Since the pandemic began, have you seen any shifts in reproductive care or with birthing preferences or in your community?

While midwifery care is the predominant reproductive care model in most countries around the world, working with midwives is the minority model within the US healthcare system. Most of our clients prior to the pandemic were quite informed about the reduced rate of interventions and cesareans, high level of safety and support, and specialized training that come with working with midwives. They sought us out for individualized care in a loving and respectful environment. However, the pandemic definitely brought midwifery and home birth a bit more attention from those that had never thought about it before. In many hospital settings, partner involvement in care became quite limited through the pandemic. I believe the emotional toll on being pregnant in a pandemic also drove people to seek more intimate relationship-based care. Then, of course, people were seeking ways to reduce Covid-19 exposures by avoiding the hospital. An entirely new demographic of people began to ask the question “Why not homebirth?” There was quite a bit of quick “unlearning” people went through during the pandemic to recognize that birth in and of itself is not a pathology or illness and does not necessarily belong in a medical setting. Birth is a normal physiologic event and, in the care of skilled birth attendants, can safely occur in environments outside of the hospital. As a result, most midwives have seen quite an influx of clients since Covid-19 began — ourselves included.

What has midwifery taught you about yourself?

Midwifery has reinforced trust, patience, and intuition. Over and over again I’m reminded of how powerful people are when supported and informed. I see that kindness can prevail in the right environment. There’s so much of the world that doesn’t foster humanity. Midwifery teaches me everyday that going back to the basics of human connection and sharing each other’s personal knowledge base can create positive change.

What is your favorite thing about your career? What is the most challenging?

My favorite thing about my career is of course the people! The team I work with make my days so fun and satisfying. And of course, our clients. It’s such an intimate invitation to work alongside people throughout their reproductive changes in life. It’s quite a gift to share that time and space with people.
The most challenging aspect of being a midwife is being on-call. When it comes to a reliable social life, I’m a complete failure. My life is full of last-minute cancellations because of a birth or sleeping off a birth from the night before. It’s pretty well known that I’ll have to ditch events at the last minute. Birthdays, weddings, dinners, trips to the beach, whatever it might be, I’ve always got my gear in the car and am ready to roll. This of course makes me pretty attached to my phone, which we all know can be a pretty miserable feeling over time.

What is your favorite part of your home, and were there any places that brought you extra comfort in this past year?

The clawfoot tub is my safe haven. While many people’s work lives quieted this last year through the pandemic, mine has been terribly busy. My partner has been renovating our 1940s home, while I’ve been building a business. So while much of the year has been in some form of a construction zone, that sweet glorious tub is my full reset button.

Do you have any self care rituals for yourself after supporting a birth?

If you haven’t noticed, I’m a big bath fan. No matter how long I’ve been awake at a birth or what time of day it is, I love to rinse off (birth tends to involve a few bodily fluids) and then take a soak in the tub. And then boy-oh-boy do I take sleep seriously. I’ve got a bit of a ritual with Everyday Oil, using it as directed — everyday-allover. So I drench myself in that, throw some pjs on and hit the hay. I’m pretty shameless about my eye mask and the drool puddle that ensues shortly there after.