Full Well Midwifery

05/07/2026

Maternal Mental Health Week - let’s talk about what midwifery postpartum care actually looks like.

I show up at your house. We check baby. We check your healing. All the clinical stuff.

But then we sit. And we talk.

Not rushed. Not squeezed into 10 minutes. We actually sit and talk about how you’re DOING.

“How are you sleeping? Like actually sleeping, not ‘fine’ sleeping.”

“How’s your support system? Do you have help? Do you feel alone?”

“Are you feeling anxious? Overwhelmed? Are you having thoughts that scare you?”

“Have you cried today? This week? Are the tears relief or something heavier?”

These aren’t just nice questions. This is mental health care.

Built into postpartum visits. In your home. In your space. Where you feel safe enough to tell the truth.

Because here’s what happens in traditional postpartum care:

Midwifery care is different.

Multiple home visits. Actual time. Real relationships.

Space to be honest about the hard parts.

And most importantly: you know you can reach me 24/7.

Not a crisis hotline. Not a stranger. Me. Someone who was at your birth. Who knows your baby. Who cares about you.

Just knowing that is powerful.

You’re not alone. You’re not isolated. You’re not left to figure out if what you’re feeling is normal or if you need help.

You have someone. Any time. Day or night.

Postpartum anxiety, depression, intrusive thoughts - these are REAL and COMMON.

And you shouldn’t have to face them alone or wait weeks for an appointment to even talk about them.

This is what comprehensive postpartum care should be.

Mental health woven into every visit. Someone paying attention to your wellbeing. 24/7 access when you need support.

Not just physical recovery. WHOLE person care.

If you’re struggling, please reach out.

To your midwife, your provider, someone who can help.
Maternal mental health matters. You matter.

And you deserve support. 💚

05/05/2026

Today is International Day of the Midwife.

And it’s been exactly seven years since I attended my very first birth.

I want to talk about the midwives who came before me.

The ones who taught me everything.

Not just from textbooks. Not just clinical skills. But the heart of this work.

They let me watch. They let me learn. They answered my endless questions with patience. They shared their knowledge freely, generously, because that’s what midwives do.

They taught me what midwifery really is.

The long nights when everyone else is asleep and you’re holding space for a laboring mama. The missed birthdays and holidays because babies don’t wait for convenient timing. The exhaustion that settles into your bones after being on-call for weeks.

But also the joy. The absolute, overwhelming joy of witnessing transformation. Of seeing someone discover strength they didn’t know they had. Of being present for the most profound moment of someone’s life.

They taught me about the heartache.

The births that don’t go as hoped. The transfers. The losses. The grief that comes with this work. How to sit with families in their hardest moments. How to hold space for disappointment alongside celebration.

Both things true at once.

They taught me that midwifery is walking with people through the best and worst days of their lives.

And showing up either way. With presence. With care. With the knowledge that your being there matters.

Seven years later, I understand what they were teaching me.

It’s not just about catching babies. It’s about relationship. Trust. Time. Seeing people as whole humans, not just patients. Trusting the body’s design. Knowing when to act and when to wait. Honoring the sacred work of birth.

This is what midwifery care offers that’s so desperately needed.

And the evidence is clear: more midwifery care saves lives. Reduces maternal mortality. Improves outcomes. Supports families better.

Not because midwives are better than anyone else. But because the model of care is different. Time matters. Relationship matters. Trust in physiology matters.

Imagine if everyone had access to this kind of care.

Not just the privileged. Not just those who can afford private pay or know homebirth exists. Everyone.

More lives saved. Better outcomes. Healthier families.

This is what I’m working toward.

Serving underserved communities. Making midwifery care accessible. Being part of the movement to bring comprehensive, relationship-based care to everyone who needs it.

To the midwives who taught me: thank you.

For sharing your knowledge. For showing me what this work really is. For trusting me with your families. For the patience and generosity and wisdom you gave so freely.

I carry what you taught me into every birth. Every visit. Every moment with families.

And to every midwife out there:

Thank you for the long nights. The missed celebrations. The exhaustion. The heartache. The joy. The sacred work of walking with women through their most powerful moments.

You are changing lives. You are saving lives.

The world needs more midwives. More of this care. More of this model.

Seven years in, and I’m more convinced than ever.

Happy International Day of the Midwife. 🩷

05/03/2026

She handed me a box as I walked towards the door.

“For you,” she said. “From our chickens.”

I opened it. 64 eggs. Many still warm.

And I had to take a breath because this work, these families, this life - it overwhelms me sometimes.

I leave postpartum visits with so much more than clinical data.

Yes, I know baby’s weight. Mama’s healing. Feeding success. All the measurable things.

But I also leave with my belly sore from laughing. With my soul refreshed from hearing “I’ve never felt so supported. This is the best birth and postpartum I have had.”

With tears on my cheeks from grieving the birth experience a mama prayed for while celebrating her beautiful, healthy baby. Both things true at once.

I leave with the smell of newborn on my hands. With homemade bread in my bag. Fresh vegetables from the garden. With my belly full from meals they insisted I eat.

“You take care of everyone. Let us take care of you.”

And I let them. Because there’s something sacred in that reciprocity.

I leave with gratitude so big I can barely hold it.

The privilege of being invited into homes. Into the most vulnerable moments. Into the sacred space of new life and transformation.

The honor of being trusted. Of being part of their story. Of witnessing courage and strength and love that takes my breath away.

I leave with hope.

Watching families figure it out. Bond. Grow. Heal. Thrive.

Seeing mamas discover they’re stronger than they knew. Watching husbands step into their role with confidence. Witnessing siblings fall in love with their new baby.

And today, I left with 64 eggs.

This work fills me. Feeds me. Sustains me.

Not just as a midwife. As a human.

I don’t just serve these families. They serve me too. In ways they’ll never fully know.

This is the work I was made for.

And I’m grateful. For every moment. Every family. Every sacred invitation into their lives.

And for really, really good eggs. ❤️

05/02/2026

Things that definitely did NOT induce your labor:

The $47 worth of dates you choked down.
Six dates a day for two weeks. You now hate dates. Your baby? Still in there. Unimpressed by your commitment to dried fruit.

The entire fresh pineapple you suffered through.
Your mouth is raw. Your tongue hurts. You have heartburn. Your baby? Cozy as ever. Probably laughing at you.

S*x.
Sorry, husband. I know the internet said it would work. I know you believed in yourself. It didn't. Now you're both exhausted and baby is still vibing in the womb. At least you tried?

That bumpy car ride you took ON PURPOSE.
You drove over speed bumps. You found the worst road in town. You jostled yourself for 30 minutes. Your baby? Rocked to sleep. Thanks for the nap, mom.

Spicy food.
You can't handle spicy food. You ate it anyway. Now you have heartburn AND regret. Your baby? Still gestating. Unaffected by your poor choices.

Curb walking until your hips screamed.
Up and down. Up and down. For an hour. Your legs hurt. Your pelvis is angry. Your baby? Unbothered. Comfortable. Not moving.

The exercise ball you bounced on for 47 hours.
(Okay, it felt like 47 hours.) Your tailbone hurts. You're dizzy. Baby? Nope. Still in there.

Acupressure points.
You rubbed them. You pressed them. You watched YouTube videos about them. Nothing. Your baby apparently doesn't believe in alternative medicine.

The "labor-inducing" smoothie recipe from that mom blog.
$15 of ingredients. Tasted like lawn clippings. Did not induce labor. Did induce disappointment.

Every wives' tale known to humanity.
Red raspberry leaf tea. Evening primrose oil. Long walks. Ni**le stimulation. Watching emotional movies. Cleaning your entire house at 40 weeks pregnant because "nesting induces labor."

None of it worked. Your baby is still in there. Rent-free. Unbothered. Moisturized. In their lane.

Here's what actually works:

Your baby deciding it's time.

That's it. That's the only thing that reliably starts labor.

Your baby will come when they're ready. Not when the dates say. Not when the pineapple suggests. Not when you've bounced yourself into oblivion.

When THEY are ready. When their lungs are mature. When their brain sends the signal. When everything is perfectly aligned for their arrival.

I know you're done being pregnant. I know you're uncomfortable. But they're on their own timeline.

So save your money. Save your energy. Skip the suffering.

Your baby knows when it's time. Trust them. ❤️

Now tell me: What ridiculous thing did YOU try to induce labor? And what actually worked? (Spoiler: probably just baby being ready, but let's hear the stories!)

05/02/2026

It’s more than midwifery- it’s community ❤️

05/01/2026

Don’t forget to join us at the park tomorrow!

Spring is here and we’re taking Nurturing Motherhood OUTSIDE!

Mark your calendars, mamas!

This Saturday, May 2nd | 10-12 | Starkey Park North
We’re spreading out blankets, soaking up sunshine, and gathering together for our first outdoor meetup of the season!

What to bring:

-A blanket to sit on
-Water bottle
-A snack to share if you want (no pressure!)
-All your littles

Who’s joining us:

Ayla Hartless, owner and doula at Born Motherhood LLC! She’ll share about what she does, answer questions, and be part of our community gathering.
Light refreshments provided. Plenty of space for babies to crawl and toddlers to explore while mamas actually get to have real conversations.

This is what motherhood is supposed to look like:
Outside. Together. Not isolated in our homes wondering if we’re the only ones struggling. But connecting, sharing, supporting each other.

All ages, all stages, all welcome.

See you in May! ☀️

04/29/2026

Vote for Full Well Midwifery for best OB care in the Roanoke Valley❤️

Please share!

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04/28/2026

Would you run a marathon on ice chips alone?

No. You’d fuel your body. You’d eat. You’d maintain your energy.

So why do hospitals treat labor differently?

Labor IS a marathon. Literally. Your body is working harder than it ever has. You’re burning thousands of calories. Your muscles need fuel.

And hospitals say: “Here are some ice chips. Good luck!”

The excuse: “In case you need a C-section.”

The concern is aspiration during anesthesia. But modern anesthesia has made this risk extremely rare. We’re using 1940s reasoning for 2026 births.

Meanwhile, the actual risk is:

Women laboring for 18 hours without food become so depleted they can’t push effectively. They “fail to progress.” They end up with the C-section the food restriction was supposedly preventing.

The policy is creating the outcome it claims to prevent.

Research shows eating during labor:
-Is safe with modern anesthesia
-Provides needed energy
-Improves labor outcomes
-Helps women feel stronger

Research shows starving during labor:
-Creates unnecessary suffering
-Leads to depletion
-Can prolong labor
-Increases intervention rates

At homebirth, women eat.
Not full meals. But light, easily digestible foods that provide energy. Honey. Dates. Toast. Fruit. Broth. Smoothies.

Whatever their body is asking for. Because we trust that their body knows what it needs.

“But what if I throw up?”

You might. Some women do in labor, whether they’ve eaten or not. Throwing up in labor is normal and doesn’t mean you ate the wrong thing.

And honestly? Throwing up some toast is better than laboring for 20 hours with zero fuel.

Your body is doing the hardest physical work of your life.

Feed it.

If planning a hospital birth:

Ask about eating policies NOW. Not when you’re already in labor and being handed ice chips.

Know your rights. You can decline their policy. You can bring your own food. You can advocate for yourself.

Your body. Your labor. Your fuel.

04/28/2026

“We don’t let moms go past 40 weeks.”

Not “we recommend induction.” Not “let’s discuss options.”

“We DON’T LET.”

Let me be very clear: They don’t OWN your body.
Your due date is an ESTIMATE. Your baby doesn’t have an expiration date. And no provider gets to decide when your pregnancy ends unless there’s a medical indication.

Listen to the language providers use:

“We don’t let…”
“We don’t allow…”
“Our policy doesn’t permit…”
“You can’t…”

These are control words. Not medical advice. Control.
They’re telling you what they will or won’t “allow” you to do with your own body. As if you need their permission. As if they have authority over your autonomous medical decisions.

“Policy” is not a medical indication.

Low amniotic fluid? Reduced movement? High blood pressure? Actual concerns? Those are medical indications to discuss intervention.

But “you reached an arbitrary date on a calendar”? That’s not medical. That’s convenience.

Here’s what informed consent looks like:
“You’re at 40 weeks. Baby looks great on monitoring. Fluid levels are good. Everything is healthy. Some providers recommend induction around now, but research shows that for truly low-risk pregnancies, waiting until 41 or even 42 weeks with appropriate monitoring is safe. What would you like to do?”

Here’s what coercion looks like:
“We don’t let moms go past 40 weeks.”
“We don’t allow our patients to refuse induction.”
“Our policy doesn’t permit going past your due date.”

You are not a child who needs to be “let” or “allowed” to do things with your own body.

You are an autonomous human being with the right to make informed decisions about your pregnancy and birth.

When a provider uses language like “don’t let” or “don’t allow,” they’re revealing how they see you:

Not as a partner in your care. Not as an autonomous decision-maker. But as someone who needs to be managed and controlled.

Here’s something important to remember:

YOU hired your provider. YOU (or your insurance) are paying THEM. Not the other way around.

They work for you. You don’t answer to them.

And that means you can fire them.

Even at 38 weeks. Even if you’ve been seeing them your whole pregnancy.

You are not stuck. You are not obligated to stay with a provider who uses controlling language, dismisses your concerns, or treats policy as more important than your autonomy.

You deserve providers who believe in your body’s ability to birth, practice informed consent, and provide evidence-based care.

Your body. Your baby. Your choice. Your provider works for YOU.

You deserve respect, not control.

04/26/2026

Sunday Share Vol 8. First Time Momma Homebirth of James

Since James was our first baby, I wasn’t really sure what to expect. After some bad experiences in hospitals previously, we decided to have a homebirth where I just felt more comfortable. I started reading and watching videos about natural birth from Heather’s recommendations. We also took Heather’s birth class that taught my husband and me how to support each other and what to expect from our birth team. Since it was my first time in labor, I chose a water birth to help with any pain.

We made it to 40 weeks and 5 days before he arrived. Around 2:30 AM, I woke up to my pants and bed soaking wet. Even though the contractions were getting stronger, I remembered from our class that first labors can take a long time, so I tried my best to go back to sleep. But over the next hour, I just couldn’t get comfortable as the pain got more intense.
I also have an old back injury, and the contractions were really hurting my spine in that area. I got into our bathtub and let the shower water hit my lower back to help with the pain. By this time, the contractions had jumped from five minutes apart to only two and a half minutes apart.

Heather, Madeleine, and Amanda arrived around 4:00 AM. Their presence was immediately calming and reassured me as I started having doubts about my ability to go through this. While they set up the birthing pool, I moved through about ten different positions. I tried a few on the yoga ball, leaning on the counter with counter-pressure, and lying on my side. I realized during this part that I really didn’t like being touched, so even though we tried counter-pressure, it didn’t feel good at all for me.

They all stayed so patient even when I was snappy and didn’t rush me through the process. Eventually, I moved to the birthing stool and we were able to see his head. It was pretty painful, so we decided to get into the pool. As soon as I got in the water, I felt immediate relief and all the pain subsided. After taking deep breaths, he was born ten minutes later.

The whole time, the team was so supportive. They coached my breathing and kept telling me everything was okay, which I really needed since I didn’t know how a newborn was supposed to act. We did skin-to-skin in the pool for a bit, then they helped me to the bed so I could nurse and bond with him.

After an hour, my husband got to cut the cord. Heather helped me get cleaned up in the shower while they did his check-up. We got to spend the rest of the morning snuggling in bed and they took care of everything—cleaning up from the birth, taking out the trash, doing the dishes, and starting the laundry. I was so grateful for their help because it let us just focus on our new baby.

Now that I’m pregnant with our third, I know my labors tend to go much faster. With their support, I’ve learned how to manage the pain better and use breathing techniques to breathe my babies out rather than pushing. They also give great advice for extra help—like pelvic floor therapy, which made a huge difference during my last pregnancy! I am so grateful for all of their support!

04/26/2026

Spring is here and we’re taking Nurturing Motherhood OUTSIDE!

Mark your calendars, mamas!

This Saturday, May 2nd | 10-12 | Starkey Park North
We’re spreading out blankets, soaking up sunshine, and gathering together for our first outdoor meetup of the season!

What to bring:

-A blanket to sit on
-Water bottle
-A snack to share if you want (no pressure!)
-All your littles

Who’s joining us:

Ayla Hartless, owner and doula at Born Motherhood LLC! She’ll share about what she does, answer questions, and be part of our community gathering.
Light refreshments provided. Plenty of space for babies to crawl and toddlers to explore while mamas actually get to have real conversations.

This is what motherhood is supposed to look like:
Outside. Together. Not isolated in our homes wondering if we’re the only ones struggling. But connecting, sharing, supporting each other.

All ages, all stages, all welcome.

See you in May! ☀️