Today we’d like to introduce you to Nar Sanders.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
First, let me introduce myself. I go by my tribal name Nar Nawur, which means ‘bird of fire with a peaceful spirit’. I have been a birth worker for the last 15 years, yet my calling into midwifery began earlier in life. My first experience with birth was in my pre-teen years when a close family member experienced two stillbirths. Witnessing this created a passion for supporting others. However, my mother, who was born at home, also instilled in me to love on my community. We would visit friends and family, especially the elderly, and assist in their daily lives. Little did I know where this would lead me. Years later; birthing my own children, I encountered different childbirth events such as a cesarean, a vbac, a home birth, a free birth, and an abortion. Throughout this time, I became a full spectrum doula (misc, bort, stlb), bereavement aide, certified lactation counselor, yoni steam practitioner, reiki practitioner, free birth educator, herbalist (the list goes on) and began studying traditional midwifery in 2013.
As a traditional midwife, I apply the guidance of my ancestors and knowledge from grandmother midwives; that I have had the opportunity to apprentice with; to help families fetch what they need to prepare for their new soul emergence. Many people today think that home birth is outdated and shouldn’t be done, but I feel it’s the first path any woman and her family should take because it’s woman-centered, and she needs those surrounding her for support to achieve her goal. Having a homebirth midwife at a family’s birth can assist in deciding if a hospital transfer is necessary, and teaming with medical professionals to provide collaborative care is what most families need in feeling secure in their decision to home birth. I love supporting families in home birth because it makes people take a good look at themselves and how they show up for others. I’m able to ensure that the mother is honoring herself and baby and everyone is on one accord with her journey. I love being a home birth midwife!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It hasn’t been the smoothest road because a lot of people are uneducated about the benefits of home birth. I sometimes spend a lot of time explaining the differences between a doula and a home-birth midwife. A doula is Mom’s right-hand support person or the guardian angel in her ear coaching her through labor, and the midwife is there to create a safe environment for mom to birth, checking mom and baby’s vitals and make that call if transfer is needed I let families know that I am not here to convince anyone to have a homebirth, yet I give them information and resources to make their decision and once they do I let them know the services that I provide. Collaborating with medical professionals hasn’t been smooth more so due to licensing of homebirth midwifery, insurance claims, etc., but these are obstacles that are being worked through with many birth rights organizations. Another thing is the cost. Being that I work with low-income families, some can only pay minimal fees, and insurance doesn’t fully cover home birth services. Even with these obstacles, there are families who desire to home birth because they know it is the best choice for them; so at times, I will barter service if they have skills they can offer my home or business. I have remained an integral part of my community because families desire comfort and peace to birth their way.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Protector of the Womb, Inc.?
I am a homebirth midwife, traditional midwife, direct entry midwife, lay midwife, indigenous midwife, etc. All of these titles describe what I am. For those of us who take on these titles, we were ‘called to this work’. Within our lives, we were either always around birthing women or of service in our communities in some way. Traditional midwifery is passed from woman to woman. Back in the days before the 21st century, young girls were chosen and groomed early on for this work. And would follow a traditional midwife from her preteen years into adulthood until she was ready to take on her own families. I too have midwifery within my family lineage. My maternal grandmother sought care from a traditional midwife who assisted with her first four births out of nine (my mother being one), and my mother nicknamed me ‘Bell’ after this midwife; her name was Bell Smalls (she passed away in the 70’s). I am in search now for more information about her life so I can share in the book I will write in the future. I’m most known for my calm, collected spirit during births and for providing postpartum care for mothers.
I provide extended care going several weeks after a mother’s birth. I also provide reproductive/fertility holistic spa services to women and men. To gain more audience, I’ve also ventured back into modeling for fashion shows in Atlanta, and my stage name is ‘The Modeling Midwife’ I love fashion and being center stage, so it was a no-brainer to get back into something I loved when I was in my college years to promote my brand. I participate in fashion shows that bring awareness to campaigns like domestic violence, lupus, suicide, AIDS awareness. When I get to network at events, people are amazed when I tell them what I do outside of modeling. I’ve worked with many organizations over the years and will continue to be a light in my community. I’m a full spectrum birth & postpartum doula, which means I support women with stillbirth, miscarriage, and abortions, bereavement aide, childbirth educator, certified lactation counselor, Yoni Steam practitioner, Reiki practitioner, Herbalist & homeopathy advisor, birth rights advocate, vbac advocate, community health worker, holistic spa practitioner; to name a few. I’m most proud of the work ethic that was instilled in me at a young age to ensure I show up with respect, integrity, and value for families.
I believe every family deserves a supportive team of childbirth professionals providing collaborative care that helps them achieve their birth goals. I encourage mothers to confidently take authority over their pregnancy journey, trust their instincts, and know that having self-knowledge and current evidence-based data is what empowers her to shape her birth destiny.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
OMG, where do I even begin with this! I have tons of books on midwifery and birth that I was instructed to get during my didactic learning. I began my midwifery studies in 2013 under Dr. Ameena Ali’s GRRACEE/ A Mother’s Peace student midwifery program and that led me to my preceptor Granny Midwife Sarahn Henderson of Birth in the Tradition. Between these two, I have found a multitude of resources to continue education. I also follow other traditional midwives, doulas, birth professionals, and certified nurse midwives on Instagram to stay up to date with what’s going on around me and in the world. I’m a member of Black Midwives over Georgia which was created by Midwife Sarahn. Two of my favorite books ‘Joyous Childbirth Changes the World’ by Dr. Tadashi Yoshimura and ‘Safe in a Midwife’s Hands’ by Linda J Holmes. In this work, it’s important to create good working relationships with different birth professionals, attend birth conferences and trainings, and create platforms for open discussion
Pricing:
- $1000-$6000 for services, depending on family needs
Contact Info:
- Website: protectorofthewomb.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/protector_of_the_womb
- Facebook: facebook.com/protectorofthewomb
