Oregon Traditional Birth

02/26/2026

Postpartum bleeding is normal.

Hemorrhage is not.

The first hour after birth is one of the most important windows of care. While a mother holds her baby, midwives remain fully present.

Not anxious.
Not rushed.
But watchful.

Midwives are assessing:

• Uterine firmness
• Bleeding amount and pattern
• Maternal pulse and blood pressure
• Color and alertness
• Complete placental delivery

Most bodies respond well.
The uterus contracts.
Bleeding slows.

But experienced midwives know what normal looks like and recognize quickly when something shifts.

If bleeding increases or the uterus becomes soft, action happens immediately.

Hands support contraction.
Bladder is assessed.
Herbal or medical support is used when appropriate.
Emergency plans are ready if ever needed.

In rural communities, where hospitals may be 30+ minutes away, early recognition matters.

Traditional birth means supporting physiology first and responding quickly if physiology changes.

Calm room.
Clear head.
Skilled response. 🤍

02/26/2026

When a baby is born, the room often exhales.

There is relief.
There is emotion.
There is joy.

But skilled care does not stop at delivery.

The immediate postpartum period is one of the most critical windows in birth.

Most complications, if they occur, happen in the first hour after birth.

That is why while the room feels calm, assessment is ongoing.

Midwives are quietly evaluating:

• Uterine tone
• Amount and character of bleeding
• Placental separation
• Maternal blood pressure and pulse
• Perineal integrity
• Newborn respirations and tone
• Color and heart rate
• Temperature stability

Midwives protect the golden hour.

Skin to skin stays uninterrupted whenever possible.
Delayed cord clamping is supported.
Breastfeeding is encouraged naturally.

But protection of physiology does not mean absence of vigilance.

Midwives are watching.
Midwives are assessing.
Midwives are prepared to act if:

• Bleeding increases
• The uterus becomes boggy
• The newborn struggles to transition
• Maternal vital signs shift

Traditional birth honors that the body knows how to complete the process.

Clinical discernment ensures that if physiology changes, skilled providers respond immediately.

In rural communities especially, early recognition matters.

Calm environment.
Active assessment.
Prepared response.

The first minutes after birth are sacred.

They are also clinical.

And both can exist at the same time 🤍

02/24/2026

When people hear traditional birth, they picture candles, warm water, and a quiet room.

That’s part of it.

What they don’t see is the preparation behind the calm, especially when the nearest hospital is 30+ minutes away.

Rural birth changes the stakes.

Weather delays transport.
Power outages happen.
Resources are not five minutes down the road.

I’ve had babies born in driveways.
I’ve attended births during power outages.
One of my first introductions to birth was over 30 minutes from the hospital, and it shaped how seriously I take preparation.

Because of that, I have personally maintained a year long Life Flight membership, about $100 per year, and I have even had clients choose to do the same.

Not because we expect emergencies.

But because rural responsibility means planning ahead.

Inside a properly equipped birth bag you will find

• Doppler for fetal heart tones
• Manual blood pressure equipment
•IV Supplies
• Oxygen
• Neonatal resuscitation equipment
• Medications / herbs for hemorrhage
• Suturing supplies
• Emergency protocols
• Clear EMS contact plans

Most births unfold normally.

But if bleeding increases, a newborn needs support, or maternal status shifts, we act.

Traditional birth means trusting physiology.

Clinical readiness means preparing for variation.

In rural communities, you must have both 🌾🩺

Calm room.
Clear criteria.
Emergency readiness.
No ego.

Traditional birth.
Clinical discernment.
Rural responsibility.

“Feel your feet on the floor”
- Karen Strange

02/02/2026

Normal vs Emergency in Birth:

Not every deviation from textbook labor is an emergency.
Many things labeled urgent are often normal variations of physiology when properly assessed.

Long labors can be normal when mother and baby are coping well. Precipitous labors also happen and are usually more susceptible for needing postpartum intervention.

Meconium alone is not distress without other signs.

Position changes, pauses, and variable heart rate patterns require interpretation, not panic.

A true emergency is defined by patterns, not single findings.
Changes in vitals, tone, bleeding, consciousness, fetal response, or loss of compensation over time.

Skilled care means knowing when to stay calm and when to act fast.

Overtreatment creates risk just as much as delayed action.

Safety in birth is not about reacting first.
It is about recognizing what is normal, what is changing, and what truly requires intervention.

•

•

•

•

01/25/2026

In midwifery, birth is not considered complete at the moment the baby is born. The immediate postpartum period is a distinct and critical phase of care requiring ongoing assessment of both mother and newborn.

Following birth, the mother’s body must rapidly adapt to significant physiologic changes. The uterus must contract efficiently to compress the open blood vessels at the placental site. Circulating blood volume redistributes, cardiac output shifts, and hormonal levels change abruptly. These processes must occur in coordination for postpartum stability to be maintained.

During this time, the midwife assesses uterine tone, position, and response to contraction; evaluates the amount and character of bleeding; observes maternal vital signs, skin color, temperature, and level of alertness; and notes any signs of delayed adaptation.

A quiet environment or an uncomplicated labor does not eliminate postpartum risk. Stability is determined by physiologic response, not by appearance.

The role of the midwife in the immediate postpartum period is to remain present, observe continuously, and intervene early when normal physiology begins to deviate.

01/01/2026

Normal ≠ Emergency
And Emergency ≠ Panic

Birth can be intense without being dangerous.
Many situations labeled “emergencies” are actually variations of normal physiology when properly assessed.

Commonly pathologized — but often normal:
• 40+ weeks gestation — term is a range, not a deadline
• Breech presentation — a fetal position that requires skill, not automatic surgery
• Nuchal cords — very common and usually managed easily at birth.
• Babies over 9 lbs — size alone does not equal risk

These call for knowledge, patience, and discernment, not fear.

⸻

Not emergencies — until they are-
Time-sensitive situations depend on calm, skilled response:

💪🏻Shoulder dystocia:
A mechanical complication, not a pathology. Managed through calm, practiced position changes and specific maneuvers — not force or panic. Most cases resolve quickly with skilled response.

💩 Meconium-stained fluid:
Often a sign of maturity, not distress. Assessed alongside fetal heart tones, recovery, and labor progress. Color alone does not define an emergency.

⸻

True emergencies (rare, but real):
• Heavy postpartum hemorrhage unresponsive to measures
• Cord prolapse
• Placental abruption with instability
• Loss of fetal heart tones without recovery/
Poor APGAR
• Severe preeclampsia/eclampsia symptoms
• Retained placenta with hemorrhage

Midwives are trained to recognize when the body isn’t adapting properly anymore, act quickly, and escalate care when needed — while continuing to support the family.

Community birth isn’t about avoiding medical care.
It’s about using it appropriately.

Safety isn’t panic.
Safety is discernment.

⸻

12/31/2025

Supporting me means supporting mothers, babies, and community birth.

I’m currently preparing to attend more homebirths, investing in my birth kit, hands-on training, and more continued education and workshops.

I intentionally keep this work small and relational, accepting only 3–4 births per month so each family receives attentive, personalized care. I serve Eastern Oregon, with travel possible for the right fit.

If you’ve asked how you can support me or work together, here are a few meaningful ways 🤍

🌿 Support My Birth Kit & Training
Your support helps directly with:
• Essential birth kit supplies and tools
• Midwifery and emergency skills trainings
• Ongoing education to safely attend births

Direct Birth Kit Support:
• In His Hands Midwifery – Gift Certificates
These go directly toward the training and clinical skills I use at births.
https://www.inhishands.com/gift-certificates

• Amazon Birth Kit Wishlist
Items on my wishlist are specific supplies and tools for my birth kit.

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2KLWYQ3YT46HV?ref_=list_d_wl_ys_list_1&filter=unpurchased&sort=date-added&viewType=list

🫶 Book or Refer My Services
Serving Eastern Oregon, with travel available:
• Placenta encapsulation
• Full-spectrum doula support
• Birth, maternity & postpartum photography

🧴 Shop + Support
• Tallow & medicinal products: MedicinalMom.com

📲 Follow Along
• Instagram:
• Facebook: Medicinal Mom Birth Services

✨ Every share, referral, booking, and contribution helps keep community birth accessible in our region.

Thank you for standing with this work 🤍

12/30/2025

✨ Now Welcoming 2026 clients ✨

Honored to support growing families in 2026 🤍
Whether you’re planning a homebirth, hospital birth, VBAC, breech or planned csection- I offer grounded, compassionate care centered on informed choice, and autonomy.

Services Offered:
• Birth Support
• Placenta encapsulation
• Photography

I support families through pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum season by holding space, advocating, and supporting your unique journey.

📍 Serving Eastern Oregon - travel possible
💌 DM to inquire about availability & prices

07/19/2025

🌿✨ Tallow Belly Butter ! ✨🌿
A rich, nourishing balm for pregnancy, postpartum, or any belly in need of love.

Made with grass-fed tallow, cocoa butter, beeswax, vitamin E, and a grounding blend of peppermint, ginger, fennel & more to soothe bloating, tension, and dry skin.

💚 Available in:
– Digestive Blend (with essential oils)
– Plain (unscented, extra gentle)

✨ 4oz jars – $25
📦 Free shipping
🎉 Use code CLEANOUT to save 25% through 7/24
🛒 www.medicinalmom.com

01/19/2025

https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-elishas-journey-to-midwifery/cl/s?lang=en_US&utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link

Hey Everyone, thanks for taking a minute to be here. My name is Elisha Anderson… Elisha Anderson needs your support for Support Elisha’s Journey to Midwifery

01/16/2025

My whole website is on sale until Monday. Includes placenta encapsulation, photography and coaching sessions. Just use code “25” at checkout. Must spend $40.

12/05/2024

✌🏻💜 🍠 grab my wild yam + magnesium bundle for just $55.

https://medicinalmom.company.site/products/Wild-Yam-Magnesium-Bundle-p696765269