Our Story
BirthSpace was founded in 2019 by midwife Romy Renzow, and doula Sunni Hart. We came together with a shared reverence for the physical, emotional and spiritual transformation that is the rite of passage to parenthood. We built BirthSpace to directly address the birth trauma epidemic and inequities in reproductive care.
Industrialised birthing practices run to a strict schedule, ignoring the individual experience and thousands of years of birthing wisdom. We know reproductive care requires nuance, this is why we brought together midwifery and doula knowledge and experiences to bridge the gaps between scientific and spiritual realms of this journey. BirthSpace strikes a balance between evidence-based information, intuitive body-based work and ancient knowledge to create inclusive and safe spaces to learn and connect. Our workshops, community gatherings and individual consultations are affirming and supportive of all experiences, cultures, sexualities, genders and abilities. We want this community to see you, represent you and support you.
We have experienced first-hand, that healing and empowerment through pregnancy, birth and parenthood is a not only possible but essential to a thriving community. Together we can build a birthing culture that honours, respects and ignites us all.
Birthspace now has a team of midwives and practitioners offering education, support and consultation in the perinatal period.
Our commitment
We commit to providing a safe, accessible and inclusive environment to learn, share and connect. We activate and support a cultural shift, where innate wisdom and self-determination are centred and honoured. We teach ways to unlearn destructive and oppressive systems that disconnect people from determining their own experiences and outcomes.
We acknowledge not one of us is free, as long as the many injustices continue to take place within the maternity system. As white birth workers living on stolen land, we are committed to further examining the patterns and privilege of our own whiteness and how it is complicit in upholding systems of white supremacy. Our systems were created with in-built racism, and decolonising birth takes both individual knowledge and collective effort.
We recognise that healthcare is not provided with equal access and respect for all birthing bodies. We know that in order to be accountable in this community, an action-based framework must be embedded throughout our work. We commit to building a community that is self-determining and represents all birthing bodies. We commit to centring anti-racism and anti-discrimination policies in our code of conduct and our teachings.
We advocate the need for decolonising and healing country through education, birthing and parenting. We acknowledge that every body deserves to survive and thrive throughout this journey.
We offer free pregnancy choices workshops for all families, with the option to donate to our fund supporting our commitment to provide birth classes for indigenous families at no cost. Your contribution to this service will help us to continue community care and solidarity with first nations people. Contributions can be made at any time by using the pay ID: contact@birthspace.com.au and reference: community care.
We will always strive to acknowledge, celebrate and amplify the voices and stories of marginalised communities - Indigenous, Black, POC, LGBTQIA+, people with disabilities and families of all structures. We are committed to this work as an ongoing process of cultivating and protecting diversity, inclusivity, and equity.