Ann-Emelie Augustinus: Danish Midwifery, a Rich Tradition, is Becoming a Thing of the Past

Ann-Emilie Augustinus is a Danish midwife or, in her native language, jordemoder, which literally translates to “earth mother”. Ann-Emilie and I connected as a consequence of ongoing limitations to midwifery practice in Denmark. At present, midwives are virtually inaccessible to families in Denmark.

Often European models of maternity care are hailed in contrast to the U.S. models, but from her story, you’ll be able to appreciate that midwifery is collapsing worldwide. In fact, another recent guest - Hadhee Jah, the Last Birthkeeper of the Maldives - shares a shockingly similar story.

How did a people found through Viking conquest and settlement based in freedom allow this to pass in Denmark? This is what we discuss in this episode. We also dive in to traditional practices pertaining to birth, many of which could still be practiced today, but these oral traditions are fading with the midwives.

00:06:30 - The collapse of midwifery in Denmark. What is a person to do if they aren’t permitted (legally) to attend childbirth. Why have the people of Denmark stopped trusting in their bodies to have babies? The modern day witch hunts.

00:24:20 - How did the Danes go from autonomous combatants of authority historically to following every rule passed down by authority figures? Thor, Völva, and more. What were midwives of older times like in Denmark?

00:32:50 - Origins of ljósmóðir (Light Mother), jordemoder (Earth Mother); traditional practices around birth in Denmark; how might the moon affect pregnancy and birth

00:53:56 - Birth and death was a normal part of Danish tradition and why is free birth on the rise? Corruption of midwifery through the legal system.

Follow Ann-Emelie on Instagram.

Related episodes:

* Whapio Bartlett: On Wisdom Keeping, with a Truly Legendary Midwife

* Hadhee Jah: Traditional midwifery is losing ground, a conversation with The Last Birthkeeper

* Carol Gautschi: Confronting Fear (and the Law) in Midwifery

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