Gentle Delivery Midwifery Services - Midwife Kelsey Martin, CPM

12/08/2025

Just two weeks away! Everyone is invited, so please feel free to pass the info on to anyone you think might enjoy it!

12/07/2025

https://www.instagram.com/p/DR5YiuUEs8q/?igsh=YmJubmo0ZWhlM3l5

12/04/2025

Some excellent thoughts...if your midwife is wise and competent, you will not be staying at home in a high risk situation!

Folks, lets use some common sense when commenting on some of my posts. Everyone KNOWS that a homebirth midwife is NOT going to keep trying to take care of a client who has, pre-E, insulin dependent GD, IUGR babies, transverse lie, placenta previa, clients with heart disease...... the list goes on. These clients get risked out of the homebirth midwives practice and they then become PATIENTS of OB's. They NEED higher up care! So when you say, I WOULD OF DIED OR MY BABY WOULD OF DIED, and then you tell me about your previa or your high BP or fill-in-the-blank, you NEVER would of been a candidate for homebirth! FURTHERMORE, IF you get to the part of labor and your baby starts showing signs of fetal distress, OR your BP is going up OR you get a fever OR you just need pain relief, YOU are going to be transferred to the hospital BEFORE it becomes a crisis. OK?? OK! Carry on. Rant over :)

11/29/2025

Visiting a paper umbrella making factory, beautiful gardens, coffee shops with bamboo play places for the children, cycle rides to IGo with daddy, last trips to the Mae Hia market...and a sweet farewell as we bid Thailand goodbye and head home!

11/28/2025

Hoping your Thanksgiving Day was a blessed one! So thankful for all of the clients who invite me to be part of thier journeys 🤍

11/26/2025

I have no idea where to start or stop: our five weeks in Thailand have felt like such a gift! New friends, food, experiences, languages, sights, sounds...such an incredible opportunity for our children to step out of thier "normal " and learn more about how life is for others in different places. We've been blessed to make new friends, and to have this chance to do this together.

Joel ties up his teaching at IGo on Friday, and we start the long trek home on Saturday (how do you leave one country at 11:30am on one day, and arrive back in the US by 9pm on that same date?!?). We are feeling a bit sad about saying goodbye, but are mostly just grateful. 🙂

Pictures include: elephant rides (Shekinah's dream come true!), doing school at coffee shops, field trips such as the ancient city moat & walls and a silk factory, learning to play Futsal at a children's home some of Joel's students, a local park, view of the city from a mountain, the "sticky waterfalls " where you can climb the wet waterfalls as your feet grip the rough limestone, and more!

11/04/2025

Now y'all can see the big reason that this is off call this fall! We have been so privileged to spend some time in beautiful as a family. 🥰 After a 17 hrs flight + another flight and travel time, we arrived a week ago today, and its been a treasured experience. Attending a conference and connecting with friends were the focus points for the first week, and we had some rich connections. We also tried new foods, attempted to get around on our own, are learning how to drive on the opposite side of the road, and we're making good memories. For those wait on replies, I will be in touch soon!

10/23/2025

Another event that was enjoyed this fall was taking in the class put on by the in collaboration with two providers from Hershey. It was extra special to have my oldest daughter along, who is gearing up to begin shadowing as a birth assistant! Spending a day with other midwives and some of my dear assistants made for a very fun day, and it's always great to have opportunities to run through scenarios, learn from others, and keep resuscitation skills practiced up.

10/21/2025

I've been off-call this fall as our family had a number of commitments over a few months, and it felt wise to try to focus on those events. We've made lots of memories and had many adventures, and I'm so grateful for the time to focus on family. Some of the highlights have included: Nittany Valley Antique Tractor Show, visiting friends, lots of company (We've had overnight company almost weekly for the past two months!), neighborhood ice cream social in our yard, time outside, a weekend away celebrating our fifteenth anniversary, cousin time, spending a beautiful early morning watching & listening to wild elk, and the list goes on.... We're also thankful for the unexpected, such as an accident for Darius requiring an ER visit and an alternator going out that required a rescue from an amazing mechanic. 🙂

Figured it was time to post a little update about the past few months before we embark on an incredible adventure that I can't wait to share more about. Passport renewals were another fall activity!

10/16/2025

Crazy to remember today that it's been 18 years since I officially "caught" my first baby as a student midwife! Don't know where the time goes...and I'm thinking this makes me sound old. 🤣 But the wonder of that experience still makes me smile! So grateful for all the amazing miracles ive been privileged to witness since 🥰

09/26/2025

This is great if you like dates 😉

An incredible new study found that pregnant women who consume just 6 dates a day in the 4 weeks leading up to their due date were 74% more dilated upon their arrival to the hospital, had a 77% shorter first stage of labor and a 42% lower rate of caesarean sections.

Eating dates in the late stages of pregnancy lead to higher cervical dilation upon hospital admission because the fruit contains nutrients that influence oxytocin receptors, preparing the cervix and uterus for labor by increasing muscle response to oxytocin and other labor-supporting hormones. Dates are a rich source of energy from natural sugars and fats and also contain prostaglandins, which contribute to cervical ripening. Additionally, they provide serotonin, calcium, and tannins, which contribute to powerful uterine contractions.

Eating dates in the late stages of pregnancy shortens the first stage of labor due to their ability to stimulate the production of prostaglandins, which promote cervical ripening (softening and thinning of the cervix) and increase uterine contractions. Dates also contain tannins, which have a similar effect, and provide a natural sugar source for energy during labor. Some studies even suggest that dates can increase uterine sensitivity to oxytocin, leading to more effective contractions and a quicker and smoother labor process.

These actions are also the exact reason why women who eat dates in the late stages of pregnancy and far less likely to need a c-section!

The most common recommendation is for women to begin eating 6 dates a day starting in their 37th week of pregnancy.
PMID: 40322306, 21280989

SEE ALSO: https://www.pelvicphysio.co.nz/the-sweet-secret-to-a-smoother-labour-dates

09/10/2025

Great suggestions!!

10 Ways Dads Can Support During a Homebirth 💫
Childbirth is a beautiful journey, and dads play an incredibly important role in creating a supportive environment for their partner. Here's how you can help during a homebirth:
1️⃣ Be Her Emotional Rock – Offer constant encouragement and stay calm. Your presence makes all the difference.
2️⃣ Help with Breathing & Relaxation – Guide her through deep breathing and relaxation techniques.
3️⃣ Provide Physical Comfort – Massage, apply counter-pressure, or help her change positions for comfort.
4️⃣ Keep Her Hydrated & Energized – Offer water, snacks, or ice chips to keep her fueled.
5️⃣ Advocate for Her Wishes – Know her birth plan and help communicate it to the team.
6️⃣ Create a Calm, Safe Space – Set the mood with soothing music, dim lighting, or candles.
7️⃣ Monitor Labor Progress – Time contractions or note their intensity to help the team stay informed.
8️⃣ Help Prepare the Birth Space – Set up towels, birth pool, and any necessary supplies.
9️⃣ Encourage Postpartum Bonding – Help with skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding support.
🔟 Stay Calm & Present – Your steady presence can help keep the entire experience grounded.
Remember, your support means the world. You’re a team – and together, you’ll bring your little one into the world! ✨👶💖