And just so people know — there are many midwife groups who also deliver in hospitals, in the event you are not looking to do a homebirth or birth center, but would like the additional support that comes with midwifery care. And, many midwives support you if you want an epidural. Just sharing because I’ve realized a lot of people don’t realize these things/there is a lack of awareness!
Yes! I had my two children with a midwife, in a hospital in Seattle. I was able to have the births I wanted, without an epidural. I had some issues in my pregnancy that required me to be in a hospital in case things when wrong, so I was thankful I could have the best of both worlds.
+1 to this. If you are in Seattle, Swedish has a midwifery program in the hospital that you can go through, along with prenatal group classes called Centering. I did it back when it was at Swedish Ballard (it has since moved to first hill) and it was fantastic.
Yes! I also loved my two hospital deliveries under a midwife's care--two very different midwives in the same practice but very wonderful, super joyful deliveries of my babies! These photos and story are wonderful.
Does anyone remember A Baby Story back when TLC was in its heyday? It was probably the late 90s/early aughts? Half-hour episodes following birthing people as they gave birth, on every single weekday. I watched SO many of those! I hadn't given thought to the fact that there are whole generations who haven't seen that kind of representation of birth on a regular basis.
Yes! I LOVED that show as a teenager and surprise, I ended up going into birth- and birth-adjacent fields professionally. I didn't realize until later how medicalized so many of those births were (very standard-issue '90s hospital births).
FYI there are now a zillion birth videos on YouTube (and interestingly, probably 99% are home births as hospitals usually won't let you record your birth). So there is a way to watch them if you are a birth-interested teenager, but no one seems to be putting them on TV these days. (But are teenagers watching TV anyway?)
I had no idea that COVID caused an increase in home births—makes so much sense!
We’re a lesbian couple who had home births for both our sons (one in TX, one in CA). My spouse was inspired by her sister-in-law to choose this method. It was truly an incredible experience (wanted to say ‘singular’, but it happened twice???) to be present for both births and witness what it truly takes to bring a new human being to this world. And I wish more people could have the experience of resting and recovering at their own home, right after the birth.
However, ironically the home birth movement also pushes vaccine skepticism. I guess it aligns with its suspicion of Big Medicine—which to be clear, has A LOT of problems. Anyway, I wish that more folks can and can afford having home births and that the home birth movement doesn’t push the anti-vax nonsense anymore.
I’ve thought about this a lot since my own involvement in the natural birth/breastfeeding community over a decade ago. My kids are both fully vaccinated now and I’m a huge proponent for them all *now*, but man, that skepticism was pervasive at a time when I was vulnerable to it. The community that I was involved with (in Mobile, AL, so take that with a grain of salt) was very evangelical and anti-choice, though very opposed to the state dictating birth choices (oh, the irony). I think my commitment to abortion rights—I’ve worked in the field for many years—was the only insulation I had against going full reactionary about all of it, but I saw it work on a lot of people who came in for support and were enticed into dangerous ideologies by the camaraderie they found there.
Yep. I was gifted books by Dr. Sears when my kids were little, and while some of the advice was helpful, the misinformation about vaccines was overwhelming, and I spent a lot of time worrying I did the wrong thing by vaccinating.
Maggie talked about his when we spoke. When she was in Northern Michigan she was often documenting communities who were anti-vax. Another layer to the work the midwives were asked to do.
If you haven't read it, you might enjoy Eula Biss's On Immunity. She approaches the subject of vaccination after she gives birth to her first child. The book was published in 2014 but reads like it could have been published last week. I really loved it.
Yes, having been in a lot of birth- and birth-adjacent spaces for most of my professional career, including time at a freestanding birth center - it's an issue. (FWIW all the midwives at the birth center were totally pro-vaccination, but many of the patients were resistant. I definitely spent time talking with patients about which pediatric practices in the area would or would not accept their unvaccinated babies.) I do think it aligns with a suspicion of "the system" and standard medical practice, and often the people attracted to home birth are already trending that way and it's an easy hop into full vaccine skepticism.
Optimistic ask, but is anyone here involved in midwifery, and if so, would you be willing to answer a few questions about the work of midwifery? I'm writing a speculative novel about a midwife's apprentice in a Puritan-inspired world, and while I've done research, I'd love to talk with someone with first-hand experience. Crossing my fingers and putting this ask out into the community.
Thank you for this lovely interview, such insight and amazing photos. I especially appreciated the connection between the Life photos and Maggie Shannon's work. I've both been an advocate at abortion clinics and a birth doula (hospital and home), so it was interesting to see both discussed.
Beautiful piece, thank you.
And just so people know — there are many midwife groups who also deliver in hospitals, in the event you are not looking to do a homebirth or birth center, but would like the additional support that comes with midwifery care. And, many midwives support you if you want an epidural. Just sharing because I’ve realized a lot of people don’t realize these things/there is a lack of awareness!
Almost all births attended by a midwife take place in a hospital setting!
Yes! I had my two children with a midwife, in a hospital in Seattle. I was able to have the births I wanted, without an epidural. I had some issues in my pregnancy that required me to be in a hospital in case things when wrong, so I was thankful I could have the best of both worlds.
+1 to this. If you are in Seattle, Swedish has a midwifery program in the hospital that you can go through, along with prenatal group classes called Centering. I did it back when it was at Swedish Ballard (it has since moved to first hill) and it was fantastic.
Yes! I also loved my two hospital deliveries under a midwife's care--two very different midwives in the same practice but very wonderful, super joyful deliveries of my babies! These photos and story are wonderful.
Does anyone remember A Baby Story back when TLC was in its heyday? It was probably the late 90s/early aughts? Half-hour episodes following birthing people as they gave birth, on every single weekday. I watched SO many of those! I hadn't given thought to the fact that there are whole generations who haven't seen that kind of representation of birth on a regular basis.
Yes! I LOVED that show as a teenager and surprise, I ended up going into birth- and birth-adjacent fields professionally. I didn't realize until later how medicalized so many of those births were (very standard-issue '90s hospital births).
FYI there are now a zillion birth videos on YouTube (and interestingly, probably 99% are home births as hospitals usually won't let you record your birth). So there is a way to watch them if you are a birth-interested teenager, but no one seems to be putting them on TV these days. (But are teenagers watching TV anyway?)
I had no idea that COVID caused an increase in home births—makes so much sense!
We’re a lesbian couple who had home births for both our sons (one in TX, one in CA). My spouse was inspired by her sister-in-law to choose this method. It was truly an incredible experience (wanted to say ‘singular’, but it happened twice???) to be present for both births and witness what it truly takes to bring a new human being to this world. And I wish more people could have the experience of resting and recovering at their own home, right after the birth.
However, ironically the home birth movement also pushes vaccine skepticism. I guess it aligns with its suspicion of Big Medicine—which to be clear, has A LOT of problems. Anyway, I wish that more folks can and can afford having home births and that the home birth movement doesn’t push the anti-vax nonsense anymore.
I’ve thought about this a lot since my own involvement in the natural birth/breastfeeding community over a decade ago. My kids are both fully vaccinated now and I’m a huge proponent for them all *now*, but man, that skepticism was pervasive at a time when I was vulnerable to it. The community that I was involved with (in Mobile, AL, so take that with a grain of salt) was very evangelical and anti-choice, though very opposed to the state dictating birth choices (oh, the irony). I think my commitment to abortion rights—I’ve worked in the field for many years—was the only insulation I had against going full reactionary about all of it, but I saw it work on a lot of people who came in for support and were enticed into dangerous ideologies by the camaraderie they found there.
Ugh, I totally get you and so glad you didn’t fall into that rabbit hole. And 100% in agreement to the reactionary streak in such movements.
Yep. I was gifted books by Dr. Sears when my kids were little, and while some of the advice was helpful, the misinformation about vaccines was overwhelming, and I spent a lot of time worrying I did the wrong thing by vaccinating.
Maggie talked about his when we spoke. When she was in Northern Michigan she was often documenting communities who were anti-vax. Another layer to the work the midwives were asked to do.
If you haven't read it, you might enjoy Eula Biss's On Immunity. She approaches the subject of vaccination after she gives birth to her first child. The book was published in 2014 but reads like it could have been published last week. I really loved it.
https://www.graywolfpress.org/books/immunity
Thanks for your comment!
Yes, having been in a lot of birth- and birth-adjacent spaces for most of my professional career, including time at a freestanding birth center - it's an issue. (FWIW all the midwives at the birth center were totally pro-vaccination, but many of the patients were resistant. I definitely spent time talking with patients about which pediatric practices in the area would or would not accept their unvaccinated babies.) I do think it aligns with a suspicion of "the system" and standard medical practice, and often the people attracted to home birth are already trending that way and it's an easy hop into full vaccine skepticism.
This was a fascinating read, and so lovely.
Optimistic ask, but is anyone here involved in midwifery, and if so, would you be willing to answer a few questions about the work of midwifery? I'm writing a speculative novel about a midwife's apprentice in a Puritan-inspired world, and while I've done research, I'd love to talk with someone with first-hand experience. Crossing my fingers and putting this ask out into the community.
I’m a midwife and can try to help out!
Thank you for this lovely interview, such insight and amazing photos. I especially appreciated the connection between the Life photos and Maggie Shannon's work. I've both been an advocate at abortion clinics and a birth doula (hospital and home), so it was interesting to see both discussed.