Kate T. Finn, MS, Licensed Midwife

03/27/2026

https://www.npr.org/2026/03/27/nx-s1-5762978/s***m-whale-birth-cooperation-coordination-marine-mammals-science

An unprecedented look at the birth of a s***m whale found that mother and calf were supported by other whales throughout the process.

03/09/2026

03/09/2026

So much wisdom here!

02/20/2026

Have you see the “Transitioning to Midwifery Models of Care: Global Position Paper”? Developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) in collaboration with the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and UNICEF. This groundbreaking paper, led by WHO’s Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing and supported by technical experts, regional offices, and global stakeholders, represents a unified international commitment to advancing midwifery-led care.

The position paper defines midwifery models of care, outlines guiding principles, and underscores the proven benefits of this approach—including improved outcomes for women and newborns, reduced unnecessary interventions, and better integration within health systems. It calls for collaborative, team-based care and positions midwives as essential to achieving high-quality, cost-effective maternal and newborn health services under Universal Health Coverage.

ACNM welcomes this global recognition and reaffirms our dedication to advancing midwifery models of care both in the U.S. and worldwide.

Let’s continue working together to center midwifery in health systems and improve outcomes for all.

02/20/2026

This is what the US should be doing... developing pathways for more midwives to enter the workforce!

"Midwifery models of care are models of care in which the main care providers for women and newborns, starting from pre-pregnancy and continuing all the way through the postnatal period, are educated, licensed, regulated midwives who autonomously provide and coordinate respectful, high- quality care across their full scope of practice, using an approach that is aligned with the midwifery philosophy of care, which:

i. promotes a person-centred approach to care;
ii. values the woman–midwife relationship and partnership;
iii. optimizes physiological, biological, psychological, social and cultural processes; and iv. uses interventions only when indicated.
In midwifery models of care, midwives provide integrated care, addressing the needs of each individual woman and newborn, within functional and enabling health systems, equipped with necessary resources and streamlined consultation and referral processes. They collaborate within networks of care as part of interdisciplinary teams characterized by equality, trust and respect. This approach guarantees that every woman and newborn receives personalized care, tailored to their health needs.

Midwifery models of care are adaptable to all levels of care and contexts, including home-, community- and hospital-based settings; the public and private sectors and public–private partnerships; resource-constrained environments; and humanitarian and crisis settings. This ensures wide accessibility, equity and relevance across different cultural contexts for women, newborns, partners, families and communities."

Read More: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240098268

02/20/2026

Guess what will happen to access and health in rural areas when the DOE removes "Professional" status and lowers educational loans and repayment-for-work options? This is not rocket science; it is basic economics. Rural health systems will fail. The Ameical College of Nurse Midwives makes writing the DOE easy in the following link (Before March 1):

https://www.votervoice.net/mobile/ACNM/Campaigns/134084/Respond

05/12/2025

What happens when we lose funding for research in women's health because it's "DEI," is we lose the ability to save lives, becoming blind to possible solutions, and move even lower in ratings among developed countries.

https://www.facebook.com/100050648522259/posts/1237154447982828/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v

A new study, published by the JAMA Network Open, found that maternal mortality increased 27.7% between 2018 and 2022 in the U.S.
This study highlights the need for continued investment in research around maternal health, amid federal budget cuts.

The study observed deaths during pregnancy, childbirth, and up to a year postpartum. Cardiovascular disease was the leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths overall.

The increases in maternal mortality rates varied by race and ethnicity and age. Maternal mortality rates were 3.8 times higher than those of white women in American Indian and Alaska Native women and 2.8 times higher in Black women. While the death rates were highest in women aged 40 to 54, the greatest increase (36.8%) was in women aged 25-39.

While the study doesn’t include it, the authors recognize that the leading causes of pregnancy-associated death in the US are homicide, su***de, and drug overdose. To address maternal mortality, we must address intimate partner violence and maternal mental health.

Since many of the deaths are preventable, the study emphasizes the need for quality pregnancy and postpartum care, especially care that is culturally competent. Our Bodies Ourselves recognizes that this is best achieved by expanding access to doulas, midwives, and birth centers. When it comes to birth care, we must also ensure that there are no financial barriers. This is why Our Bodies Ourselves backs single-payer health care.

https://www.statnews.com/2025/04/09/maternal-mortality-increases-as-research-funding-cut-urgent-public-health-priority/ #:~:text=The%20paper%20analyzed%20data%20from,adjusted%20increase%20of%20about%2027%25.

05/08/2025

https://www.facebook.com/reel/979589310830246/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v

04/25/2025

04/23/2025

More than half of rural counties do not have any maternity care providers. These are predominantly red zones.

https://www.facebook.com/100064701459662/posts/1097553829077989/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v

The American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) is deeply concerned by reports of significant proposed cuts to the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Program in the leaked U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) FY 2026 budget request.

Title VIII programs are essential to supporting the education and training of our nation’s nursing and midwifery workforce—an investment that directly impacts access to high-quality, evidence-based, equitable health care across the country, particularly in underserved and rural communities. At a time when our nation faces critical shortages in the health care workforce, any reduction in funding to these programs threatens to undermine progress toward improving maternal health outcomes, reducing disparities, and strengthening our health care infrastructure.

ACNM strongly urges HHS and congressional leaders to reject these proposed cuts and instead prioritize robust investment in nursing and midwifery education and training. The health of our nation and the future of our nation’s nursing and midwifery workforce depends on it.

04/21/2025

Amazing empowering care in physician-guided, self-facilitated breech version:

https://www.facebook.com/PregnantLife/videos/682162550875191/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v

03/04/2025

https://www.facebook.com/reel/2711400399051587/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v