Amethyst Community Health

Support group for new parents | Postpartum support group

New (virtual) support group for parents with children under 1 year old.

Open to all Pittsburgh parents (gestational & non-gestational) of all genders. And it's free! Registration required.

Thank you, Riverbend Birth!

https://www.pittsburghbirthservices.com/pittsburgh-new-parent-support-group .

Support group for new parents | Postpartum support group Adjusting to life with a newborn can be tough - don't go it alone! Marlee Malone-Franklin hosts this virtual support group as a postpartum doula, lactation counselor, and sleep consultant. This is a great opportunity to meet other parents who understand what you're going through.

Slide 1:
2022 Practice Stats
As my second year of my educational sabbatical comes to a close, it is the first year (full 12 months) I have not physically attended a birth in 24 years!
This doesn't mean I have not been busy:

Peripartum Consult/2nd Opinion for Clients: 6
Peripartum Consult/2nd Opinion for Other Midwives: 9

Slide 2:
2022 Practice Stats Cont'd
Prenatal Care Only Clients : 2
Labour Support (virtual) Clients: 2
Postpartum Support Clients: 2
Abortion Support Clients: 10

Spiritual/Life Coach Clients: 11 new; 7 returning with 2+ sessions
Chaplain Clients: 5
Private S*x Education Students: 9
Other Consulting/Coaching Clients: 4

Slide 3:
Available Slots for 2023
Jan:
- Consulting/Coaching/Chaplaincy - 2
- S*x Edu - 1

Feb:
- Consulting/Coaching/Chaplaincy - 3
- S*x Edu - 2

Mar:
- Consulting/Coaching/Chaplaincy - 4
- S*x Edu - 2

midwitchery.net/callthemidwife
(link in bio)

*xEducation

“Midwife Delivery Death Trial" judge comments: Home birth is a constitutional right

"Every physician and midwife who has informed consent conversations with birthing people needs to watch this testimony and consider the difference between how they communicate the risks and benefits to their patients versus manipulation.

...

This is especially true in situations like breech and planned VBAC/VBA2C/VBAMC where the risk communicated to parents is often inconsistent with national guidelines or medical evidence.

You can see the doctor’s mind try to pick apart this distinction at one point. How was her counsel different than the duress Ms. Hayes-Klein asks her to define? Yes, that might be “how everyone does it,” it might be how she was trained, but, it’s coercion. And that is the problem with most hospital-based obstetric care in the US.

At one point, Ms. Hayes-Klein brings out ACOG’s committee opinion on informed refusal and walks the OB through it. I had to wonder: Had this OB ever, in all her years of practice, read that document and really considered what ACOG was saying? Or was this the first time? Again, that committee opinion outlines a process that every health care provider must review, absorb, embody, and implement into their practice if they wish to practice ethically.

...

The bottom line is: If you have hospitals that cause trauma, under the guise of health care, and then only give people the option of a repeat cesarean within this same abusive system, they are going to seek health care elsewhere.

They are going to plan home births with midwives or unassisted births. This was exactly the mindset of the parents. A home birth with a community midwife was the only way for them to receive respectful care in their community.

40% of US hospitals require repeat cesareans for anyone with a prior cesarean through the implementation of “VBAC bans.” (ICAN, 2013) The people who birth at these facilities are not “allowed” to have a vaginal birth after cesarean. They are often counseled that VBAC is dangerous and repeat cesarean is their only available option. This directly contradicts VBAC national guidelines, the medical evidence, as well as every person’s right to medical decision making.

...

When individual states through their laws or rules prevent birthing people from having access to VBAC with a licensed midwife, like in Nebraska, it impacts the public health. This includes laws or rules that “require” physician supervision or collaborative written agreements. These laws and rules combined with hospitals that don’t “allow” VBAC effectively forces people into elective repeat cesarean surgery. While these cesareans are considered elective, note that they are largely coercive given the reality of VBAC bans and the difficulty of finding a hospital-based provider who genuinely supports VBAC.

As ACOG discloses in their 2019 VBAC guidelines, elective repeat cesarean section carries a five times higher risk of maternal death than planned VBAC. How many people planning VBACs are informed of this realty? How many are informed of the risk of placenta accreta which drastically increases the risk of maternal death?

...

Within the course of rendering his judgement of not guilty, the judge commented that there is a constitutional right to plan a home birth. This is significant and could possibly be used as legal precedent for other similar cases."

“Midwife Delivery Death Trial" judge comments: Home birth is a constitutional right “Midwife Delivery Death Trial” judge comments: Home birth is a constitutional right by Jen KamelDec 16, 2022Home birth, Hospital birth, Infant Outcomes, Legal Issues, Legislation, Maternal Outcomes, VBAC3 comments Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Like Correction December 18, 2022 9:05am PST: I initiall...

Sastipe! Kushti Divvus, friends and new & old followers! It's time for a (re)introduction.

I'm Michele or Misha/מישה and my pronouns are they/them.

I am a human of many lived & intersecting experiences: q***r, transgender nonbinary, genderq***r, fat, disabled, autistic, Romani, Mizrahi, spouse, and parent.

I have been a healer in the realms of birthwork, reproductive justice, midwifery, herbalism, and holding space since 1998.

I am a educator in the realms of inclusive s*x & s*xuality education, gender inclusivity, and cultural competency.

I am a mender in the realms of words, broken hearts, spiritual ennui, times of transition, and holey woollens.

I am a traditional community midwife, herbalist, chaplain, life coach, & s*x education teacher providing inclusive care to financially-deprived & Q/T/BIPOC individuals & their families.

I am student who is approximately 3/5 the way through my MSW journey, Almost 2 years into learning (modern) Hebrew, and perpetually learning how to be a better ancestor.

I like to sew/quilt/mend, drink copious amounts of tea, walk barefoot, do maths, play Minecraft, smash the patriarchy, & work on writing my memoirs. I live on the Northside of Pittsburgh with my spouse of 21.5 years and our two kiddos.

Patreon: patreon.com/midwitchery
All The Links: linktr.ee/midwitchery

***r ***rdo *xEduTeacher ***rLooksLike

[A closeup selfie of Misha in a grey shirt. Their hair is in a grey wrap with braids down each side that are wrapped in black ribbon with gold coins & bells. White letters on the left side say, "my pronouns are: themself, their(s), them, they" & underneath is a rainbow flag, nazar emoji, trans symbol, Romani flag, & a Jewish nonbinary pride flag.]

Many of us did not hear our parents apologize for their parenting mistakes, so our instinct is to hold our ground no matter what with our own kids.

But! Think about our culture. Largely, people struggle massively to admit their mistakes. They struggle to apologize AT ALL, or when they do, it is often laden with any of these:
- blame on the person they are apologizing to
- deep dark shamey despair spirals about how awful they are for making the mistake
- minimize the harm or impact of the mistake
- any form of "I'm sorry, but..."
- frustration if the person impacted by the mistake isn't immediately fine

(thanks to my wise, darling & very patient partner for helping with that list, in part driven I'm sure by their experience with my obnoxious apology history! 🤣)

Don't we often just want our kids to merely APOLOGIZE?

We are a culture of people that do not know how to apologize well or simply. We expect & demand much from apologies (credit, admiration, emotional favors). We save face even while trying to humble ourselves and it's a mess! No wonder so much resentment builds over time. We are not skilled at repair, culturally.

Where does all this start? Childhood. When we do not get to see how simple and clear apologues can be as children, ones that are not dripping with dramatic emotional guilt or expectations or blame, then we don't really know how to do them as adults, either.

When we apologize to our children, they learn that making mistakes is normal, that admitting mistakes can be safe, that messing up doesn't affect one's inherant value or goodness, that APOLOGIZING BRINGS CONNECTION over shame.

Enough with defending your authority. Your kids will respect you SO MUCH MORE if you show them your actual humanity, your connection will deepen, they will trust you more when they see that you are able to discern the impacts of your behavior.

A primary things I look for in adult friendships: How does the person respond to ME when I apologize? How do they respond to me when I tell them I've been hurt by their actions? How do they apologize?

Let's model healthy apology for our kids NOW so it feels normal for them!

DEC 13: 2hr Parenting Workshop!

"Besides the nausea. Noone loves that, I don't care how gay you are."
💀⚰️🧟

Yes! So much yes!

Many trans allies/providers are learning that pregnancy, lactating, birthing, or parts of any of these, can be highly dysphoric for trans folks.

And I'm so glad we're starting to talk about this more as a community!

But a huge part of actually centering trans people has far more to do with NOT ASSUMING anything.

In my q***r birth classes alone there have been several pregnant transmasc folks talking about how gender affirming pregnancy has been for them! How deeply affirming of masculinity the experience of growing a fetus has been.

And why shouldn't it? If we truly understand that pregnancy is not tied to a particular societally constructed notion of femininity, why wouldn't pregnancy deepen some people's internal or external experience of their masculinity? Gender and femininity and masculinity is going to be different person to person, so we can easily imagine pregnancy could nurture a gender euphoric experience for some!

So, while many trans folks do encounter significant dysphoria, understandably in a culture that says pregnancy is the epitome of womanhood...I want to be sure to also tell the story of masculine gender pleasure and rightness in birth. Even men can be pregnant not just to reproduce while groaning that it must be done, but also because they love it!

Besides the nausea. Noone loves that, I don't care how gay you are.

Many times our assumptions about trans experiences are based on simplistic notions of gender, anyway. Like, a trans woman non gestational parent probably feels super sad if she's not nursing. Well, maybe! Or maybe the f**k not. Not every woman wants to nurse a child. I see so often cis folks trying to be thoughtful and caring toward trans people that ultimately amounts to assuming the trans person wants to display all the classic cultural notions of femme or masc expression. What IS feminine expression? Masc expression?

Other people don't have to understand or predict someone's experience. They only have to listen and, as appropriate, ask!

It's amazing. You don't have to know anything about a person's experience or identity or feelings ahead of time (since nobody does).

Hey, next birth class starts in Jan btw!

Why Spiritual Life Coaching? | midwitchery on Patreon

For anyone wanting more insight about coaching with me.

Why Spiritual Life Coaching? | midwitchery on Patreon Official Post from midwitchery

Doin' The Work: Frontline Stories of Social Change - Addressing Racism in Social Work Licensing #StopASWB - Charla Yearwood, LCSW; Cassandra Walker, LCSW, CCTP; Alan Dettlaff, PhD, MSW

This is for all of the social workers and SW students out there, as well as those in adjacent professions.

This is an excellent hour going over the hx of racism in the licensing & testing process for social workers. It also covers the siren song of "professionalism" and how it just upholds whyt3 [email protected].

(Also: this podcast has been awesome in general.)

(Also: this situation & hx is ultimately applicable to any profession which typically requires testing & licensing in order to practice — you know, like midwives & other reproductive workers.)
-----

Episode 56: Addressing Racism in Social Work Licensing

Guests: Charla Yearwood, LCSW; Cassandra Walker, LCSW, CCTP; Alan Dettlaff, PhD, MSW Host: Shimon Cohen, LCSW

https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL2RvaW50aGV3b3JrL2ZlZWQueG1s/episode/ZG9pbnRoZXdvcmsucG9kYmVhbi5jb20vODdlN2RhMzktYWZjYi0zZmJlLWI5NGItNDMyYWEyMTIzZTA4?ep=14 .

Doin' The Work: Frontline Stories of Social Change - Addressing Racism in Social Work Licensing #StopASWB - Charla Yearwood, LCSW; Cassandra Walker, LCSW, CCTP; Alan Dettlaff, PhD, MSW Episode 56 Guests: Charla Yearwood, LCSW; Cassandra Walker, LCSW, CCTP; Alan Dettlaff, PhD, MSW Host: Shimon Cohen, LCSW www.dointhework.com Listen/Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify Follow on Twitter & Instagram, Like on Facebook Join the mailing list Support the podca...

People often ask me how I deal with not being 'wanted'.
As someone's Doula, Lactation consultant, Student Midwife, a speaker at an event, or anything where I am actively sought then avoided/dismissed/emailed or texted later that "it's not going to work out".

I have had many years of rejections and many years of therapy to help me understand that it's ok;
It's ok to feel sad that something about my physical presents is off-putting,
it's ok to be angry that I have to keep justifying my existence,
It's ok to be full of doubt if I am a good enough person,
It's ok to wonder how I can change so maybe they will like me enough to keep me around,

I am not everyone's flavor and that's ok.
I know who I am and I am ok with that.
My Ancestors protect me from those that might cause me harm.

But you want to know what's not ok?
Being used as a token for "inclusion"
People using religion to discriminate
People remaining silent in the face of injustice
Organizations not wanting to update language because it might 'turn off ' some of their audience

I can hear the dogs hollering in the distance

"I don't want anyone who doesn't want me." - Oprah Winfrey

Text description: Don't be where you're not wanted

***rmidwife ***rdoula

There is still time to schedule a session or two before my availability becomes limited this Autumn semester!

-Parenting/Life Coaching
-Spiritual Direction
-Health & Reproductive Consultating

More details, full list of topics, & sliding scale rates found at link! midwitchery.net/callthemidwife
🧿

[ID: b&w photo of a potted plant and candle on a small table. White text with the caption above is overlayed onto the picture.]

The 2022 TransPride Health and Wellness Conference is now open for Registration. The conference will be streamed virtually.
Several ITH members will be presenting.
Full conference registration is available with CME and CEU credits for professionals in Medical, Behavioral, and Social Work fields. (We are looking into additional accreditation.)
We will be using the Whova events platform with Zoom. The final agenda and schedule are in progress. We will be offering 8 CME credits each on Thursday and Friday, and additional credits on Saturday (total still being determined).
In addition to our accredited content we will have significant community, legal/advocacy, parent-focused, and school/educator-focused content. All Transgender, Nonbinary, and Gender Diverse community members and their immediate caregivers or parents can register for free and will have access to all content, including the professional sessions.
OCTOBER 6 - 8 (VIRTUAL ON ZOOM) WHOVA SIGNUP REQUIRED
REGISTER HERE: https://tinyurl.com/yckf259v
KEYNOTES
Avatara Smith-Carrington (they/them), BA, JD - Staff Attorney at Lambda Legal
Cecelia LaPointe (they/them), BA, MA, “Ojibway – Anishinaabe Two-Spirit Identity”
Elle Lett (she/her), PhD, MA, MBiostat, “Moving from Transgender Visibility to Transgender Justice”
Ellie Zara Ley (she/her), MD, “Feminizing and Masculinizing Gender Affirming Surgeries”
Naomi Green (she/her), MBA, “What's a Rainbow Without The Color - The Importance of Allyship”
TOPICS INCLUDE
Understanding Gender Diversity, Transgender Theory in Clinical Practice, Autism, Trauma and Trans, Play Therapy, Eating Disorders, Assessment & Depathologization, Specialized Mental Health Care, Gender Dysphoria and Mood Disorders, Building Resiliency, Letter Writing, Gender Identity in Research, Informed Consent in Research, Inters*x Patients, Prevention and Screening, Labs, Complicated Cases, Endocrinology, Affirming Hospice/Palliative Care, Access/Care in Rural Areas, Adolescent Medical Decision Making, Pelvic Floor Therapy, Inclusive Physical Therapy, Gynecologic Care, Affirming Voice Modification, Legal Advocacy, Insurance Advocacy, Community Perspectives, Empowerment Through the Art of Ballroom, Community Poetry, Community Art
REGISTER HERE: https://tinyurl.com/yckf259v

Sastipe! Kushti Divvus, friends and new & old followers! It's time for a (re)introduction.

I'm Michele or Misha/מישה (they/them). Some of you have asked about the name Misha (mee-shaa); I'm resurrecting a nickname from my youth. Either name is acceptable to use.

I am a human of many lived & intersecting experiences: q***r, transgender nonbinary, genderq***r, fat, disabled, autistic, Romani, Mizrahi, spouse, and parent.

I have been a healer in the realms of birthwork, reproductive justice, midwifery, herbalism, and holding space since 1998.

I am a educator in the realms of inclusive s*x & s*xuality education, gender inclusivity, and cultural competency.

I am a mender in the realms of words, broken hearts, spiritual ennui, times of transition, and holey woollens.

I am a traditional community midwife, herbalist, chaplain, life coach, & s*x education teacher providing inclusive care to financially-deprived & Q/T/BIPOC individuals & their families.

I am student who is approximately 3/5 the way through my MSW journey, 1.5 years into learning (modern) Hebrew, and perpetually learning how to be a better ancestor.

I like to sew/quilt/mend, drink copious amounts of tea, walk barefoot, do maths, play Minecraft, smash the patriarchy, & work on writing my memoirs. I live on the Northside of Pittsburgh with my spouse of 21 years and our two kiddos.

Patreon: patreon.com/midwitchery
All The Links: linktr.ee/midwitchery

***r ***rdo *xEduTeacher ***rLooksLike

[A closeup selfie of Misha with their eyes closed and head tilted downward. Their hair is parted in the middle and braided down each side and they have on a black shirt. White letters on the left side say, "my pronouns are: themself, their(s), them, they" & underneath is a rainbow flag, nazar emoji, trans symbol, Romani flag, & a Jewish nonbinary pride flag.]

Link to register: https://stanford.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_yC8HutxURF-Ko4ajSt-KiQ

Reminder about this panel happening next week! Link to register in comments. The American Journal of Bioethics

Mychal Shifrah's next workshop is coming up Sunday, August 14, at 5pm PST on zoom! This is OPEN TO ALL! No one turned away for lack of funds. This is a gender inclusive, evidence based, and patient centered workshop. Appropriate for people with , midwives, doctors, and family/ community members. Please join to get accurate information and have your voice be heard. 💛🌈
https://www.rethinkingreproductivehealth.com/workshops .

Birth trauma impacts so many people. Check out this virtual, mindfulness-based art therapy group on Sunday evenings beginning in September. Open to Pennsylvania residents age 18+ who have given birth in the past 5 years. Hosted by Everlasting Wellness LLC

[Everlasting Wellness LLC

After Thoughts
Birth Trauma Therapy Group

*Virtual
*Art Therapy
*Journaling
*8 weekly sessions
*FREE

Eligible persons include Pennsylvania residents age 18 and up who have given birth within the past 5 years and who regard their birth as physically or emotionally traumatic.

Begins September 11, 2022 6-8 pm EverlastingWellnessCounseling.com
[email protected]]

I have seen this and encourage anyone working in or adjacent to birth & reproductive care to watch if you are serious about equity in peripartum & reproductive healthcare.

“AFTERSHOCK”, will premiere on Hulu, Disney+ and Star+ NEXT Tuesday, July 19, 2022


AFTERSHOCK depicts the tragic and preventable death of Shamony Makeba Gibson who died in 2019, just died 13 days following the birth of her second child. The film picks up two months following her death, as Shamony's surviving mother, Shawnee Benton Gibson, bereaved partner, Omari Maynard, their family and community begin navigating their new normal.

Amber Rose Isaac, a 26-year-old first time mother, died due to an emergency c-section after medical providers failed to address a treatable condition that she had during her pregnancy. Within weeks of Amber's death, Omari reaches out to Amber's surviving partner, Bruce McIntyre, and a lifelong bond is formed. Together, Omari, Bruce and Shawnee begin the fight for justice for their lost loved ones while caring for the children that were left behind.

Through the film, we witness two families who become ardent activists in the maternal health space, seeking justice through legislation, medical accountability, community, and the power of art, ritual and healing. Through their collective journeys, we find ourselves on the front lines of the growing birth justice movement that is demanding systemic change within our medical system and government.

IMPORTANT: We encourage every person who is able, to watch Aftershock individually to amplify the views on the Hulu platform and to demonstrate that we are committed to stopping the scourge of black maternal morbidity and mortality.

Please visit hulu.com to access the film. If you don’t have an account, create a free trial today!

For more information about the film, visit:
https://www.aftershockdocumentary.com

Timeline photos

🎨🤰🏾 We’re seeking artists to uplift the experiences of Black birthing people. Deadline is ONE WEEK from today! https://pmoms.pitt.edu

Pittsburgh Born: Birth Photography and Doula Services - Blog - National Breastfeeding Week 2022

Pittsburgh Born: Birth Photography and Doula Services - Blog - National Breastfeeding Week 2022 JOIN US FOR NATIONAL BREASTFEEDING/CHESTFEEDING WEEK July 23rd, 2022 from 6-8pm at Pittsburgh’s North Shore, Water Steps!

**TERFS & pro-birth/"pro-life"/anti-abortion crusaders will be blocked**
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Quarterly Reminder:
Do you need help obtaining emergency contraception or abortion & resources for the Pittsburgh area? Midwife Michele has you covered.
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Links to info on how to obtain abortion pills & self-care at the link: midwitchery.net/fullspectrummidwifery
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[ID: reddish background with white letters that read, "A uterus does NOT need permission from any government, organisation, or person to void its contents. And neither does the PERSON it belongs to".]