Earthside Midwifery SD

01/03/2026

What does a home birth with Earthside look like?? 🤔

Here are some routine things you can expect....
- lots of freedom to move and choose positions.
(The bed is hardly ever used)
- low light, music, and calm support from your birth team.
- birth pool for labor and birthing! 🌊 (Most of our mom choose water birth, as long as they give us enough time to set the pool up 🤣)
- intermittent monitoring of baby (no strap on monitors)
- Eating and drinking 🥣🥨🍓
- spinning babies techniques for promoting a smooth labor 💪
- birthing position of YOUR choice! Most common is hands and knees.
- 1 midwife and 2 trained birth assistants to manage any complications that arise
- a full stash of medical supplies and equipment for monitoring and any emergencies that need to be taken care of! (Including: equipment for monitoring you and baby, IVs and fluids only when needed, medications (pitocin, TXA, cytotec, and methergine) and herbs to manage bleeding, resuscitation equipment for baby, oxygen, suturing equipment ECT. )

12/28/2025

Thank you to all my incredible clients from 2025! I seriously was blessed with all the most amazing families this year and want to extend my sincere gratitude for each of you Inviting me to be a part of your pregnancy and birthing experiences! Thanks for bringing your baby Earthside with me!

P.s. I have one more opening in February, otherwise I am off till September 💗 feel free to contact me about due dates happening after September 2026. 💗

12/25/2025

Spinning babies approach is incredible!
I have seen this help with so many labors 💓💓💓

If you were my client, you probably are already familiar with many of their techniques 💓

https://www.facebook.com/share/17vS8d24Qn/

💡 Exciting Study Alert! 💡

A recent clinical trial published in the International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecological Nursing shows the powerful impact of the Spinning Babies® approach!

When labor and delivery nurses at Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Florida adopted our techniques, their cesarean rate dropped from 27% to 14%. 🙌

This study reinforces the importance of supporting the body’s natural alignment and movement to create smoother, more balanced birth experiences. When birth professionals are equipped with the right knowledge and skills, we can reduce interventions and improve outcomes for both parents and babies.

📚 You can read more about the research backing the Spinning Babies® approach on our research and references page via link in bio

12/24/2025

Just added up the 2025 statistics! Check them out. ❤️

It was a pleasure to serve each of these beautiful families as they brought their babies Earthside. ❤️

Bonus stat:
Fastest birth - 1hr of labor
Longest birth- 35 hrs of labor

Shout out to my amazing birth assistants Erica Voehl and Talia Pasara!! Couldn't do this work without them. 😍

12/17/2025

A transfer to a hospital is not a "failed home birth" it is an appropriate use of resources. ❤️

Only around 5-10% of planned home birth transfer (usually a first time mom requiring pain relief), but occasionally transfers happen for other reasons. Only 1-2% are emergent transfers.

Most transfers happen for long labors and pain relief.

A licensed midwife is trained to handle the vast majority of complications right in the home setting and can carry things like medications for bleeding, oxygen, resuscitation equipment, IVs and fluid, and equipment to monitor Mom and baby.

However, a transfer could be needed for things like:
- pain relief
- augmentation of labor
- non reassuring fetal heart rate
- surgery
- blood products

A mom or baby who requires transfer is absolutely not a failure, it is getting them the care they need. ❤️

https://www.facebook.com/share/1JwZcH8Sdv/

Transfer to hospital is not a failure. It is part of the safety net that makes planned homebirth a safe and well integrated option. A transfer means that midwives are doing exactly what they are trained to do. They assess, they monitor, and they act early when something would be better managed in a hospital environment. This is how risk is managed in evidence based homebirth models, and the research consistently shows that timely transfer contributes to good outcomes.

Homebirth is not about avoiding the hospital at all costs. It is about beginning labour in the environment that best supports physiology and then moving into higher level care if it becomes clinically appropriate. Transfers are not dramatic events in most cases. They are thoughtful, collaborative, and often precautionary decisions that reflect the strength of the model, not a weakness. Women who transfer frequently report still feeling respected and informed because continuity and relationship are preserved throughout the process.

Join Homebirth Queensland for only $33 a year. Membership gives you a place in our advocacy, and for birth workers, access to valuable community networks, support groups, and resources.

12/06/2025

So many families served right here in SD!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16TSWpqgXv/

More South Dakota families are choosing home birth

In 2024, 248 intended home births were recorded.

That’s the highest number since tracking began in 2006

Up from 234 in 2023

For perspective, only 50 home births were recorded in 2014

While home birth may be right for some families, it’s important to plan with a trained provider and ensure access to emergency care if needed.

Learn more about safe birth options in South Dakota: https://ow.ly/QZwh50Xw179

11/30/2025

I haven't personally watched this documentary but it's free for a limited time. ❤️

MaternityWise is hosting another FREE screening to enjoy from the comfort of your home.

The Born at Home documentary explores and uncovers the empowering journey of homebirth, shedding light on the often overlooked and misunderstood option that has transformed lives. Born at Home dives into real stories of women navigating birth trauma and examines how a shift in environment and informed choices can reshape the birthing experience.

Wisdom is shared from homebirth families, interwoven with evidence-based information from midwives, medical professionals, doulas, researchers and maternity advocates.

Join us as we unravel the beauty, safety, and deeply moving experience of birthing at home.

DM Mandy Steen for the RSVP link!

11/29/2025

When discussing vbac, it's so important to discuss the risks of BOTH vbac and repeated C-sections. 🤯

Did you know that your risks during birth go up significantly with each C-section birth? Did you know your risk for birth go down significantly with each success vabc!

Vbac success rates are even higher in the out of hospital setting with midwifery care with most midwives having vbac success around 90%. 🎉

https://www.facebook.com/share/1CxnfjmSEm/

What are the risks for VBAC vs Repeat surgical birth? Excellent graphic.

11/24/2025

On a beautiful fall morning the Earthside team welcomed another beautiful little girl via water birth. This little babe liked to keep everyone guessing about when she wanted to appear. Her mom did such an amazing job helping catch her!

It was my privilege to help this family for the third time
Welcome Earthside little one!

11/17/2025

Preparing for the work of birth is crucial to a positive birth experience!

Drop one of your favorite birth resources in the comments 👇👇👇

My favorite book is "Ina Mays guide to childbirth". ❤️

11/13/2025

Always in awe of this sacred moment! So grateful to be a part of their journey. Welcome Earthside little one. ❤️❤️❤️

Shared with permission.

11/13/2025

I have current home birth openings for Jan and February! Those are the last open slots before I take some time off till September.

Are you due in Jan or Feb (or very early March)?
Wondering what a natural birth with a Midwifery team could look like for you?
Schedule a free interview today!