***This is an edited and updated article about cord clamping that I originally published in 2015. Way back then, this term was brand spanking new*** For most of my career, I have been on a quest to take back much of the language that we utilize around birth in our culture. (You can read another piece on the idea of my language revolution in regards to Community Birthing here.) Today, I want to discuss the concept and language around delayed cord clamping. I prefer to use the phrase; physiologic cord clamping. When we use the word delayed, this makes it sound as though we are doing so ..read more

The current American midwifery landscape is steeped in racism and white supremacy. We have a legacy that must be acknowledged in order to be rectified. Black activists and authors, Black midwives, doulas and birth workers, Black women, families and consumers have all been raising the alarm about the effects of systemic racism and white supremacy in our current health care system and its consequences for Black birthing bodies. They have been sounding these alarms for decades. It has primarily fallen on deaf ears until very recently. Now that the numbers are undeniable, now that the deaths are e ..read more

If you know me, you know that I adore podcasts. My friends tease me about how many times I say, “I was listening to a podcast….” as the start to a conversation. So, needless to say, whenever I am asked to be interviewed on one I will likely jump on the offer. I have been on a few. For example, if you want to learn a little about me you can check out this episode of Journey To Midwifery which is a great podcast that highlights the stories of how midwives become midwives. Be sure to check out all the episodes if you love midwives and midwifery. Another podcast, that I was blessed to be on was Pl ..read more

Image by monetnicole.com700 Babies, born in the water, welcomed in the hospital, born on the land, welcomed in the community setting. Rooted in the soil Reaching through the milky stars A midwife stands guard The soul cracks and grows The water swirls and supports The eyes glow with grace Strong hands open wide A brow furrowed in love A midwife stands guard Image by andrearaephotography.mypixieset 700 Babies and counting, I have been on this journey for well over a decade. I started as a nurse in 2005 and was a witness and supporter to countless births in that role and they are near and dear t ..read more

I have been a birth center midwife for well over a decade. During this time, I have developed a passion for leading and creating drills for community birth. It takes time, dedication and patience to organize these drills but they are critical to providing safe care to our families. In the community setting, with good eligibility requirements and robust policies emergencies will be rare. However, they will still happen and because they are rare, we must drill for them often. Essentially, there are 3 types of transfers that can happen: Loading up in the ambulance during the drill. Intrapartum ..read more

Birth is a dynamic, physiologic process that involves many moving parts. There is the birthing person: their pelvis, the uterus, their nourishment status, their health history and emotional status, to name just a few. Then there is the baby: their size, position and development, their health status and gestational age. So many pieces that come together to create each individual birth song. All people giving birth lose blood, this is an expected and normal part of the process. Learning to estimate blood loss with waterbirth can be tricky and is something that waterbirth providers need to consid ..read more

To me, the amniotic membranes are an amazing and beautiful thing. They embody the concept of strength in flexibility. Being so incredibly thin and yet such a tough defender of the babe. Keeping the baby tucked inside; encompassing the salty, warm, nurturing environment of the womb. When I do vaginal exams (you can read more about my philosophy of vaginal exams here) during labor, and I feel that filmy, slippery membrane I am constantly in awe of its power. The veil at the doorway that separates our two worlds. For some laboring people, the membranes release on their own, either before the onse ..read more

Do I trust birth? Well, for me, the short answer is an unequivocal “No!” This may be shocking to hear from a dedicated community birth midwife. In the “natural birth” world, this can be bold statement that “asks” for attack or derision. However, I do absolutely respect birth! The conversation should start with what ‘trust’ and ‘respect’ mean to me. So let’s dig in. For me, to trust something is to put hope and faith in the process, to let go and stop paying attention…to let it unfold without monitoring. This is my definition, of course blurred by my life experiences. It feels “blind”, the fai ..read more

Of course, 2020 was a tumultuous year. For me, there was one silver lining; I got to fulfill a lifelong dream of writing a book. Over the course of a couple months, in coffee shops, in my home and wherever I happened to be, I hunkered down and poured part of my heart and soul into words, sentences and paragraphs until there was a complete book. My book, Midwifery for Expectant Parents is my offering to the world, to families and to my midwife colleagues. My goal is to help educate consumers about the Midwifery Model of Care as well as helping families on their journey to becoming parents. To s ..read more

Being a midwife means standing on the threshold between the worlds. Guarding and guiding both the incoming baby and the birthing person in their work. For me, this space is sacred and every family is a blessing. The work of midwifery can be hard but it is also rewarding. In between the worlds of my work and my off time, I am often thinking back on births. Remembering little phrases and moments, cherishing them privately. Sometimes after a birth, words and phrases will begin to bubble up in my mind. They will float there, in the flow of my thoughts, until I write them down. This was one of thos ..read more