Midwifery Today Articles

A nice couple, organic farmers whom I had met the previous year, were pregnant and seeing my friend Lori,for their care as they planned their homebirth. This very healthy Jewish couple was looking forward to the birth of their first baby.
Sadly, when the mom was 34 weeks and four days, the mother felt that something was not right. Lori stopped by their home to listen and could not hear the baby’s heartbeat. She called me from the road as she drove to the hospital, ultimately for confirmation of the baby’s death.

 Read more…. Hirsch’s Silent Birth

Stories from Midwifery Today Readers

 Read more…. Beautiful Beginnings: Short Birth Stories from Midwifery Today Readers

In this poetic article, the author uncovers the grace and gratitude present in a moment shared amongst midwives, dancing their stories.

 Read more…. Dancing Stories

Personal sharing through story is often discouraged in the medical professions, but a good story, well-told, can enrich the relationship between birth professionals and their clients.

 Read more…. The Value of Sharing Story

The roles of grandma and the postpartum doula are often ill-defined, and can be challenging to balance with the immediate needs of a new mom and baby. Author Vicky York discovers that with a little effort and patience, doulas and grandmas can work together. After all, there’s nothing quite like grandma’s love.

 Read more…. Accepting Love without Perfection: The Roles of Grandmothers and Postpartum Doulas

Take a trip to 19th century Ireland, where the village midwife was truly a “Jill of all trades.”

 Read more…. The Story of Bridget Shevlane: A Labor of Love

Starting in her native Mexico and ending up in London, England, doula and mama Indira Lopez-Bassols birthed three children—and herself—through a transformative birth journey.

 Read more…. Three Stories, Two Continents, One Birth Journey

Midwifery Today, Issue 98, Summer 2011.Join Midwifery Today Join Midwifery Today Online Membership Author’s Note: All names have been changed to protect the privacy of the women whose stories are shared here. In recent years, 20,000 asylum seekers have arrived in Israel from Africa, by way of the Egyptian desert. Many more refugees did not survive the journey, were caught by the Egyptian authorities en route or were turned back from the Israeli border in fear of infiltration by potential terrorists. Eighty-five percent of Israel’s asylum seekers are from Sudan and Eritrea. They flee famine and war in their homelands and set out on a long, difficult and dangerous journey in hope of securing a more promising future for themselves and their children. Many were interned in prison for illegal entry before being granted sanctuary in Israel. The women, as primary caregivers to their families, are not always able to work, certainly not while birthing or during the first few months after childbirth. They are not entitled to social welfare benefits, including the routine prenatal care that Israeli citizens receive, and most have no medical insurance. However, they are provided with basic aid, including medical care in hospital emergency rooms. In light of this situation, some local non profit organizations, such as the Carmel Shelter for women and children, are helping the refugees. Women and their children can stay in this shelter as long as they need—until they recover, find work and a place to stay. Most of the refugee women are in their childbearing years, so pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum care are recurrent issues. A small group of volunteer midwives provides professional medical assistance to these women and their newborns on a regular basis. They address the women’s special needs, with support from local organizations and other volunteers. What… Read more…. In Search of Hope for Rita

 Read more…. In Search of Hope for Rita