What this conference means to me
Why i am here – by Christina Rigutto
If you had asked me at 18 what I wanted to do when I "grew up," I would have told you "a wife and a mother." It wasn't a common answer at the time; in fact, I didn't know anyone else who felt this way. Everyone I knew was heading to university, pursuing exciting careers. But that wasn't for me. I never desired a career of any kind. In fact, I left high school just a few months shy of graduation. I remember waking up one morning and telling my parents, "I can't go back there; it just doesn't feel right." At the time, I didn't realize how life-changing that decision would be. Only recently did I understand its impact. Not only did it set me on a different path, one that led me to my husband and eventually our family, Not only did it send me on a different path, the one that would lead me to my husband and eventually our family, but I had taken a stand. I had gone against the grain. Little did I know that was just the beginning!
My own pregnancy and birth experiences have varied widely, from hospital beds to my own bed. Yet each has taught me invaluable lessons, all part of my journey. After the birth of my fourth child, which took place at home I realized something profound—I had missed out on the empowering experience of a physiological birth, I had been robbed of an experiences that I didn't know existed, a rite of passage that I didn't know was meant for me.
This realization led me to embrace a career as a doula, standing by women as they journey into motherhood. I was so excited to answer this calling, yet I soon discovered a world I hadn't imagined. My own experiences left me naive to the realities hidden behind hospital doors. My first experience supporting a woman in the hospital system left me shaken, wanting to flee and never return. It wasn't what I had envisioned. Despite working for years, gradually moving away from hospitals to solely focus on home births, something still felt wrong. I still witnessed things that made me shudder. Deep in my heart, I knew there had to be a better way!
Then, I learned about the role of the traditional birth companion, and it felt hope inside me again! This was what I had been yearning for all along. This was where my heart had been guiding me, from the unknowing 18-year-old setting out on her own to where I stand today, walking alongside women as they too step into their own power and reclaim their birth!
This conference holds a deeply personal meaning for us, born from our own stories. It's not just an event, it's a heartfelt mission. We recognize the urgent need to explore undisturbed physiological birth, reshaping practices and experiences for women, birth workers, and care providers. Our aim is to unite, learn, and unlearn misconceptions surrounding birth.
– Christina Rigutto