Inner Light Midwifery

06/05/2020

Calling all Midwives, Doctors, Nurses, Lactation Consultants, S*x Educators, and the People who Love Them...
A Black Student Midwife has created this campaign to fund her education as well as donate to broader MOC education:
https://www.bonfire.com/midwivesforblacklives/?productType=bacf6cd6-b53d-469c-ab96-02afe5b15f71

In the words of someone I respect very much:
"You all need this shirt, and your purchase supports the education of a future black midwife in Philadelphia."
-Mac VanTilburg

Meet the Midwife at https://jamiimidwife.com/

Check out Jamii Midwife on Bonfire and shop official merchandise today! Featuring limited edition custom apparel, printed with care in the USA just for you.

04/19/2020

Please take a brief moment to help make home birth accessible to people who need insurance to cover the costs of their care:

Homebirths need to be fully covered by insurance companies during COVID-19 and always!

03/31/2020

We need one another right now.
For anyone who is pregnant or postpartum and could use a dose of support, community, and love, please join this group on Thursdays at 1pm.

https://us04web.zoom.us/j/426794937?pwd=Wm5sQWFhei9JVXVzUWFLeHR0VGNRdz09

Here is a wonderful offering- a new pandemic support group for pregnant and new moms via Zoom, led by our dear Asha Wilkus- Stone, PsyD.

Every Thursday at 1, beginning April 2nd.

Suggested donation of $10, but anyone who wants to join is welcome, regardless of their ability to pay. Asha will share her Venmo info in the group.
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/426794937?pwd=Wm5sQWFhei9JVXVzUWFLeHR0VGNRdz09

03/25/2020

This film is available for free viewing

Dr. Michelle Minikel thought home birth was crazy, until she got pregnant. Turns out she's not alone. Through intimate footage, experience the challenges and...

01/24/2020

As midwives, we do more than measure bellies and attend births!

I'm finding that I'm supporting a lot of families through common illnesses at this time of year.
Many of our clients aim to use natural remedies to support their health whenever possible, and thankfully there are a lot of options for safely doing that during pregnancy and early childhood.
Here's a resource that I like to share!

There’s no doubt about it - antibiotics are a good thing. They save lives every day. We can, in part, attribute our longer lifespans, reduction in infant mortality and childhood deaths from life-threatening infections, and the near elimination of childbirth-related maternal deaths from infections ...

12/01/2019

⤵️ 🚨 ⤵️ 🚨 ⤵️ 🚨 ⤵️ 🚨 ⤵️ 🚨 ⤵️ 🚨
We MUST change the conversation about dilation and the role the cervix plays in birth. I witness cervical checks and emphasis on dilation ruin births often. Or the chance to even let spontaneous labor begin. Below is some great insight about this!

We think in pictures and we should be painting accurate pictures. The cervix nor the va**na bloom. The cervix is not a zip lock bag. The purpose of labor is NOT the creation of an opening or a hole... The purpose of labor contractions and retractions is to BUILD the fundus, which will, when it is ready, EJECT the baby, like a piston. Without a nice thick fundus there is no power to get baby out....the cervix does not dilate out....it dilates UP as a result of the effort to pull muscles up into the uterus to push muscles up to the fundus. The cervical dilation is secondary to that. The cervix is pulled up as a result of the building of the fundus. Assigning a number to cervical dilation is of little consequence and we make a huge mistake by interpreting progress or predicting time of birth to that number. Any experienced midwife or OB can tell you that the cervix can be manipulated and that a woman whose cervix is at 7 could have the baby in a few minutes or a few hours.

If more providers and educators knew the truth about birth physiology, we could make a huge difference for mothers. What is important is to keep her well supported for the purpose of the appropriate chemistry, to keep her well hydrated and nourished for muscle strength, and to believe in her. We should be supporting her so that her physiology and that of her baby are unhindered, so they can finish what they started.

We should not be measuring, poking, or interpreting her labor. THIS CHANGE in teaching about labor could make such a difference for women who are imagining what is happening in their bodies during labor. How much more strength might they have if they have an accurate picture? -Carla Hartley

10/19/2019

❤️ Birth is Beautiful and Sacred ❤️

Nightfall had come.. after Tahja rested we walked the neighborhood. She remained silent and focused as labor had really picked up. Tahja remained in her zone, feeling safe and supported throughout... get your tissues out, as you witness God's work in action..the birth of baby Xionna was simply beautiful, in every way. THANK YOU TAHJA AND DENZEL for allowing me to share your intimate birth story with the world, as we strive to educate about midwifery care, home birth as a safe for low risk women, improve outcomes for black women, and empower all women to take charge of their bodies and birthing experiences. Love you all, to the moon and back!
Want to help change the narrative surrounding home birth? Feel free to share with your friends.

10/17/2019

Inner Light Midwifery has MOVED to California to join forces with Santa Barbara Midwifery and the Santa Barbara Birth Center!

The first thing happening in our new community that we want to alert everyone to is an important workshop with local physical therapists...

Pelvic Health Center of Santa Barbara is hosting a postpartum preparation workshop! Dr. Dhara Solanki and Dr. Victoria Kuberka will go over some changes that may occur in women after childbirth, including, prolapse, diastasis recti, depression, scar management and more. They invite you to bring your spouse, friend, and any new or expecting mothers that you know that would benefit!

If you would like to sign up for this workshop, please give their front office a phone call at 805-682-7777 or email your reservation to office@pelvichealthsb.com.
The price is $30 per couple or $18 per person.

07/24/2019

This is definitely going to be one worth getting

FM Weekly July 23, 2019 By Feminist Midwife Leave a Comment I’m starting a newsletter. It feels so good to write it down. I’m starting a newsletter for all sorts of reasons. I miss writing for the joy of writing, and being able to feeling like I’m writing directly “to” folx is one way to f...

07/11/2019

Just show up, as you are.

You don’t have to look or feel great.

You don’t have to be prepared

for each challenge

or know all the hows of every situation.

You don’t have to be fearless,

or have all the answers,

or be 100% ready.

Nobody is any of these things.

Nobody ever was.

It’s not about being perfect at all.

You just have to show up,

as you are,

despite all the objections and insecurities

of your mind,

despite each and every fear

that threatens to hold you back,

despite the limitations and criticisms

others will place on you.

The hell with it all.

This is your life, your journey,

your adventure,

and all it’s asking of you is to show up for it,

as you are.

That’s enough.

That’s more than enough.

That’s everything.

~ Scott Stabile

📷: Q Stern Photography, 2018

06/16/2019

Interesting!

Hint: They don’t just get ‘dad bods.’