Hands and Hearts Birth & Wellness

01/20/2026

The United States isn’t the best at birth. Not even the most advanced at birth.
Of course some states get it and work in improving birth.

Mississippi has resources…yes, they keep shutting a lot of them down and creating funnels to select areas and hospital systems…but we still have resources here to keep birth options available and safe.

Midwives aren’t the answer to all of Mississippi’s problems but we are a huge part of an obvious solution to maternal and birth support.

Midwives here are important to our communities. We are a valuable resource that not only benefits you, but we can also benefit our community health system.

Midwives serve just a small part of our Mississippi birthing families…those who are low risk. By serving those that are low risk health and pregnancy wise, this opens up the hospital resources to focus where they can be the most impactful, those families with high risk concerns.

Mississippi has at least a part of the solution already in place. Keep midwifery available as a safe and viable birth option here.

Call your Representatives and Senators and tell them to see us and hear us. Ask them to meet with us and learn how we are trained and educated, what skills we have, how we can be a part of what helps change the face of maternal care in our state.

01/19/2026

The mountains did not care if you were pregnant.

They did not care how far along you were, how much pain you were in, or how desperately you needed help. In the Appalachian backcountry of the early twentieth century, roads were unreliable, doctors were rare, and childbirth was one of the most dangerous moments in a woman’s life.

Many never survived it.

Babies were buried before they were named. Mothers disappeared from families overnight. Loss was expected. Grief was routine.

And then a woman on horseback began to appear along the ridgelines.

Mary Breckinridge did not come from poverty. She was born in 1881 into a prominent family, raised with privilege, education, and access most Americans could never imagine.

But life stripped her anyway.

She lost both of her young children to illness. Later, her husband died suddenly. The future she expected collapsed into silence.

Many would have retreated.

Mary moved forward.

Grief changed the direction of her life, not by making her smaller, but by sharpening her purpose. She trained as a nurse and traveled to Europe, where she saw something the United States had not yet embraced.

Professional nurse midwives.

In rural Scotland and England, she watched trained women deliver babies safely in remote villages. They brought prenatal care, attended births, and followed mothers afterward. They knew their communities. They were trusted. And the death rates were dramatically lower.

Mary understood immediately.

This was not just medicine. This was dignity.

When she returned to the United States, she looked toward Appalachia, where isolation and poverty mirrored the conditions she had seen overseas. Families lived miles apart. Travel was by foot, mule, or horse. Doctors might be days away, if they came at all.

In 1925, she founded the Frontier Nursing Service in eastern Kentucky.

It was a radical idea.

Instead of waiting for patients to reach hospitals, the care would go to them. Nurse midwives would live in the region. They would ride on horseback through snow, rain, and darkness. They would carry medical supplies in saddlebags and deliver babies in cabins lit by oil lamps.

People warned her it would never work.

The terrain was too harsh. The distances too great. The women too poor. The culture too resistant. America, they said, did not need midwives.

Mary ignored them.

She recruited and trained nurse midwives to the highest standards. She demanded excellence, discipline, and compassion. These women were not assistants. They were professionals. And they were fearless.

They crossed flooded rivers. They climbed steep mountain paths at night. They slept wherever they could and answered calls at all hours.

And something extraordinary happened.

Maternal death rates dropped.

Infant death rates plummeted.

In a region where tragedy had been expected, survival became normal.

By combining prenatal care, skilled delivery, and postnatal follow up, the Frontier Nursing Service achieved outcomes that rivaled and often surpassed those of urban hospitals. Mothers lived. Babies thrived. Families grew whole.

The data was undeniable.

And still, Mary faced resistance.

Doctors accused her of overstepping. Institutions dismissed her work as unsophisticated. Critics argued that midwifery belonged to the past.

Mary answered with results.

She believed that healthcare was not about prestige or proximity to power. It was about showing up. About continuity. About respect for the people being served.

She did not ask Appalachian families to adapt to the system.

She adapted the system to them.

By the time Mary Breckinridge died in 1965, the Frontier Nursing Service had delivered tens of thousands of babies. Her work had established nurse midwifery as a legitimate and essential profession in the United States. Her model reshaped maternal care in rural communities across the country.

But her real legacy is quieter.

It lives in the idea that innovation does not always arrive with machines and buildings. Sometimes it arrives on horseback, through mud and snow, carried by someone who refuses to accept that geography should decide who lives and who dies.

Mary Breckinridge did not conquer the mountains.

She listened to them.

And because she did, generations of mothers and children were given something rare for their time.

A safe beginning.

If you value this work and would like to support the time, research, and care it takes to preserve and share women’s history, you can Buy Me a Coffee. Every contribution helps keep these stories alive and accessible, told with respect and truth.
Thank you for being here.
Thank you for remembering.
And thank you for honoring the women who came before us—and the legacy they continue to build.

https://buymeacoffee.com/ancientpathfb

01/19/2026

✨ FLASH SPECIAL — THIS WEEK ONLY ✨

To help fill a few last-minute openings, I’m offering $20 OFF ANY scan booked for:

📅 Wednesday 1/21
📅 Friday 1/23

This applies to heartbeat scans, gender scans, bonding sessions, and 3D/4D scans 🤍

⏰ Limited appointments available — once they’re gone, the special ends!

📩 Message me or text 662-396-0267 to claim your spot or visit www.hellobabyimaging.com

01/18/2026

Let’s not do this Mississippi. We have under 50% of the counties covered with some low level of obstetrical care…but we have very well educated, well trained, knowledgeable MIDWIVES.
Mobile ultrasounds that can travel through our maternity deserts would be a huge benefit for everyone. Working with our midwives already boots on the ground in these communities would be a huge benefit.

01/17/2026

Today was unbelievable (position statement link at the bottom)

I met secretary Kennedy's son in a coffee shop.

I sat at the center of a table with the top members of HHS.

They took the time to come outside of the HHS building, walked us to the Bible museum, and had a private meeting over coffee.

Admiral Brian Christine thanked me for my service to women and families - 😭 and my son and my dad for their service to our nation- 😭😭😭🫡

I almost burst into tears.. I cried the whole way here so whatever.

But
They heard every single thing.

The names.. our history, the states play books, regs, everything. Florida. West Virginia. New York. NJ. North Carolina Alabama South Carolina Georgia California..

The first agenda is and requesting the Secretary and President appeal to the gov of VA for her pardon.

I'm working on that request myself. 😳

Hold on sister. They all googled your story tonight. They all heard your name. And YOU are their triage patient. First up.

The second agenda is YOU. The midwives.

We want your stats.

We want your endorsement statements.

We're prepared to attach HUNDREDS to our position statement and letter to the Secretary and President.
We want executive action.
We are requesting something drastic.
I called it a magic button.
They called it many buttons.

3rd.

We are working with the founder of MAHA and with the support of Admiral Christine, Assistant Secretary for Health and Head of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps- on a public statement for Mr Kennedy - to affirm his support to PROTECT TRADITIONAL MIDWIFERY.

This is to tell you- DO NOT BE AFRAID

Stay tuned for that. Everything happens behind closed doors so I'll be watching closely myself. If he says those words I will die.

I was asked "if you had one sentence for him to say on camera what would that be" and I pointed to my sweater over my fancy outfit. PROTECT TRADITIONAL MIDWIFERY.
And Admiral Christine said "that's perfect"

🥺🫡😳

These people really want to help.

And !

I got a sneak peek of the ENTIRE plan for the new healthcare initiative. Our president spoke about this a day or two ago.

Guess who they mention .. being accessible to EVERY FAMILY ..

MIDWIVES.

This is crazy.

Moira we are coming for you.

There's 100 more things we put on the table

But that's where we're starting

Stay tuned!

Join the FB page for the National Alliance for Traditional Birth Rights and comment your state. We will need representation from every state very soon.

Thank you for following

God is so good

https://www.midwiferyrelationspa.org/s/Position-statement-Endorsement-Midwifery-relations-coalition-attention-Mr-Kennedy.pdf

01/14/2026

Urinary tract infections, especially bladder infections are super common – over half of us will have at least one at some point in our lives, up to 20% of all women have some urinary discomfort or a bladder infection every year, and as many as 20% of us gals will have a recurrence 6 months after a bladder infection. That’s a lot of bladder infections!

Before we talk about treatment, let’s talk about prevention.
Bladder infections arise from bacteria in the bladder – usually E. coli, though there are a few other bothersome varieties, too. Kidney infections generally occur when bacteria from the bladder travels up the ureters, the tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder.

Bacteria can take hold in the bladder when:
--we’ve been eating excess sugar (or drinking alcohol which is high in sugar) which dampens the immune system and also feeds unhealthy gut and va**nal flora
--when we’re under stress
--having a lot of s*x (particularly with a new partner, or more than usual as on a honeymoon or vacation)
--experience disruptions in the balance of the va**nal or gut flora for example, from taking antibiotics, diet, or other triggers.

Both the gut flora and va**nal ecology play a key role in preventing UTIs by keeping bacteria that can migrate from either place to the urethra in check. Lactobacillus species naturally present in the va**na specifically prevent E. coli from proliferating.

When bladder infections keep coming back, they can either be relapsing, meaning the same one isn’t really clearing and it keeps creeping back up, or more commonly, it is a new infection each time. Either way, you want to make sure there’s nothing underlying going on like diabetes, because high blood sugar can feed bacteria and reduce your immune response, and you want to consider other conditions that can contribute to or mimic urinary tract infection including interstitial cystitis, endometriosis, and chronic vulvovaginitis.

In perimenopausal women, declining estrogen can lead to va**nal dryness that increases the risk of bladder infections. The probiotics discussed in this article can help, as can increasing good quality dietary fats (olive oil, avocado, coconut oil). In some women, specific herbs for supporting estrogen production including hops and vitex can be beneficial.

Follow all of these suggestions as recommended, for prevention, for 3-6 months; some women will want to remain on the probiotic and cranberry-d-mannose daily.

General Prevention Suggestions
--Urinate after s*x
--Stay well hydrated
--Avoid antibiotic overuse
--Wear underwear with a cotton crotch and avoid wearing thongs if you’re prone to UTI’s.
--The use of oral contraceptives (OCs) doubles the risk of UTI, and the use of diaphragms and spermicides doubles the rate of UTI compared to OCs – so if you’re using these and getting UTI’s, consider another form of birth control, from the symptothermal method and condoms to an IUD.
--Menstrual pads are more likely to increase UTIs over using tampons, so consider switching if UTIs are a chronic problem for you, or change your pad more often and wear only pads made from natural cloth or organic cotton.
--Avoid bubble baths and va**nal hygiene products (i.e., douches), which increase irritation in the area and also damage the healthy va**nal flora.

Dietary Tips for Prevention
--Keep your gut and va**nal flora healthy with a diet low in sugar and high in fiber, especially from leafy green vegetables every day
--Eat lacto-fermented veggies at least 3 times each week
--Eating fermented dairy products three times per week (yogurt, for example) was shown in one study to dramatically reduce the likelihood of getting a UTI; if you are vegan or paleo, consider a non-dairy yogurt with live active cultures.
--For some women, avoiding or reducing bladder irritating foods including sugar, vinegar, tomatoes, citrus, black tea, coffee, and yup, sorry…chocolate, too, can help.

Nutritional and Herbal Support:
--Take a probiotic 1-2 capsules daily that contains Lactobacillus species, and if you have recurrent va**nal infections as well, make sure it also contains Lactobacillus reuteri and rhamnosus
--Take Cranberry-d-mannose capsules, twice daily. Cranberry can dramatically reduce the colonization and growth of bacteria in the urine, preventing UTI as well as being an important part of treatment of infection. Cranberry extract and juice can be used as well, but I find the cranberry-d-mannose form far superior for prevention.
--Vitamin C: Studies have shown vitamin C enhances the release of nitric oxide in the urine, and that this effect has antimicrobial activity against three of the most common urinary bacteria that cause UTIs. A generally recommended dose for prevention is 500 mg twice daily.

Aviva Romm has some amazing resources available
https://avivaromm.com/treating-bladder-infections-naturally/

Peace Health
https://www.peacehealth.org/medical-topics/id/hn-1283006

01/14/2026

Of course hospital improvements and additions to care is a good thing.

Mississippi needs all the OB supports it can get.
But we have a HUGE issue with a lack of maternal support across the entire state.

Some of these programs and projects, while a great addition overall, would benefit far more being set up in hospitals that serve the maternal deserts here. Offering these much needed services back to areas that have been shut down over the years is what would make a difference for Mississippi families.
Better yet, finding ways to reopen our vast areas of no services will help move us from the shameful 38% cesarean rate we seem intent to carry here.

Our large cities have support, often multiple support options, and I’m sure that’s great for those families…but Mississippi is more than these metropolitan areas. Let’s find ways to focus care and options in the other half of the desert counties so our families don’t have to drive hours to get the care we all deserve.

St. Dominic Hospital now has a new service offering around-the-clock care for expectant mothers.

The Jackson-based medical center opened the doors to its Obstetrics Emergency Department (OB-ED), a first-of-its-kind service for the hospital. The OB-ED provides emergency care for expectant mothers 20 weeks and beyond, as well as women up to six weeks postpartum.

01/12/2026

The CBC with Differential is the most inexpensive test that offers the most information.

When a “Normal” CBC Hides Vitamin B12 Deficiency
The subtle blood test patterns that often get missed.
Julie Wichlin.

Jan 5th.

If you’ve ever been told your blood work is “normal” but you still feel anything but, this article is for you.

This is a familiar experience for many people with vitamin B12 deficiency and pernicious anemia. You’re exhausted. Maybe your hands tingle or your balance feels off. Your thinking feels slower. Something is clearly wrong, yet your lab results come back reassuring, stamped with phrases like within range or no significant abnormalities. And just like that, you’re sent on your way.

What many people don’t realize is that vitamin B12 deficiency doesn’t always show up with obvious lab work red flags, especially early on. Instead, it can hide in subtle patterns, clusters of values that look almost normal when viewed one at a time, but tell a very different story when you step back and look at them together. One of the most common places this happens is in the complete blood count, or CBC.

Most clinicians are taught to look for big, unmistakable abnormalities. Is the hemoglobin low? Are the red blood cells clearly enlarged? If the answer is no, the CBC is often labeled “normal” and the investigation stops there.

Red blood cell size is measured by a value called MCV, or mean corpuscular volume. In textbooks, vitamin B12 deficiency is usually associated with a clearly elevated MCV, meaning the red blood cells are noticeably larger than normal. If MCV isn’t obviously high, B12 deficiency may not even be considered.

The problem is that real life doesn’t always follow textbook rules. Many people with B12 deficiency fall just below that cutoff. Their MCV drifts toward the high end of normal rather than crossing into the abnormal range. Because the number is still technically “normal,” it’s easy to dismiss, even when symptoms are piling up.

This is where it helps to remember that a CBC isn’t meant to be read like a checklist. It’s more like a snapshot of how the bone marrow is functioning at that moment in time.

Vitamin B12 plays a crucial role in how cells divide. When it’s lacking, the bone marrow doesn’t suddenly fail. Instead, it starts to struggle quietly. Blood cell production becomes less efficient, and those small inefficiencies can show up in subtle ways long before anything looks dramatic.

One of those clues is RDW, or red cell distribution width. RDW measures how much variation there is in red blood cell size. When the bone marrow is under stress, it may release a mix of cells, some larger and less mature, others smaller and older. The average size of the cells, reflected by MCV, might still look fine, but the variation increases. That’s what pushes RDW higher.

In some people with untreated vitamin B12 deficiency or pernicious anemia, RDW is elevated even when hemoglobin and MCV are still within the reference range. In certain cases, this increased variability shows up before clear anemia develops. It’s not a rule, and it’s not diagnostic on its own, but it can be an early hint that something isn’t right.

Hemoglobin is another reason B12 deficiency often flies under the radar. Anemia tends to show up later, if at all. Hemoglobin can sit in the low-normal range for quite a while while the body compensates. During that time, people may already be dealing with fatigue, brain fog, numbness, or balance issues. There are well described cases where neurologic symptoms from B12 deficiency appear even when anemia hasn’t developed yet.

Sometimes there are quieter changes in other blood cell lines too. White blood cells or platelets may trend downward without becoming clearly abnormal. On their own, these shifts don’t mean much. But when they appear alongside red cell changes, they can suggest broader bone marrow stress. In more advanced cases, B12 deficiency has been shown to affect multiple blood cell lines, occasionally leading to concern about serious bone marrow diseases before the real cause is recognized.

Occasionally, the most telling clues show up on a peripheral blood smear. Oval shaped red blood cells or white blood cells with extra nuclear segments are classic features of megaloblastic processes like B12 deficiency. Whether these findings are reported depends a lot on the lab and the criteria they use. When they are mentioned, though, they’re worth paying attention to, even if the automated numbers look reassuring.

Any one of these findings can be brushed off or explained away. But when several of them show up together, they start to form a pattern. A high-normal MCV, an elevated RDW, hemoglobin that’s technically normal but drifting lower, subtle changes in other cell lines, and suggestive smear findings all point toward stressed blood cell production. In that context, vitamin B12 deficiency becomes a reasonable possibility, even if no single value is flagged.

This pattern matters even more in pernicious anemia. In pernicious anemia, the issue isn’t diet, but absorption. Autoimmune damage prevents the body from absorbing B12 properly, no matter how much is consumed. Because of this, serum B12 tests can sometimes be tricky to interpret. In certain cases, antibodies can interfere with the assay, producing results that look reassuring when they’re not. That’s why additional markers like methylmalonic acid and homocysteine are often used when suspicion remains high, with the understanding that these tests also have their own limitations.

The cost of waiting for something to look obviously “wrong” can be high. Blood count changes from B12 deficiency are often reversible. Nerve damage may not be. By the time classic macrocytic anemia appears, deficiency has often been present for a long time.

A CBC isn’t a pass-or-fail test. It’s a collection of clues. Vitamin B12 deficiency tends to leave quiet fingerprints that are easy to miss if you’re only looking for dramatic abnormalities. Learning to look for patterns instead of isolated numbers can make the difference between being reassured too early and getting the care you actually need.

Normal doesn’t always mean healthy. And when it comes to vitamin B12 deficiency, the quiet patterns often matter most.

https://open.substack.com/pub/b12bandit/p/when-a-normal-cbc-hides-vitamin-b12?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=post%20viewer

01/11/2026

I agree with this whole-heartedly ❤️

What I also see as an issue is that birth work also seems to bring in those who feel called but aren’t putting their heart or the work into following that ‘calling’ and yet they claim whichever title…birth keeper, midwfe, doula, etc …they can.

Become a midwife.
Become a birth keeper.
Become a doula.

But know that this is a work that requires much more than an ‘I want it’ or ‘I am called’ or ‘its a part of my history, ancestry, or legacy’ This is an education and skillset that is ever growing.

Being called means there is work to do to earn the title you want. As with everything, want isn’t a given and it’s a privilege to be able to follow in the footsteps and pathways of those past who have built and protected these spaces.

Don’t short yourself and don’t short the communities and families that trust you to build your foundation for this calling.

Birth deserves that

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8fFU7gp/sot lfa

86 likes, 3 comments. “In this next chapter of “The Hands That Caught Us,” I have the honor of sitting with Mama Sarahn Henderson, whose presence, wisdom, and lived experience reflect the deep roots of community-centered birth work. Her story carries truth, tenderness, and strength passed down...