MOV Birth

01/31/2026

"In those days, Granny midwives also carried particular authority. They were trusted not just because they knew herbs, but because they understood bodies, especially women’s bodies. They knew when to strengthen, when to cleanse, and when to leave well enough alone."

Most remedies began as teas, but not in the modern sense of a delicate cup. These were strong infusions and decoctions made to pull nourishment and medicine from bark, roots, and other tough plant material. A pot would sit on the stove or over a fire, water slowly darkening as the plant matter gave....

01/28/2026

HB4747 in WV

Much better language for midwifery license in WV than in the past, but still too many restrictions for non-medical midwives, which ultimately affects the fear surrounding birth and choices for birthing mothers and their families.

My personal concerns with this bill are...
- Forced licensure for CPMs in WV... If it is not all optional, it's not providing more choices
- Restrictions for required transfer of care to medical care for the families they serve under a list of conditions, including "acute" conditions... wonder who interprets what that is...
- Permission for the use of a lot of medication without medical training (birth in rural settings really doesn't need a long list of medications anyway... this could be more specific to managing PPH, exhaustion, and Rho-D prophylaxis options)
- We already have licensing options for medical midwives in WV through the CNM route (maybe, let's work on advocating that the CNM regulations give them more autonomy rather than restrict more midwives and the families they serve!)

You can read this here... and contact your delegates! They need to hear your opinions and how this personally affects you, your family... and future families in WV.

https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=hb4747%20intr.htm&yr=2026&sesstype=RS&i=4747

01/27/2026

A Ph.D. student at OU is looking for participants for a study on milk-sharing!

Donating milk, receiving donated breast milk, or having nursed a baby that wasn’t your own are experiences that would be helpful!

Please reach out to Prathana Dodia at pd435622@ohio.edu

🤱🏻🍼❤️🥛

01/27/2026

01/23/2026

If you're confused about whether it's safe to take paracetamol (also known as acetaminophen or Tylenol) in pregnancy, you're not alone.

Recent headlines and conflicting information have left many expectant mums wondering what to do when they're dealing with pain, headaches, or fever.

And midwives and birth workers are also struggling to know what to say.

Thats why I've written a blog post on paracetamol in pregnancy and birth. I explain the issues and link to evidence-based resources so that you can make the decisions that are right for you.

Read it at https://www.sarawickham.com/promoting-normality/the-paracetamol-question/

01/23/2026

The only way to truely know the actual weight of your baby is to weigh it after it’s born.

Ultrasound is not an accurate predictor of your baby’s weight during pregnancy. The accuracy threshold is +/- 10% which means if your baby is 4kg then an accurate assessment on ultrasound would anywhere from 3.6kg to4.4kg… ultrasound is only accurate to this standard 70% of the time

Given the inaccurate measurement standard, the literature suggests NOT using ultrasound findings to make decisions about early induction for baby weight.

Get the full story on episode 186. Big babies small babies.

01/20/2026

What is a midwife?
How do I become a midwife?
Do I need medical training?
Do I need a license?
Do I need a college degree?
Should I push for regulation?

1... YHWH God is the only technique. It is through a humble surrender to His son, Yeshua, that we receive the Holy Spirit's guidance in our life, and that includes our service/work, such as midwifery. Reading His word gives you insight into what He wants from you and you will be guided to learn what you need to learn by His direction.
You may be guided to learn more than the basics, but if you are learning out of fear of peers, fear of birth, fear of death...etc., then you are not using Him as your technique. Let Him guide you with your obedience to Him and ongoing prayer. Then be at peace.

2. Midwifery, at its core, is very simple. The words of Sue Hovemeyer always whisper this in my mind. Although she passed on many pieces of wisdom, this one will always be one of the most important. Stop complicating it. Stop overwhelming yourself with trying to learn how to be a medical midwife or a doctor or to know all the things (which is impossible) and remember that midwifery has some really basic skills (at its core, it's nutrition, palpation, exhaustion, PPH & dystocia care, & breastfeeding & rest)... the caveat, though, is that this can only be simple with healthy moms and healthy babies... and if you're not serving healthy moms and/or babies, you might need medical training or medical care... and this means prenatal care is vital. So, moms... get healthy if you don't want intervention or transport. Who needs a law or a certification to follow this?

3. Know normal... know normal... know normal... Many midwife teachers have said this, but it is Marlene Waechter's voice that speaks it in my memory. Praise Him for the elders we have access to that in one generation may no longer be a part of midwifery wisdom sharing. If you know normal physiologic birth really well and you stop trying to control it (that's a medical perspective), and you know those simple techniques and tools... you'll know when you're beyond your abilities and then do not hesitate to get help. We don't have to be every expert in the village.

01/20/2026

🚨 New Food Safety Webinar from IBFAN this Wednesday, featuring Nestlé whistleblower Yasmine Motarjemi! This important webinar comes on the heels of two major infant formula contaminations: one by US-based ByHeart in November, and a 60+ country recall of infant formulas from Nestlé in January.

🗓️ 21 January 2026
⏰ 11.00 -12.30 CET (10-11.30 GMT)

Registration details in the comments below! ⬇️

Description of the webinar from IBFAN:
In November, a new US company called ByHeart recalled its Powdered Infant Formulas (PIF) in the USA because of risk of Clostridium botulinum contamination. This was followed in January with a recall in 60+ countries of Nestlé’s infant, follow-on, pre-term, and specialised formulas. Austria’s Health Ministry has said that the recall is the largest in the company’s history, affecting more than 800 products from over 10 Nestlé factories. Contamination outbreaks are especially problematic in the Global South and settings where the risks of using formula are greater, diagnosis is restricted, and access to treatment is reduced. The global online promotion and sale exacerbates the risks, idealising products and encouraging unquestioning trust.

One of our key speakers will be Yasmine Motarjemi, WHO’s Food Safety Senior Officer from 1990-2000 and Global Director of Food Safety at Nestlé and Assistant Vice-President (2000 to 2010). Yasmine will explain how she was forced to leave her job after repeatedly raising concerns about Nestlé’s mismanagementof food safety. All the time she was in post at Nestlé, her department of food quality, the cockpit of the Company,was never inspected by government authorities, not even when food incidents occurred. She refused to be silenced and became a whistleblower. Her new book Ce que l’empire Nestlé vous cache(What the Nestlé empire is hiding from you) was published in 2025 Bernard Nicolas, Yasmine Motarjemi.

01/16/2026

Have you experienced bleeding in pregnancy? Many women experience spotting and even heavy bleeding and cramping that continues to a full term pregnancy. Knowing what is OK to manage at home and when to seek help is important as many women experience miscarriage or bleeding before they have established care with anyone... and many haven't told friends or family yet.

Bleeding mothers are dismissed all too often. Speak up if you want or need help, especially if your blood loss is not visible to others. While we can handle some abnormal bleeding at home, we need to be careful not to dismiss abnormal bleeding, simply because it is common to happen. Bleeding in pregnancy is not the same thing as bleeding during your period, and when you start to feel terrible and weak from blood loss, you're well beyond normal or what is OK at home.

How did you assess bleeding? Was there information shared with you that was helpful... or information you wish you had known?

01/13/2026

Midwife in Ohio County, West Virginia

01/08/2026

The cycle of charts... the notes that help to keep all the stories woven to the correct mother 😀
Retiring older files for mothers who are likely at the end of their birthing season... and for a few that moved away...
Reviving files for new pregnancies... and booklets for families just beginning their home birth journey...
This feels a little surreal. 🤗... and yet it feels like the right way to begin the birth season of 2026 with a little cleaning house.

01/06/2026

More test options now available through the wellness shop. Now, self-order venous labs for monitoring basic wellness, thyroid health, and hormone patterns.

https://labs.rupahealth.com/store/storefront_YnEbev4