. I am a convert to the slow living movement and live in rural Devon with my family. I love hearing from other people how they strive to find balance in their lives in order to live intentionally and maintain a positive tilt on their mental health.