The MatriBirth Mentor 
Institute

The MatriBirth Mentor Institute is unlike any other midwifery school in almost every way. First, the MMI curriculum is uniquely grounded in the concept of sovereign midwifery, which is, by definition, grassroots, community-oriented, non-industrial, independent, apprentice-based, experiential, by women and for women.

As such, MMI is a wholly independent organization, with no philosophical, financial, political, or academic tethers to the medical obstetric complex. Secondly, our curriculum is based on an understanding of the process of birth and matrescence that is rooted in a truly holistic perspective. Birth is not only a physiological, hormonal unfolding, but is influenced by sociological, energetic, relational, political, sexual, emotional, political, ancestral, and historical aspects and imprints. Birth occurs on every plane of consciousness and awareness for both mother and baby, and it is through this truly intersectional lens that our students deconstruct their preexisting beliefs and assumptions about birth, and explore a new realization of birth and birth-work.

Furthermore, the MMI program recognizes that in order for prospective midwives to grasp the complex dynamics of power and authority as they pertain to birth, we first have to interrogate our own relationship to power and authority and how the patterns of resistance, self-sabotage, and trauma show up in our own lives.

Our program takes the concept of “trauma-informed care” to a new level of insight, and potential for liberation, on the micro and macro levels. Our ultimate goal at MMI is to prepare our students to support others in a myriad of contexts with grace, power, true leadership, and authentic devotion, and to build thriving, ethical businesses dedicated to celebrating and facilitating sovereignty not only surrounding birth but throughout our lifelines as women.

The MMI curriculum was written and developed by luminaries of the birth-world Emilee Saldaya and Yolande Norris-Clark, and the mentorship and guidance of these two women along with their impressive cohort of acclaimed spotlight teachers makes for an unforgettable and life-changing experience. 

No. You can take MMI without ever having done one of our foundational programs. Graduates will enjoy the advantage of having a solid grasp of the core knowledge that will facilitate the integration of the higher-level and more complex concepts introduced in MMI.

Yes and no. Yes, in the sense that if you have taken RBK, this is your obvious next step to furthering your career as a leader in the freebirth movement. No, in the sense that RBK is not required to take MMI.

The only pre-requisite is womanhood.

Yes. We welcome medical professionals to MMI with open arms, and many medical midwives, nurses, and obstetricians have benefited greatly from our programs, both in terms of the new information and knowledge available to acquire, as well as the all-important process of un-learning that our programs are carefully designed to enable. 

Absolutely, we are here to guide you every step of the way on your path to becoming a successful birth professional, whether you decide to support women in birth, focus on childbirth education, devote yourself to birth-related trauma work, or serve mothers postpartum. Everyone starts somewhere, and MMI is the program for you if you are seeking a full mentorship in the core areas of birth-work, that will cover everything you need to begin serving mothers in your community.

We sincerely hope not. And if regulation, or licensure are your objectives, MMI is not likely to be the right fit for you. We do not teach medical midwifery, formal medical diagnostics, assessment, or the “management” of birthing women, and our program will not equip you to fulfill the requirements for licensure or regulation–by design. Birth, as we see it, is not a medical event, and the MatriBirth certification is not a medical credential, it is an education in sovereign birth.

You will have a 3-hour live class to attend each week, required readings, required video lessons, and ongoing homework assignments that will be monitored by your pod mentor.

It is recommended that you allot at least 10-15 hours per week to fully integrate the material and prepare for your exams. Particularly if you are pursuing our certification track, we highly recommend you staying on top of your course load throughout the year and studying each week.

You will be in the program for approximately 10 months.

That’s totally fine - everything will be recorded and uploaded into your course portal to review in your own time, and you’ll have access to a welcoming online community where you can still ask questions, discuss homework assignments, and receive real-time support from Emilee, Yolande, along with pod mentors.

We have a strict no-refund policy, so please be absolutely sure that the program is right for you before you register!

It's very important to us that all of our students are in alignment with our vision, mission, and values, so if you have any questions at all, please email: [email protected].

Yes, you will have lifetime access to the course materials of the MMI program. Access to the student network ends with the end of the program's duration.

Yes. We offer several different payment plan options. 

Upon graduating from MMI, you will have the opportunity to certify and become a “Certified MatriBirth Mentor”. This will be featured on your profile within our public professional directory. Choosing to certify with Free Birth Society as a MatriBirth Mentor will grant you year-long access to our private professional network, where students on the certification track of all of our programs are networking, debriefing, collaborating, and continuing to receive mentorship from both Emilee and Yolande. Inside that professional network, Emilee and Yolande offer seasonal continuing education workshops. The option to certify does not expire to students who have graduated and are in good standing with their payments.

Get in touch with us at [email protected].