Step into the world of childbirth revolutionized by Jutta Wohlrab, the pioneering force behind ElementsofBirth. With over four decades of unparalleled expertise as an internationally acclaimed midwife, Wohlrab is not just transforming childbirth; she’s redefining it. Her visionary approach blends medical knowledge seamlessly with holistic practices like NLP, hypnosis, yoga, and nutrition, propelling her to the forefront of empowering women through their birthing journeys.
From New York’s bustling streets to the serene landscapes of Kathmandu, Wohlrab’s journey has enriched her understanding and approach, inspiring an international community of women and healthcare professionals alike. Join us as we delve into the legacy of Jutta Wohlrab, a figure of inspiration in the quest for a more positive, empowered approach to childbirth and women’s health worldwide. Follow her journey on LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook as she continues to champion women’s rights and wellbeing
Can you tell us about a pivotal moment in your four-decade career as a midwife that significantly shaped your approach to childbirth?
Well, I’m honest; I think my approach to childbirth was shaped very much by the moment I decided to become a midwife when I was very young. I think I was 17, and I went to a bookstore and bought a book by a French obstetrician called Frederick Leboyer. The name of the book was Birth without Violence It was the very first book I read about childbirth, and I loved it.
Now, in those days, it was 25 midwifery schools in all of Germany, but only one worked according to this obstetrician, and that was the one that I was taking. So, I learned midwifery and gave birth to a partner dressed in green. We were all crawling through a big double bed, in with candlelight, breathing babies down and out gently into the world, and I think that was something. It felt like a connection to the universe.
How do you seamlessly integrate holistic practices like NLP, hypnosis, yoga, and nutrition into your childbirth methodology, and what benefits have you observed from this approach?
After, I had been a midwife for a while, and of course, I learned all the medical things. I noticed that there were a few things that didn’t quite work so well, and so I understood quickly.
All the yogis I ever met in the 80s had much better births than some of the other women. It was a question I asked myself: how can I help to make birth a better experience? And so that way, through the years, I trained in many things: homeopathy, Chinese medicine, and hypnosis.
In 2005, I went to the UK to train with a lovely old teacher who was 84 years old because I understood you need the right mindset like an athlete to achieve your goal, but giving birth, of course, works on all an emotional Aet level on a spiritual level, and so is I wanted to improve, and that’s why I integrated everything into my work.
Whether I went to America to train NLP in Germany everywhere, so what’s the benefit of it? You could look at it like a pyramid on the bottom: the body’s nutrition, exercise, alignment of the pelvis, natural hormones, all those things. The second level up is emotions: how do you feel? Are you angry? All of that, and so that is something that can be changed on an emotional level. Then comes, of course, the mindset is, can I do it? I’m afraid I can’t do it. The fear factor can be overruled with NLP hypnosis, and that’s why I became a trainer, only a practitioner, not least,
for the ones that spiritually approach anything with that, can it be integrated as well? So, I move up and down this pyramid according to my client’s needs.
What inspired you to take your message and methods beyond your local community and onto the international stage, speaking at major conferences across the globe?
As human beings, we share the same fate of being born and eventually leaving this planet. During my travels around the world, I have been fortunate enough to spread my message and knowledge wherever I go. However, I have noticed that we are currently facing a significant problem. The global C-section rates of 30 to 90% are far too high, and while I understand the necessity of C-sections in certain cases, the ideal rate should be between 11 to 15%.
I am a firm believer in the power of birth and the transformative experience it can be for women.
I have seen firsthand how empowering it can be to connect with one’s feminine energy during childbirth. This power can also translate to female leadership, which is why I believe it’s important to discuss this connection. Of course, there are many other topics I cover, including trauma, happiness, and mindset, all of which are relevant to the human experience.
Having worked with people from all over the world, I feel it’s time to take this conversation to a larger platform. I want to talk about these issues on a bigger stage because they affect us all. In 2024, women should be able to have it all – a family and a positive birth experience. Pregnancy and birth should be viewed as an essential part of a woman’s life, one that can provide her with one of the strongest resources for personal growth and development.
She’s got the power.
In what specific ways do you believe childbirth education and practices need to be transformed to better serve women’s empowerment and overall health?
Childbirth education and practices are in deep need of transformation on a global scale. Despite the abundance of knowledge available today, it’s disheartening to see women still being forced to lie on their backs while delivering a baby, with people yelling instructions at them. This approach is outdated and needs to be replaced with a more comprehensive and inclusive education. This education should cover topics such as how the body and brain work during childbirth, the fight and flight reflex, and how to involve partners, women, midwives, nurses, and doctors to create a better birthing experience. Even in the case of a C-section, it’s possible to make the experience more humane and positive for the mother. It’s high time we bring about this change, with everyone on board.
And we need to stop violence at birth globally.
What do you hope your legacy will be in terms of advancing a more positive and empowered approach to childbirth and women’s health globally?
Well, when I look into the world, I have to say 2/3 of the world is living in poverty in poor health, and so, of course, I wish that women everywhere in the world have access to good care to allow them to birth their babies gently and safe to have someone help them stay healthy and happy.
However, for our group, I wish for other things because that, of course, is something I wish for the whole planet. Here I am, that we move forward in leadership, and that I wish for women to be able to have it all and to understand how to have it all. In 2024, I believe all of this is possible; as my client Laurie said, I had a wild birth, and I never felt so powerful in all my life.
Though, I’m happy to help you achieve this goal. I’m happy to help you overcome all trauma, fears, doubts, and anxieties, and with the power of that, we can create a better birth and, with this, truly a better earth.
Over the past 41 years, I have acquired expertise in many domains, and people often ask me how I manage to juggle so many things. My accomplishments include being featured on German television, speaking at conferences, and being invited to podcasts.
I have grand visions of using my skills and experience to impact the lives of women, babies, and families positively.
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