Interview With a Homebirth Midwife

It’s an interview with me! Several weeks ago I was contacted by Serena Salvato, a young wife, mother, doctor of microbiology, and the founder of a new podcast called The Push Guide. Serena explained to me that when she moved to the United States from England, she was grieved to discover what a remarkably few[…]

And Elyse Makes Three

Elyse Hannah Simmons 7 pounds, 3 ounces and 22.25 inches long Born to Hannah Evangeline and Jesse Simmons and to her sister, Evangeline Heidi. 6:35 Sunday morning, September 24, 2017 Elyse began her journey earthside mere hours after the Simmons family settled themselves into their new home and christened it with the dawning of the[…]

The Many Faces of Home Birth

A young woman passionate about homebirth, Shantel Silbernagel, contacted me nine months ago to tell me about a project she was working on and to ask if I could provide a bit of help. Her desire was to present the world with a book of stories about birthing at home. A collection of stories that[…]

When Scary Can Still Be Peaceful and Oh, So Beautiful

So, here I am in Michigan, enjoying my children and my grandchildren and the opportunity to help Hannah, my midwife daughter, with a handful of her clients. Among those I’ve had the pleasure to meet is Sabrina, a mother of two boys, one very newly born. As we sat and talked and admired the baby,[…]

Feet First!

Brenton Moses Woodard Named in honor of his late grandpa, Brent Woodard    Weighing 6 pounds, 4 ounces, and measuring 20.25 inches long Born to Paul and Megan Woodard 9:53 Tuesday evening, August 22nd, 2017 Paul intended to catch his son himself, but Brent decided to plunge into life with his feet first and his[…]

There’s a Sacredness in Tears

“There’s a sacredness in tears. They aren’t the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They’re the messengers of overwhelming grief, of deep contrition, and of unspeakable love.” Washington Irving So many good things are happening! As you know, my book is safely in my publisher’s hands. I[…]

Second Chance: A Mother’s Quest for a Natural Birth after a Cesarean

Good morning, Friends! I recently made a new friend via social media, Thais Derich, author of the newly released memoir, Second Chance: A Mother’s Quest for a Natural Birth after a Cesarean. I ordered Thais book and devoured it in a day, shedding tears as I was caught up into the moving story of both her first[…]