Taproot Midwifery

07/14/2022

We are no longer maintaining this social media page. Please come learn more about Taproot Midwifery at www.taprootmidwifery.com or call us at (916) 426-8456. We'd love to hear from you.

Inclusive homebirth midwifery, fertility, and wellbody care. Serving families in Sacramento and surrounding areas.

04/17/2021

I am so pleased to introduce you to Joy Dean, who is an extraordinary doula and childbirth educator. She is also the new student midwife at Taproot Midwifery.

Joy says: "Birth allowed me to face my fears, educate myself, and gain an understanding of my body. All of my births have inspired me to be the Birth Worker I am today especially my home birth. It was by far the most empowering experience I have ever had. It also encouraged me to step in the direction of becoming a Midwife. I am currently enrolled at National College of Midwifery and am truly honored to be on this journey. I believe birth is transforming and we need to always respect and create a safe space for the family."

08/26/2020

Happy Black Breastfeeding Week!!!!
Sometimes it’s hard and you want to give up and take back ownership of your own Breast! But, if you breastfeed a week, a month, a year, every single drop matters!
Artist

08/26/2020

08/26/2020

Always.

08/21/2020

Please help us defeat this bill.

*Update 9/1/20*: SB 1237 passed the legislature and is on the Governor’s desk. Call NOW to ask him to veto this billl before it becomes law. (916) 445-2841.

CALL OR EMAIL YOUR ASSEMBLY MEMBER TODAY! SB 1237 passed Appropriations and is on to a FINAL VOTE in the Assembly on Monday— in 3 days! Next it goes to the governor to become a law.

This bill erodes patient and midwife autonomy. It’s time for mass mobilization and to end the gaslighting and vote NO on a bill that makes physicians gatekeepers for VBAC and other arbitrary birth restrictions.

It puts physicians in charge of midwifery care and enshrines broad stroke denials of service in state law.

We need to let our legislators hear loud and clear that this is unacceptable to consumers and providers in CA.

Please join the following advocacy, consumer, midwifery, and birth worker organizations and practices in saying No to SB 1237:

Coalition for Ethical Maternity Care
International Cesarean Awareness Network
Midwives Alliance of North America
California Association of Licensed Midwives
Californians for Advancement of Midwifery
California College of Midwives
California Families for Access to Midwives
Birth Rights Solutions
VBAC Facts
ICOM (East Bay Midwives of Color)
The Oakland Better Birth Foundation
Better Birth Association of Harlem, NY
LGBTQ Perinatal Wellness Center
Nia Healing Center for Birth and Family Life
Roots of Labor Birth Collective
Long Beach Birth Workers of Color Collective
Full Moon Family Wellness & Birth Center
Welcome Home Community Birth Center
Golden State Midwifery and Birth Services
Bakersfield Birth Center
Birthstream Midwifery Service
Big Valley Midwives
See Midwives
Birthwaves Midwifery
Cornerstone Doula Trainings
Birthing Without Fear
Little Acorn Doula Services
Hero Birth Services

Not sure who your Assembly member is? Look it up here:
http://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/

08/20/2020

UPDATE: SB 1237 was to be voted on by the full Assembly this past Monday August 24th, but that didn't happen.

IT LOOKS LIKE IT WILL BE VOTED ON TODAY, WEDNESDAY AUGUST 26TH.

The upside is, this gives us an opportunity to reach Californians who have yet to contact their Assemblyperson asking them to vote NO on SB 1237.

So, call your Assemblymember now and share this post!

We must stop SB 1237 from passing in the Assembly (it has already passed in the Senate) and moving on to the Governor’s desk to be signed into law.
This is our final push before it goes to vote in the Assembly.

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It breaks our hearts to be on the other side from CNMs who provide such excellent care to families around the state.

But it isn't just us opposing SB 1237. There are thousands of people who have actually read the bill and looked to experts who can analyze it.

Have you noticed that the California Medical Association (CMA) and ACOG are neutral on SB 1237? It's because SB 1237 is just what they wanted: restriction of care to midwives.

As an affiliate of the American Medical Association, CMA is bound by its Scope of Practice Partnership to aggressively oppose state legislation that expands scope for non-physician providers, in particular bills that confer independent practice.

CMA’s silence on SB 1237—and its role in crafting its long list of amendments—speaks volumes.

SB 1237 does not expand CNMs’ scope of practice; it constricts it.

SB 1237 does not provide for independent practice; it keeps CNMs dependent on physicians.

If you want to dig into this bill, this analysis authored by three Black-led organizations takes you point by point all the reasons why we oppose SB 1237: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xF0PWN7N2s4q6SKdvHtx1y0NteklM-Zi/edit?fbclid=IwAR2RUMCh26AHvlpkdNfvx3jq-wdnTWc674uCn1YaAtgDXOSCGtOM9-L3n-Q

Here are the most poignant quotes: https://www.facebook.com/CAMidwivesFoundation/posts/2370773716559596

One of the fundamental problems is that this bill does not actually remove physician supervision. It just replaces it with practice guidelines signed by a physician.

Anytime a physician's signature is required for a CNM to practice, it reduces access to care.

This is especially true for BIPOC who are more likely to be classified as moderate or high risk as well as those who want to plan a vaginal birth after cesarean. More here: https://www.facebook.com/CAMidwivesFoundation/posts/2370659396571028

Here are our thoughts on the patient autonomy clause: https://www.facebook.com/CAMidwivesFoundation/posts/2370795733224061

Here are our concerns regarding privacy: https://www.facebook.com/CAMidwivesFoundation/posts/2370795733224061

And cost: $3.6 million to set up and then $400,000 annually!! More here: https://www.facebook.com/CAMidwivesFoundation/photos/rpp.1727234627580178/2376905215946446/?type=3&theater

We have had many extensive conversations with CNMA and while they believe SB 1237 is a step forward, we believe SB 1237 is several steps back.

It is disingenuous to pretend like this bill provides CNMs with autonomous practice. It doesn't.

We fear the implications that this bill can have for all midwives in the state.

CNMs have given up a lot to CMA and ACOG to the detriment of birthing families in California.

That is why the bill's author actually THANKED CMA and ACOG for their work on this bill and CNMs for their concessions when it passed the Assembly Business & Professions committee.

CMA and ACOG - who represent physicians - should not have so much influence over a midwifery bill when their only objective is to maintain control over midwives and protect the profession of physicians.

We wish CNMA would see that and be honest about what this bill will do.

When there is a bill that truly enables CNMs to practice autonomously without threatening patient autonomy, we will be the first in line to support that bill.

SB 1237 is not that bill.

We need everyone who cares about access to midwifery care to send an email TODAY to the Assembly committee on Appropriations at approps.committee@assembly.ca.gov and ask them to vote NO on SB 1237!

08/12/2020

This might legitimately be my favorite thing EVER. I’m a big fan of Sterling K. Brown, but this is above and beyond. What an incredible story, what an incredible dad. Do yourself a favor and go watch this.

No matter your birth plan, dads, you CAN positively impact mom and baby. Be her peace, yes. Her supporter, yup. Her advocate, now that’s just sexy! We asked ...

08/10/2020

More about this bill.

07/26/2020

"We need action rooted in Reproductive Justice." Truer words were never spoken. This is an incredible open letter, every word is spot on.

In this nation Black, Brown , and Indigenous birthing people have endured the pain of racism and oppression that seeks to destroy our spirit. No more! This is a national call to action to demand that
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I give thanks to all the contributors who made this come to light. Loretta Ross, Asteir Bey, Aimee Brill, Christine Miller, Nan Strauss, Christy Turlington Burns, Yuki Davis, Angela Aina, Joia Crear Perry, Dawn Goodbolt, Nicolle Gonzales, Pilar Herrero, Jennie Joseph, Jennie Jacoby, Indra Lusero, Monica R. McLemore, Jamila Taylor, and Chanel Porchia-Albert.
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Anything is possible. Read full article at link in bio, sign on, and share! The time is now!!!!
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07/25/2020

Yes, you are enough. Full stop.

This week I made some new and more inclusive variations of my "I Am Enough" decal design. I'm also going to do variations on the painting the design is based on, and a few of my other stickers. I would like everyone to be able to find some of my art that they can identify with

06/05/2020

I am thrilled to announce that Joy Dean will be starting with Taproot Midwifery as our new student in 2021. Please help me support her as she works towards her goal of becoming a licensed midwife. It is critical, especially in this moment, that we support and train Black midwives. Please donate and share widely!

I am at it again!!! Raising money for my MIDWIFERY education!!! Currently, I am a Certifie… Joy Dean needs your support for Raising Money For Midwifery School

05/20/2020

Love this.

Yes 👏👏👏👏
credit Body Positive Mom

05/13/2020

Many of my clients love The Root. Passing this on so we can band together behind this beloved community resource.

Become a patron of The Root today: Read posts by The Root and get access to exclusive content and experiences on the world’s largest membership platform for artists and creators.

05/11/2020

When you have the most thoughtful clients. I found this on the back of the sweetest thank you card. ❤️

05/06/2020

I am so pleased and beyond proud to tell you that my student Stephanie Esparza finished her required catches for midwifery school!! She will make an incredible midwife and we are so lucky to have her in this community. Can you join me in celebrating Stephanie and this huge accomplishment?

05/05/2020

All of this. A good crash course to the structural issues (medical paternalism, straight up racism and xenophobia) that led us to the jam we're in today. Every person who wants a midwife should have one, in every birth setting. Everyone who is a good candidate for community birth should have that option available to them. Midwives are a big piece of the answer, and we should be compensated by insurance companies at a fair rate for the work we do. It should not be on our families to come up with the money to pay us up front and out of pocket, because that limits who can access this fundamentally important care.

Covid-19 is reminding us that birth doesn’t require hospitals or doctors.

04/15/2020

So many good posts out this week for Black Perinatal Health Week.

For Black Maternal Health Week, NBMA is crushing on Black mamas everywhere. Who’s your Black Mama Crush?