Beautiful Beginnings Homebirth

25/04/2026

I am so sick of seeing these headlines 😞

A woman who went viral for spending less than $47 on her wedding dress has died during childbirth at 32 years old.

Kiara Brokenbrough died on March 30 as her son, Jonah, was born. Jonah remains in the NICU and is showing improvement. The Brokenbroughs gained attention in 2022 after celebrating their nuptials with a $500 wedding in Los Angeles.

They kept costs low by hosting fewer than 30 people at their roadside ceremony and having guests go Dutch at the reception. Kiara told the Los Angeles Times they didn't want to go into debt over a wedding. The couple was moving from West Virginia back to California when Kiara unexpectedly died.

Kiara's death came just weeks before the 10th annual Black Maternal Health Week. Black women are three to four times more likely to die during childbirth than any other demographic.

31/03/2026

Beautiful Beginnings Homebirth with Erin Kershaw, reviews truly remind us why we do what we do:

"I have had two pregnancies / births under Erin’s care and I (literally!) trust her with mine and my babies’ lives. She is knowledgeable, skilled, calm, and decisive. It was important to me that my provider wouldn’t let pride get in the way of a hospital transfer, and I know Erin wouldn’t hesitate to make that call if truly necessary. That said, she believes absolutely in women’s abilities to birth their babies, and held the space during each of my births for the process to unfold without intervention or prodding. I felt totally safe and supported. Home birth is indeed a “beautiful beginning” for new babies and families. Thank you, Erin!"

(Photo from my first breech birth attended as a midwife, shared with permission)

26/03/2026

Please consider donating to this beautiful soul. Renad has been helping mothers in Gaza and she needs help getting to university in Glasgow. Any amount helps, but Breech Without Borders just informed us of a donor who will match up to $1000, so now is the time. Thank you!!

Renad is a trained midwife from Gaza, currently working with UK-Med. Since the very first day of the war, her commitment has never wavered: to help pregnant women give birth safely, despite the collapse of Gaza’s healthcare system and the unimaginable conditions surrounding her.

20/03/2026

Happy spring equinox! 🌼🐇🌸

12/03/2026

12/03/2026

The AAP recommends AT LEAST 60 seconds of delayed cord clamping. Keep that in mind for those of you planning a hospital or birth center birth. They acknowledge the benefit and evidence that shows that baby needs their blood. Insist on this!

Must homebirth midwives and we don't clamp until the placenta is out. Your baby needs their blood!

11/03/2026

Hi! It’s been a while since I’ve shared an introduction. So, if you’re new to my page, I’m Erin Kershaw BS, RN, TM

I’m a homebirth midwife serving families in the Bucks County area. It’s truly an honor to support people through one of the most meaningful experiences of their lives.

I hold a bachelor’s degree in biology and political science from Moravian University. I began my midwifery training in 2012, graduating from the WomanCraft Midwifery Program in 2014. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of training with four experienced midwives with over 60 years of combined experience and have attended more than 500 births. I opened my own practice in 2016, celebrating 10 years of practice last month.

I’m also a registered nurse, with additional training in NRP (Neonatal Resuscitation Program), provider CPR and B.E.S.T. Birth Emergency Skills Training, which helps me bring both skill and calm support to the families I serve.

I’m especially passionate about supporting vaginal breech birth. I continue my education each year through Breech Without Borders, with their Breech Pro course and their Breech & Twin Masterclass. It’s incredibly important to me to help preserve these skills and support other midwives in gaining breech experience as well.

I’m also a mom of three. My own home birth in 2012 was the moment I truly knew this was my calling. That experience shaped the way I care for families today.

Beyond my work in our local community, I’m passionate about global maternal health. I have volunteered at a birth center in Haiti and have traveled to Thailand, supporting families in low-resource settings.

Midwifery is more than a career to me, it’s a calling. I’m grateful every day to walk alongside families during such a powerful time in their lives.

24/02/2026

This month I celebrate 10 years in my homebirth practice! I started studying midwifery 14 years ago and started attending births 13 years ago. I started as an assistant and doula and opened my practice in February of 2016. It's been a joy serving so many families and helping so many folks have the birth they wanted.

Midwifery also comes with sadness and I have helped one mom through a stillbirth and countless women go through miscarriages (some of them multiple losses each, so the number is likely in the hundreds). I had to cut one episiotomy about 8 years ago and I pray that I never have to again. I'm incredibly thankful that none of my clients have ever had a 3rd or 4th degree tear 🙌🏽

Homebirth midwives have to help people grieve loss, which includes loss of the birth they wanted when homebirth turns to hospital transfer. My transfer rate (I only looked at the past 6 years of charts for data) is 9.07%, which is just under the national average of 10%, but I tell clients that IMO, a higher transfer rate just means that your midwife is most likely practicing responsibly.

I have also traveled to Haiti and Thailand for births. Visiting Haiti was an eye-opening experience that I will never forget.

It's been an honor helping you all! 💜🙌🏽

*I didn't want to pull out my paper charts from years ago,so that data isn't included *

23/02/2026

🤣

20/02/2026

17/02/2026

Repost from
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Home birth isn’t about doing things a certain way—it’s about being deeply supported and informed. (Comment birth for full video)

I cannot describe in words how empowering these experiences are. Being a woman is incredible. I almost feel bad that men can’t experience the tender awe of moving a child earth side.

I shared my entire birth in a long-form video on YouTube.
If you’re curious, comment BIRTH 🤍
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Midwife
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31/12/2025

I see a LOT of holiday plugged ducts. ABM #36 reframes clogged ducts as part of a mastitis spectrum, not a single hard plug that needs to be “worked out.” What we used to call a clogged duct is now understood as localized inflammation and narrowing of milk ducts, often caused by milk stasis, swelling, or changes in feeding or pumping patterns. The milk is still moving, just less efficiently in that area, which is why parents may feel a tender lump, fullness, or soreness without fever or systemic illness.

The protocol emphasizes reducing inflammation, not aggressive removal. That means:
•Gentle, normal feeding or pumping based on baby’s cues, not over-emptying
•Ice or cold packs after feeds to calm inflammation
•Anti-inflammatory support like ibuprofen if medically appropriate
•Light lymphatic drainage or very gentle massage, avoiding deep or painful pressure
•Supportive bras and avoiding tight clothing or compression

Importantly, ABM advises against older recommendations like forceful massage, vibration, aggressive pumping, heat before feeds, or trying to “push out” a plug, as these can worsen inflammation and increase the risk of mastitis.

If symptoms do not improve within 24 to 48 hours, or if fever, flu-like symptoms, redness spreading, or worsening pain develop, the protocol recommends evaluation by a healthcare provider to assess for inflammatory or bacterial mastitis and guide next steps.