A midwife in North Carolina was recently charged with practicing midwifery without a license because her state does not offer licensure for Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) and other direct entry midwives. There was some local news coverage of the arrest and the ongoing efforts of North Carolina families to legalize CPMs. One of the local news stories included a mother’s birth … Continue reading
Three months ago I welcomed my baby girl into my arms. I have been deliberating whether or not to post my birth story here on my blog. I decided not to (if you email me, I will send it to you) but I do want to share news of her arrival and what a joyous … Continue reading
Last month we saw the pre-release of a homebirth meta-analysis piece that claimed worse outcomes for babies born at home than in the hospital. I wrote about it and the ensuing Lancet insult to women’s rights here. Decades of well-conducted research does in fact support the safety of planned homebirth for women and babies, although … Continue reading
I’ve held off commenting on the now notorious, and as of yet unpublished, Wax homebirth meta-analysis and the ensuing hullabaloo because I had wanted to keep negative birth politics to a minimum here on my blog. Then, the viscerally disturbing Lancet editorial came out a few weeks ago and WHOA. We’re starting to see some … Continue reading
For the vast majority of our history as a species, pregnancy and birth have been the domain of women. Not women physicians, surgeons, or even midwives — just women! We know, in our collective consciousness, that birth will always belong to women. The trade union representing obstetricians in the US, ACOG, continues its smear against … Continue reading
This woman’s story could be told by tens of thousands of American women, but it is her story, her triumph as an individual woman that will inspire others. Like this warrior mama, too many women are coerced or led into cesareans for “failed inductions” and/or babies that “cannot fit” through their pelvises. Many of these … Continue reading
At first you might think ‘Who would have thunk? Supermodels are choosing to have natural homebirths with midwives?’ But Gisele’s waterbirth at home is testament to the wide range of women from all walks of life who are choosing woman-centered, safe, instinctive, autonomous birth at home. Hopefully her birth story will inspire some much needed … Continue reading
