MOV Birth

12/19/2025

Since I began attending births as a primary midwife, I think this is the first year I’ve not been on call through Christmas. (Well, I guess technically I go back on-call in just a few days, but the likelihood of that mother birthing this year is extremely small…). Usually, I wait to post these statistics until the New Year just in case another mother births within that time. But, this winter… I’m breathing… or rather, I’m trying to. I anticipated an uncharacteristically busy autumn… and it was… but not for the reasons I thought it would be. So many prayers answered this year, not the least of which was for my rest to face anticipated, yet somewhat unexpected, experiences the families I served went through. Even though I need this break, honestly it just feels strange to not be tethered to my phone or tethered to where there is cell coverage or stay up past 9:30 (I rarely make it there)… especially when it isn’t my once-a-year off-call week. But I know when the March birth seasons are upon me, I will have needed this down time and accepting it is a discipline. It’s like an odd Sabbath pattern for midwives… you don’t truly get a day of real rest until you’re off-call. You can’t just put the labor or complication calls on pause and there is always this buzzing feeling that the phone might ding or ring even if you have no visits scheduled that day and don’t need to play catch-up with housework.

Each perinatal journey, I lean in a little bit more to the peace Jesus offers and each time I am in awe of it. There is truly always something new and it is simply a constant practice, not a goal that is ever finally achieved. A series I listened to from The Bible Project on the root words from Advent really summed up this year… so I encourage you to go listen to the podcast (or at least watch the videos… your whole family will love it… yes, even if you know that Jesus wasn’t actually born on December 25th)… but I leave you with this, because there is no better way to explain this year…

HOPE – Yakhal – Not being optimistic that all will turn out warm and fuzzy in the world, but the tense assured anticipation that Yahweh our God has already made all things right through His son, Yeshua (Jesus) for our eternal soul. As a midwife, I am hopeful that each family I serve has accepted Jesus as the guide in their life, because I see this expressed in birth and how decisions are made and how birth experiences are integrated during the postpartum time. I know no matter what things look like in this world, Yahweh will make all things right after this human experience has ended.

PEACE – Shalom – Not a state of being stress-free, but a sense of wholeness and completeness that we have accepted the responsibilities Yahweh our God has created us with and we have accepted Yeshua’s (Jesus’) instructions and life example as the Way of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. As a midwife, there is no other choice than to be joyful in the midst of challenge and sometimes pure heartbreak. I cannot let the view of those who have rejected Jesus’ Way get in the way of the truth that there is good in all things if we choose to look for it. I think my stomach would be purely ulcerated if I chose to let the imbalances of this world be my soul focus. I can let things roll off my shoulders when I know I am doing the absolute best I can do in the situation… even if that means I’m not the best person to care for a family in their current experience… even if that means more challenges and frustration for the current moment. The peace – shalom – is not the feeling of being stress-free, but the sense of having the hole that was in my heart filled with Jesus as the guide in my life… the sense that I am working to fulfill the calling He has asked me into of sharing His approach to caring for others.

JOY – Chara – Not a feeling of happiness or a smile on our face, but choosing to be filled with joy right in the middle of our pain and sorrow. To experience our heartaches alongside the Joy of knowing Jesus’ way of simplicity and humbleness is light and freeing. As a midwife, there are so many moments of joy that are so easy – a call from a mother I’ve served before… a thank you card… a Christmas card with family photos… that feeling when the baby is latched on and the placenta is wrapped up and tucked next to the mother and you leave the room for family bonding… but there is also joy found in Jesus alongside the losses and the health imbalances and the transfers of care and the transports and the new challenges. When joy is found in Him, and not in this world, we know we can make it through this moment… and the next.

LOVE – Agape – Not lust or attraction or like-mindedness, not even simply "unconditional love," but a state of interaction with the created beings of this world - offering care to them so that our heart-posture is toward the well-being of others, not for self, and knowing their well-being and completeness - their Shalom - is of upmost importance. As a midwife… well… as a human… loving other people can be hard sometimes. When the day is long and I’ve driven over 100 miles between visits (~27,000 miles total this year) many that have had a challenge for the mom or the baby and I really just want to be home by 4:00 because I still need to clean my house and cook dinner for my family and then someone grumbles that I made fish soup instead of something "menu-worthy" and someone needs help with their homeschooling and they didn’t do their chores or help with the dishes before they turned on screens during their schedule screen time before I got home later than expected and I’m on call for someone that usually births in the middle of the night plus I have to wake up the next morning and pack my bag with healthy and balanced meals and plenty of jars of water so I can live somewhat healthily in my car and sit at prenatal visits which eventually hurts my sacrum and causes my legs to get stiff… and I need to fit in the walking and the stretching and the muscle strengthening activities... whew... breathe...
I do not find my peace and joy because of these experiences… but within these experiences. I choose to be grateful that I am capable of doing all these things at this time in my life and I accept the outcome of this life as well, even though it is hard. I am thankful I have a few people I can vent to that really understands this side of midwifery. I am humbled by the families that ask me to serve them, and especially those that ask me to serve them again and again… and for the awesome privilege of getting to share the wisdom Yahweh has granted me with to others. I absolutely enjoy seeing people in their home and giving them the opportunity of not driving to me, especially because I may have to randomly cancel their visit if I have someone in labor… it is much easier for me to reschedule people that aren’t on their way to my clinic. I wholeheartedly know the benefits of not having to find a caregiver for multiple other children because I am coming to them rather than them coming to me (especially when 50% of them either drive a horse and buggy or have to hire a driver). I am comforted that my family will eat the fish soup, and mostly enjoy it, even though they would rather have pizza. I am blessed to see the positive changes that are made in someone’s life when it can be frustrating to work with someone’s priorities that don’t align with their desires for health and lifetime-created imbalances. I promise that I know they are dealing with my nuances, too. 😉 I could go on… we all have challenges in our life and humans will constantly have to choose to work together in our differences… and learn to lean on the village around us rather than pretending to have all the answers or expecting one human to be our everything.

Sometimes, the feeling of not being enough for some of the families I serve is overwhelming. The truth is, though, I was never meant to be enough. Every person I have, or ever will, interact with is not meant to receive all their love – care - through me and I am meant to find JOY that I don’t HAVE to be their everything. That is a burden I do not want on my shoulders and there is so much rest when we truly understand that and are GRATEFUL for it!

I am meant to be hopeful alongside them, demonstrate peace to them, express joy within our sorrow, and ultimately love – care for - them… and this whole purpose is not just to get a baby out of their va**na at home with me… it is to show US that it is only through Jesus that I am capable of serving them within something that is so much bigger than US… it is meant to point US to a Way that WE can feel HOPE, PEACE, JOY, AND LOVE as well… and it is not through me… only Yeshua (Jesus).

May this once-“pagan”-season, now-transformed-by-Yahweh-for-good-for-those-who-love-Him season, be filled will TRUE Yakhal, Shalom, Chara, and Agape… not because of a feeling or a circumstance, but because you have already been called back to the Creator and can choose to listen to this call of surrender and humbling as you forevermore seek the powerful experience achieved from that acceptance in Him.

Also, we love The Bible Project and here is this series on these words of Advent that you and your family might enjoy! https://bibleproject.com/advent/

12/08/2025

The often-cited uterine rupture rate after two cesareans of 0.9% – 1.8% is based on a 49% – 65% induction and augmentation rate.

This is an important factor to consider anytime we discuss VBA2C (va**nal birth after two cesareans.)

As a result, it’s possible that the rate of uterine rupture during a spontaneous labor after two cesareans is lower than 0.9% – 1.8%.

In fact, Macones revealed that of the 379 people who labored spontaneously, 3 had a uterine rupture for a rate of 0.8%.

Continue learning:

- on the blog at https://vbacfacts.com/vba2c

- on the podcast episode that builds upon that blog article at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-vbac-facts-podcast-with-jen-kamel/id1779599613?i=1000689922954

- in our VBA2C training approved for contact hours: https://vbacfacts.com/membership

12/01/2025

This cord was soooo so long!

11/24/2025

This estimation is very rough. There is a lot that influences hemoglobin levels. Dehydration being one of them... dehydration can actually make the hemoglobin look much better than it really is. The puzzle of labs is so fascinating!
This calculation is based on averages of transfusions of 1 unit of blood (~500mL) raising the Hgb level 1 g/dL. So, the theory is, if you can raise it with 500 mL, you can lower it by losing that much.
Honestly, though, everyone's hemoglobin level changes can be different with the same amount of blood loss. Some will lose 1g/dL with 250 mL, so obviously watching your mom is a most important aspect of care. However, with home birth care, there are times when this rough estimate can be helpful in having conversations about next steps to help families make decisions about their care.
You do need to know the hemoglobin number in the full-term birth season to calculate the current hemoglobin after hemorrhage. You could check it in labor along with your other initial checks, even with something as basic as a Tallquist scale.
Then, we have to remember that if you draw blood within a few hours after blood loss, hemoglobin can remain fairly close to pre-hemorrhage levels. It is generally not an accurate reading for at least 12 hours, but 24-48 hours is better for accurate values. After 48-72 hours of rest and nourishment, people will start to feel improvements. However, it takes approximately 4 weeks for blood cells to mature from the time they're made in our bone marrow, so it can take a few months to not only have those blood cells mature, but to rebuild a healthy blood volume from a significant loss.

11/20/2025

It's that time of year where slings and receiving blankets are warmed on wood stoves and winter weather advisories challenge travel times to rural births.
Autumn is winding down after three births this past week and it's looking to be a fairly quiet and cozy winter.
I am so thankful for the many answers to prayers for much needed rest between so much intensity this season. Prayers are answered in amazing, and sometimes challenging, ways... but they are answered nonetheless and they are gifts to be grateful for in these times.
My advocacy continues to be for health of the body and mind for preventing complications and opening up choices, especially for non-medical birth. YOU are a part of someone's village... go out there and make a healthy, fearless, contribution to someone's perinatal journey.

11/15/2025

You can experience pregnancy, birth, and postpartum like your ancestors… with health and trust, faith and support for your individuality. You can lean into the guidance of the Holy Spirit and learn the way your body communicates imbalance to you. You can learn to follow this guidance and utilize lifestyle changes and herbal remedies to realign your health.
You don’t have to have a midwife that prefers ultrasounds
You don’t have to have parallel OB care
You don’t have to p*e on a stick or get your blood pressure checked
You don’t have to have labs, including Glucose Tolerance or GBS testing
You don’t have to be induced at 39…40…or 41 weeks
You don’t have to be given ultimatums like non-stress tests or biophysical profiles
You don’t have to transfer out of care when you’re 42…43…44 weeks
You can have your VBAC, breech baby, or your twins… or more… va**nally
You don’t have to have fetal monitoring of any kind
You don’t have to transport to the hospital after 12 hours of labor… or 18 hours of ruptured membranes
You can have access to the clinical and medical perspective and can utilize this at any time, but it doesn’t have to be routine or restricted.
This approach to care does require a responsibility that clinical care seemingly provides. You should actually learn what feeling healthy feels like. You should actually pay attention to, and do something about, what is happening in your body and with your baby. You should actually change your habits if they’re not conducive to optimal health. You should actually address your fears and your trust of ***ALL*** that “nature” includes. You should actually have a non-fearful support team and educate yourself with more than, “I watched some IG videos and I know I can do it.” You should prepare for the hard physical and mental work of the transformation of birth… just like the life your ancestors led did every day.
You should expect a soul-changing experience, whether you want it or not.
If you’re ready for,or intrigued by, this… let’s chat.

11/12/2025

Getting labor started... November newsletter sent out to MOV Birth members in the Amish community... maybe you can benefit from it, too.

It is sometimes said that a day inside the belly is equal to a week outside the belly for a developing baby. A 40+ week baby is better able to gain weight and maintain blood sugar, not to mention for the ability to coordinate breathing and sucking for breastfeeding. A late preterm/early term

10/31/2025

Just another prenatal day.
My kids have been asking for pumpkins and I finally got around to it yesterday.
Self-serve produce stand... because there was a wedding and the community, save one 39 wk mom and her family, were all gone.
A notebook with prices.
A box on the post for payments.
They expect no tricks from the locals.
The treats are nourishing and the farmers wave to me from the fields when I drive by.
How blessed to live in a place where this is not just available, but common.
Where most meals are home grown and home cooked.
Where the whole community supports each other in times of celebration, in times of need, and just because that's what humans who know and live near other humans should do.
Where families try to say no to too much extra when life needs their focus somewhere else.
Where I can palpate someone's belly and give recommendations about human fertility and birthing human babies (and using most of these pumpkins for soups instead of pies 😀😉)... and go right down the road to the person that knows more than I about plant fertility and growing plant babies.

10/28/2025

One of the most beautiful illustrations of placental circulation I've seen so far! As someone that loves art, especially line drawings and concept illustration, this is worth staring at!

This is a gorgeous example of how maternal blood bathes the intervillous space to reach fetal circulation, and how the fetal circulation is still separate from the maternal blood (when mom and baby are healthy and when no one tugs on the placenta) but dips down into this space to transmit oxygen, nutrients, and toxins.

The uteroplacental circulation is unique: it is in essence two distinct circulatory systems in parallel (foetoplacental and maternoplacental). At term, it receives about 800ml/min of blood flow, or something like 14-15% of the total cardiac output. The maternoplacental circulatory system is also uni...

10/25/2025

If you don't want the labs, the IVs, the medications, the checks, the routines, the pings... you must live a life that supports a non-medical and non-clinical approach.
Midwifery is really diluted with obstetric perspective and intervention...
Some of this is because aspiring midwives begin midwifery as a career choice rather than a community service and are going through training that teaches clinical care, not midwifery heArt. But we also must accept that we arrived at this place together.
Birthing women and families have been asking for intervention by way of FEAR for a long time, especially since they let doctors and hospitals take control of birth in the early 1900s. While at the same time, their lives became more processed and physically easier, leading to the sedentary and low nutrient lives many women in “developed” nations are leading today.
If you don't want to eat well...
If you don't want to move well...
If you don't want to hydrate well...
If you don't want to schedule well...
If you don't want supported well...
If you don't want to prepare well...
If you don't want to think or believe well...
If you don't want to take responsibility...
If you don't live well...
You are far more likely to need a clinical and medical approach, and then you may be at the mercy of clinically-minded practitioners.
If you’re planning home birth, you’re planning birth in a low-resource setting. If your midwifery team is non-medical (i.e. no IVs, no medications...etc.), then you must live a life that supports this low-intervention approach to maintain it.
Non-medical midwifery is my passion, but this approach is only appropriate for mothers and families that live a holistic life that supports this low-intervention approach.
If you want this non-medical approach… you need to eat nutrient-dense food, hydrate well, move your body, balance your schedule, follow wise counsel, and have relationships that burst with support through love (not fear)…
And this kind of life should be occurring well before conception for the chance at the most optimal outcomes.

10/17/2025

I see these reports quite often now and sometimes get asked if I offer this service... there just doesn't seem to be congruence with long-term lab results and this is an interesting report explaining some of the concerns of this method of wellness testing

Electrodermal screening” (“EDS”) devices are claimed to use galvanic skin responses to identify health problems and corrective actions. Thousands are being used to persuade people to buy dietary supplements, diet programs, and other offerings. This ...