OHMI Midwives

11/20/2025

We stand by this statement from the American College of Nurse Midwives, “Anchored in the right to respectful, autonomous, and racism-free care, midwifery practice, midwives and the ecosystems we work in must ensure that all birthing people are heard, valued, and empowered throughout the perinatal experience, advancing a model of care that promotes dignity, safety, and optimal outcomes for everyone.”

11/13/2025

I HIGHLY recommend this class!

Sharon just opened up a 6 week Evidence Based Birth ® Class running January 15th-February 19th! 🧡✨💙

These classes are part in-person, part Zoom, and part online videos. The curriculum is packed with research-based, essential information, and fun hands-on practice that'll help you navigate your pregnancy and birth with confidence! Learn more at https://www.annarborbirth.com/childbirth-classes-ann-arbor/evidence-based-birth/

11/13/2025

Spot on!

11/13/2025

Food for thought 💭

✨ Swaddling ✨

Most new parents think that they need to swaddle their baby. But the truth is that swaddling can hinder a baby’s development.

Babys are born with hundreds of primitive reflexes. These reflexes are how a baby learns to nurse, close their hand around your finger, and eventually roll over and crawl.

One of these reflexes is the Moro or startle reflex. This reflex is why a baby may wake up when they are put down. They feel the change of position and “startle” awake. This reflex is present at birth and should go away by 3 months. It integrates into the brain as the brain grows and becomes more developed. Simply put, a baby had to use this reflex over and over until the brain is developed enough to not respond to it.

Parents swaddle babies to reduce their startle reflex so that they both get better sleep. The issue is, by reducing the reflex, the brain development is affected.

Babies who are swaddled don’t get to “practice” their startle reflex and therefore their brain won’t make the connections needed to turn the reflex off by 2-4 months when it should naturally disappear.

In our office, we often see babies around 4-6 months who struggle to sleep. Mom is exhausted and considering sleep training but knows there’s something else going on. Swaddling for too long + the 4 month sleep progression are a bad combination and can cause the whole family to become stressed and exhausted.

Typically, these parents swaddle their baby so that baby can sleep longer periods. Then when they stop swaddling because baby can roll, their baby still startles and wakes up easily. They turn to the weighted sleep sacks which just prolong and worsen this issue. Now the startle reflex gets stronger and persistent. Brain development has been altered and the milestones of integration of all primitive reflexes are affected which in turn affect when a baby learns to roll, sit, crawl, and walk.

This is why we DO NOT recommend swaddling. It has neurological consequences for a baby’s development.

Swaddling does mimic how a baby felt in the womb. So IF you decide you need to swaddle your newborn baby, only do so for two weeks maximum!

11/07/2025

What makes us happy? Repeat clients!! This beautiful piece of pottery was a gift from a previous client after the birth of their first baby. Well, they are pregnant again and back in our practice. We are so grateful and thankful for repeat customers, happy clients, and expanding families 💕💕💕

Mug created by

11/06/2025

We know that midwifery care leads to improved outcomes, lower maternal and infant mortality rates, and higher birth satisfaction. We also know that some pretty big gaps within the medical infrastructure and certain socioeconomic conditions limit access to midwifery care for many people. Looking forward to following this initiative led by National Association of Certified Professional Midwives and Uplift Labs to see how they can help bridge the gap.

A $500,000 grant from Skyline Foundation will seed vital infrastructure visioning, advancing equitable and culturally reverent community-based perinatal care for all.

11/06/2025

November always feels like a season for slowing down — warm soups on the stove, quiet evenings, and families preparing to welcome new life.

This month, we’re walking alongside a few cozy homebirths as the days grow shorter.

If you’re thinking about nesting in for the winter and are considering a home birth, we do have availability in January and February. We do accept some late to care transfers - reach out to establish care asap. If your heart is leaning toward a peaceful homebirth in the coming spring, now’s the perfect time to schedule your consultation.

Peace, love, and pumpkins, The OHMI Midwives team

11/04/2025

We are all about YOUR options at OHMI Midwives💕💕💕

That bright orange drink most women dread? 🍊
It’s not your only option — and you deserve to know that.

Gestational diabetes screening is so important for both mom and baby…
but it doesn’t have to mean chugging synthetic dyes and preservatives.

There are evidence-based, holistic alternatives that keep your care personalized and aligned with your values — like dye-free options, The Fresh Test, or even at-home glucose monitoring with your provider’s guidance.

Because informed testing isn’t just about results — it’s about ownership in your pregnancy care.

💛 You can advocate.
💛 You can personalize.
💛 You can make empowered decisions for both you + baby.

👉 Save this post for your 24–28 week visit, and share it with a friend who’s approaching her glucose test soon!

11/04/2025

—- our office anatomy pillow, compliments of