Photo by Vitor Monthay
At the beginning of the pandemic, a woman I know well—I’ll call her Jackie—became pregnant at age 30. Jackie has a mild intellectual disability, but she is high functioning, verbal, and able to make her own medical decisions—which was recognized legally by the court in her county when she was younger. Read more…. When Traditional Western Medicine Breaks Faith
Photo by Florian Klauer
Midwifery and Childbirth News – Issue 136 Read more…. Midwifery and Childbirth News – Issue 136
Photo by Jonathan Borba
Wisdom of the Midwives: What are the advantages of medical care for birth? – Issue 142
Photo by Pexels
This 17-year-old doula from Colorado shares her experience and insights from spending a summer working in the public hospital system in Sydney, Australia, where a public homebirth program is currently available to expecting mothers. Read more…. A Midwifery Success: Homebirth in the Australian Public Hospital System
Photos Provided by Author
Names have been changed to protect the real people involved.
My travelling midwife days began in South Africa. South Africa is a vast country and often families who live on farms wanted to remain in their homes to birth their babies. I would drive for up to six hours and sometimes longer to arrive at their homes.
Photo by Markus Winkler
Midwifery and Childbirth News – Issue 134 Read more…. Midwifery and Childbirth News – Issue 137
Photos provided by Author
Not all babies live. Not all wimyn die with their uterus. Not all mothers survive childbirth. These are hard truths to bear. Hard truths for the family, community, and world to hold. But truths set us free and help guide us to deeper understanding and reformation.
Photo by Michal Bar Haim
We have a problem! Labor induction in the United States has more than tripled since 1990.
A first-time mom told me on social media, “It wasn’t even a discussion, it was: ‘this is what’s happening.’ It’s really hard to disagree with doctors or people in positions of authority—in particular when you’re in such a vulnerable position.” Read more…. Calling All Midwives….
Photo by Juan Encalada
There is a nursery rhyme that goes “Rich man, poor man, beggar man, thief, doctor, lawyer, Indian chief.” Read more…. A Thousand Hats: Each Midwife’s Role(s)
Cait Sumner—apiaryphotography.com
Photo Album — Issue 137
Photo provided by author
Avery Judith Warren was born at home into pure love. Her birth was a magical home VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean). But in order to express the impact her birth had on me, I must include the birth of my son, Mason.
Photos provided by author
Doña Cuca and I sat next to each other looking down at the ground. She was sad. I was too. She spoke of the changes happening in her village around birth. The wimyn were trusting the hospital more than the use of rebozo and sobada (1). The young ones were not interested in a midwife path. She felt the feeling of disappearance. The dissolving of a life she had lived and loved. I told her the loss had already happened for my people and in my land. We sat together. Sad about it all. Read more…. Kneeling before the Elders
