Barefootmidwife

10/02/2025

Exactly this.

09/16/2025

Good news!

National inpatient study documents shift despite potential health benefits

08/11/2025

New Midwifery School!

06/18/2025

So….we got a dog! For those of you who know us will appreciate what a big deal this is. This is Hank and we knew him for 9 months before we got him. His family had to move and couldn’t keep all the animals they had. We had said “If you ever have to surrender Hank, we want first dibs”. It’s like he was always ours. He has been to 3 births, hanging out in the temperature controlled van. He LOVES the van.

06/18/2025

had a difficult first planned homebirth that ended in a necessary cesarean, with a different midwife team. We had been booked solid when she sought us out the first time aound so we were thrilled to be able to shepherd her with her second pregnancy. Story coming soon! Thank you Splendid hvbac!

06/02/2025

When you attend a baby shower and see your other mamas and babies!

05/21/2025

Read this. I 💯 percent agree. We have experienced all of these things at various times and seasons: having a Richard has helped so much to maintain boundaries.

Midwives are leaving. Not because the work is too hard. But because the boundaries are too soft.

We aren’t burned out from birth.
We’re burned out from everything around it.

From the student who says she wants to learn but never takes a note, never shows up early, never stays late—and posts selfies instead of questions. The one who isn’t ready, but insists she’s “called.” The one who confuses proximity with preparation.

From the client who ghosted the intake form for six weeks, paid in $40 chunks while shopping for photographers, then got upset when you didn’t jump to respond at 10 p.m.

From the woman who knew you just had a baby—but still asked, “Will you be back by October? I just really want you.”

From the chronic boundary testers. The ones who don’t mean harm—but still text too much, ask too little, book late, pay slow, and expect your availability to remain sacred while they treat it casually.

And you, the midwife, are trying to hold it all with grace.
Trying not to sound harsh.
Trying to be understanding.
Trying to be “accessible.”

But let’s be clear:

> The perception of midwifery has been diluted by this lack of clarity.

You’re not seen as a professional.
You’re seen as the help.
Flexible. Affordable. Personal. Bendable.
And quietly replaceable.

And when you finally crack—when you raise your fee, set your phone to silent, or say “this apprenticeship isn’t working”—you’re the villain.
Cold. Unavailable. Gatekeeping.

But the truth is, you should have said no months ago.

No to the student who isn’t ready.
No to the client who wouldn’t commit.
No to the emotional leakage that slowly turned your schedule into chaos.

Because when we don’t say no, midwifery gets cheapened.
When we let people treat our sacred work like casual service, it affects how every other midwife is perceived.

And it’s not sustainable.

This is why the turnover rate is so high.
This is why midwives disappear.
Not because of birth itself—but because we’re slowly extracted by people who say “I love your care” but don’t actually honor it.

Midwives—listen:

You are not selfish for protecting your time.
You are not rude for releasing a client.
You are not harsh for ending an apprenticeship that drains your spirit.
You are not “money hungry” for charging what this work costs you to hold.

You are the gatekeeper.
And when you forget that, everything spills out.
Not just your time, but your joy.

So tighten the gate.
Say it early.
Say it clearly.
Say it without shame.

Because your calling wasn’t meant to be handed over to indecision, performance, or passive abuse.

It was meant to be guarded.

And if no one else will say it—here’s your reminder:

You can be kind and still be closed.
You can be generous and still charge your full rate.
You can be called and still say:

> “You’re not mine. And I won’t carry what wasn’t assigned to me.”

That’s not unloving.
That’s holy.

05/20/2025

This is so true and something I have experienced with my second birth. Give space for your story.

Your feelings after birth can change—and that’s okay.

In the early days or weeks after giving birth, many of us feel a deep sense of gratitude and relief. Even if the birth didn’t go as planned—if it was chaotic, scary, or unexpected—we often find ourselves saying, “Well, at least we got through it.” We might feel thankful for those who were with us. We might even send flowers, gifts, or notes of appreciation.

Pam England calls this early stage the Gate of Gratitude and Relief, part of her “Nine Birth Story Gates.” She also refers to it as the “fruit basket phase”—a time when we’re simply relieved it’s over and grateful to be holding our baby.

But as time passes, feelings can shift.

You may begin to revisit the birth in your mind.
You may wonder what could’ve been different.
You may start to question decisions made—by yourself or others.
You may think about how things could be different next time.
And you might feel things you weren’t expecting: confusion, grief, anger, disappointment.

This is all normal.

Processing a birth story is not a one-time event. It unfolds over time, especially once the immediate intensity of postpartum life begins to ease.

Your thoughts and emotions are allowed to evolve. You don’t have to feel the same way now as you did in those early days.

And if you find yourself unsettled—if there’s a tug in your heart or a story that keeps circling back—you don’t have to navigate that alone.

✨ There is space for your story, as it truly is.
✨ There is space for every feeling.
✨ There is a way forward.

Do you relate to feeling Gratitude and Relief after birth? Did this change over time? Share your experience.

If you’re ready to explore your experience and find more peace, I’m here. Reach out when you’re ready.
Message us! 💛

05/11/2025

Can you identify where I am at?

05/11/2025

There are many paths to motherhood. Some are marked by joy, others by loss—and many by both. Every soul that passes through our lives leaves an imprint, shaping us as parents in ways seen and unseen.

Today, we honor all forms of mothering: the birthing, the grieving, the waiting, and the loving. May this day be a gentle reminder of our extraordinary capacity to nurture, protect, and grow life—in all its forms.
Me with my daughter and my son serving in the Army .orr

04/14/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/168MuUq1cV/?mibextid=wwXIfr

AJOG Expert Review in Labor: Water birth: a systematic review and meta-analysis of maternal and neonatal outcomes https://ow.ly/nr7O50R9Nzi

03/18/2025

So this happened…

I had the privilege of caring for my beautiful niece/client, , and her partner, , throughout their pregnancy. During labor, after thoughtful discussion, we decided to transport due to a lack of descent and the need for pain management. As a former athlete with a background in gymnastics, soccer, diving, volleyball, and track, Kara faced unique challenges related to past injuries—something we cover in depth during our Birth Prep class so families understand all their options.

I accompanied them to the hospital, where it was later determined that a cesarean was necessary. At some point, Kara developed a fever, but the hospital team managed it well. Months later, I was shocked to learn that I was being investigated for negligence—not by the family, but by the hospital itself. Initially, I thought perhaps Kara’s dad, a doctor, had concerns, but that didn’t add up. He had attended our consultation and the Birth Prep class and understood exactly how we approach care.

It turns out the hospital initiated the investigation. I hadn’t fully realized that even when families choose to transport, hospitals can still take issue. may weigh in here, but this experience has been eye-opening in many ways.

Midwives, birth workers, families—have you experienced anything like this? Let’s talk about it.