http://www.BornWildMidwifery.com/

Born Wild Midwifery, 1295 Petaluma Boulevard n, Petaluma, CA (2026)

03/22/2026

Midwife life… quality control edition.

Double -checking our scales to make sure they’re all reading accurately. A simple trick is using something with a known weight. In this case, a 10 lb sack of flour.

We weighed it on every scale we use for babies and equipment to make sure everything matches up.

Tiny details matter in birth work. When we say a baby weighs something, we want to know it’s right.

It’s one of the many little things happening behind the scenes to keep our practice dialed in.

03/21/2026

Tips for Turning a Breech Baby 🌿

“When a baby is breech, I use a two-part approach: physical positioning and helping the mother explore anything unfinished in her life.”
— Louana George

When a baby is breech, we often start with gentle physical techniques like positioning and movement to give baby the best chance to turn.

Some midwives also recognize that pregnancy can bring up deeper emotional work. Sometimes mothers find it helpful to reflect on stress, fears, or anything that feels unresolved — creating space both physically and emotionally for baby to settle into position.

Turning a breech baby isn’t always about one single technique. Often it’s a combination of body awareness, movement, and inner work that supports the process.

03/20/2026

We had a little language moment in the birth room.

We say “bearing down” when a mother feels the powerful urge to push.

And we say “bearing children” when a woman brings life into the world.

Same root word.

To bear means to carry, to endure, to bring forth.

Birth asks a woman to do all three.

She carries.
She endures.
And then she brings new life forward into the world.

The English language got this one right.

03/19/2026

Twin Birth Wisdom 🌿

“Waiting is good, but too much waiting could be disastrous… The second baby is at some risk simply because of being second, and being mindful and proactive with a second twin is important.”
— Margie Dacko

Twin birth has its own rhythm and considerations. While patience is important, the second twin sometimes needs closer observation and thoughtful support after the first baby is born.

Twin placentas may be fused even in di/di pregnancies, uterine changes begin quickly after the first birth, and the second baby may not have the same time or conditions to settle into an ideal position.

Sometimes second twins arrive easily within minutes — and sometimes they need skilled hands and attentive care.

Photo shared with permission from a family we provided prenatal and postpartum care for.

03/18/2026

First Stage of Labor 🌿

The first stage of labor lays the groundwork for everything that follows — physically, hormonally, and emotionally. It’s a process that unfolds in its own rhythm, not according to a rigid timeline.

Early labor is often quiet and gradual. Active labor builds intensity. Transition brings powerful changes. Each phase has its own purpose, and each woman’s pattern looks a little different.

Good support in early labor isn’t about rushing or forcing progress — it’s about observation, patience, and trusting the body’s natural process.

Labor doesn’t always move in straight lines or predictable charts. When we respect the normal variations of labor, we create space for birth to unfold the way it’s meant to.

Sometimes the most important work in early labor is simply steady presence and calm guidance.

03/17/2026

St. Patrick’s Day Birth Facts 🍀

A few fun Irish birth traditions and facts to celebrate the day:

🍀 In Ireland, midwives were traditionally known as “wise women” and were deeply respected members of the community, often caring for families across generations.

🍀 It was once common in Irish tradition to place a protective blessing or prayer over a mother and baby after birth, honoring the transition into new life.

🍀 The phrase “May the road rise up to meet you” has long been shared as a blessing for new journeys — and welcoming a baby is certainly one of life’s greatest journeys.

🍀 Ireland has a long history of family-centered birth traditions, where women were surrounded by trusted support during labor and the early days postpartum.

Birth has always been woven into culture and tradition — and we love seeing how families create their own meaningful traditions today. 🍀

Do you have any family birth traditions or blessings you love?

Happy St. Patrick’s Day 💚

🍀

03/16/2026

Continuity of Care Matters 🌿

A new study found that continuity of care with a midwife reduced preterm birth by about 45% compared with standard maternity care.

Continuity of care means seeing the same midwife or small team throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum — building trust and working together over time.

Researchers looked at thousands of pregnancies and found significantly lower rates of preterm birth, especially among families facing higher social or health risks.

This kind of care isn’t just about appointments — it’s about relationship-based care, where someone truly knows you and your story.

For many families, that continuity can make a real difference — not just emotionally, but physically too.

Relationship-based care isn’t just a nice idea — it’s evidence-based. 🌿

03/15/2026

Wisdom of the Midwives 🌿
What is your philosophy of prenatal and postpartum care?

For many midwives, care is about much more than checking vitals and measuring bellies. It’s about building trust, taking time, and truly getting to know each family — during pregnancy and after the baby arrives.

Visits can be a space for:
• Listening and asking questions
• Learning and informed decision-making
• Physical care and screening
• Emotional preparation and integration
• Supporting the whole family
• Creating safety and trust

When families feel heard and respected, care becomes more than appointments — it becomes a relationship that supports pregnancy, birth, postpartum healing, and the transition into parenthood.

Some say this work is only partly about the physical checkups — and largely about helping families feel safe, confident, and supported.

We’re curious — what does good prenatal and postpartum care look like to you? 🌿

03/14/2026

Supporting Breastmilk Supply 🌿

Sometimes milk supply needs a little extra support in the early weeks postpartum. Along with frequent nursing, skin-to-skin, and rest, certain traditional remedies have been used for generations to help support healthy milk production.

Some commonly used options include:

• Mineral-rich herbal teas like red raspberry leaf, which can help nourish the body during the postpartum period
• Fenugreek, a well-known herbal galactagogue that many mothers find helpful for boosting supply
• Goat’s rue, sometimes used when milk supply challenges may be related to breast tissue development (best used with guidance from a knowledgeable provider)
• Placenta consumption, which some families choose as part of postpartum recovery and milk supply support

Not every remedy works for every mother, and the foundation of good milk supply is still frequent and effective milk removal. Herbs and supplements work best when paired with regular nursing or pumping.

If supply is a concern, it can be helpful to look at the full picture — latch, feeding frequency, maternal nutrition, rest, and postpartum recovery.

There are many gentle ways to support milk supply, and sometimes small changes can make a big difference.

03/13/2026

Pushing with a Heavy Epidural 🌿

“I get mum to position herself in a deep squat with the aid of the bed, in birthing chair mode, and maintain this position for the duration of active pushing… I’ve found this very successful for women with a heavy epidural block.”
— Camellia Blackmore, Midwife

Even with a dense epidural and very little sensation, positioning still matters. Upright and supported positions can help encourage descent and give mothers more effective pushing — even when they can’t feel much.

Deep supported squats, good alignment, and clear guidance can make a big difference. Visualization and connection with the baby can also help mothers find a more effective rhythm, even without strong sensation.

Birth works best when we work with the body — even when interventions are part of the picture.

03/12/2026

Heat for a Burning V***a 🔥🌿

After birth, some mothers describe an intense burning or stinging feeling in the v***a, especially in the first day or two. The common instinct is to reach for ice packs or frozen pads — but interestingly, many women find warmth brings even better relief.

Very warm or hot compresses held gently against the v***a can be surprisingly soothing and often provide almost immediate comfort. Warmth helps increase circulation, relax the tissues, and support healing during those tender early postpartum hours.

While cold works well for swelling in some situations, heat can be a powerful and often overlooked option for postpartum comfort.

Sometimes the simplest remedies are the most effective. 🌿

03/11/2026

Assisting Anterior Rotation 🌿

“When the baby is verified to be in a posterior position, the first thing I do is have the mother assume and maintain a knee-chest position… this position is very effective as it allows the baby more room in which to rotate.”
— Valerie El Halta

Posterior babies don’t always need fixing — often they just need space and time to turn. One of our favorite tools is knee-chest positioning, which helps open the pelvis and gives baby room to rotate.

If we can, we try to leave the waters intact, since that cushion can help baby’s head spin more easily.

Sometimes simple positioning and patience make all the difference. Birth often works best when we support the process instead of rushing it.

These are the quiet skills of midwifery — the ones that don’t always get talked about, but make a big difference in labor.

Born Wild Midwifery

03/22/2026

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