Philadelphia Midwife Collective

Hi Friends, Last night, my car was broken into and all of my home birth supplies were stolen. This is, of course, a devastating setback for my small practice and a large unexpected expense to get back on track and be ready to take care of the families entrusting me with their care. I know that this is a hard time for everyone but please share widely and perhaps I can quickly recover some of what was lost. I appreciate your support and sharing so much. Thank you!

It’s Thanks, birth control! day. It’s not just about preventing pregnancies, although giving people who can get pregnant the autonomy to decide if, when, and how that happens is a revolutionary act. Oral contraceptives, rings, patches, IUDs, and implants can help with menstrual complications, pain, gender dysphoria, skin and mood issues. Barrier methods help prevent sexually transmitted infections. Emergency contraception and abortion are essential tools for maintaining our safety and bodily integrity. How has access to birth control improved your life? #thxbirthcontrol #birthcontrolpills #nuvaring #iud #nexplanon #condom #dentaldam #medicationabortion #planb #aspiration

Good morning, from Einstein Medical Center Montgomery. When I see the sun rise from the huge windows here during a long, hard labor, I always feel renewed. The energy shifts and we push forward. Let’s welcome a baby today!

Client gift, take two.

Client gifts it’s the mug I wanted!!!!

I really enjoyed this informative comic from Oh Joy Sex Toy about the journey of discovering climax or orgasm through self play and with partners. Individual experience with orgasm is different for all people. For some, orgasms are easy and plentiful but, for many, they are complex and are dependent on environment, head space, chronic pain status, and access to toys/equipment. Some folks are anorgasmic (don’t have them) or are on the ace/asexual spectrum and do not incorporate the practice into their lives. Remember, there are many reasons why people do or do not participate in sex activities and the goal is not always an orgasm. https://www.ohjoysextoy.com/figuring-out-how-to-orgasm-by-/

Popped into the office for an #iui and brought along a helper, but they were down for the count before the sperm arrived. #fertilitycare #queerconception #midwifery #family #toddlershenanigans

#Repost @steph.b.ibclc PSA: bodyfeeding is SO MUCH FUCKING WORK, please stop telling folks (especially marginalized, systemically poor folks) that bodyfeeding is free. Not only is it expended time and mental energy, it’s physically challenging and emotionally taxing. I hear this all the time at the hospital where I round and I see it meme’d all over the internet. Instead of capitalizing bf and trying to convince someone that burning 500 calories per day doesn’t cost anything, let’s acknowledge the hard work people put in to feeding their babes human milk and encourage/support/hold space for folks choosing this path. Image by @gatherbirth.

What do you bring to a birth? Everything and then a backup everything. #homebirth

Starting #nationalmidwiferyweek with some much needed community. Babies were coming and I didn’t think I would make it to this midwife retreat but, when my #birthstorm ended at ten pm on the last night, I decided to dig deep for my last bit of energy to drive up and meet some of my favorite colleagues for much needed (although brief) community healing. Love you all! @phillymetromidwives

#Repost @mymidwifetia Gentle reminders for the person giving birth. Being informed of all of your birthing options and choices allow you to make decisions that feel good to you and your family.... Research everything, ask questions, take a childbirth Ed class, let go of fear and change the way you view and approach birth. : #bybrooksandco #amberdenaephotography #mymidwifetia #midwife #midwifelife #childbirtheducation #midwiferycare #birthbecomesher #homebirth #doula #birthmatters #blackmidwife #newbaby #melanatedmidwife #pregnancy #prenatalcare #birthcenter #buybuybaby #floridamidwife #goldenhour #blackwomendohomebirth #westpalmbeach #palmbeachmidwife #maternity #blackmaternalhealth #thirdtrimester #fourthtrimester #baby

#pmckiddos #Repost @allthingsingriddd 2020 has been crazy for the world but amazing for myself. I welcomed my third king at home surrounded by loved ones and woke up the next morning and attend lecture virtually. I didn’t miss one day my entire pregnancy and haven’t missed a day since he’s been born. Anything is possible when you have your mind set midwive: @philadelphiamidwives photos: @_carm #LPNstudent #NoDaysOff #homebirth2020

#Repost @llh169 And then there were two... Nico James Manozzi Born overnight at home, August 31st, 8lbs 20.5 inches, 6:59am... Tremendous thanks to our incredible, caring midwifes @philadelphiamidwives @refugemidwifery - who both came straight from other births to help execute the perfect home birth Shout out to @phillyhypnobirthing @rootedboston @pelvichealth for all providing invaluable prenatal care for my mind, body, and pelvic floor. #homebirth #homebirthbabies #philadelphiamidwives #naturalbirth #midwivesrock #empoweredbirth #mindfulbirth #pelvichealth #backlaborsucks

Back to work this week after a few weeks off healing from #topsurgery! I was nervous, but it actually feels so good to be back in the office doing what I know best, providing #midwifery care. I’m so grateful to everyone for your support and the space to heal from this life changing procedure, especially my colleagues at Womanwise midwifery Jenn, Ronni and Emma as well as Ray who has agreed to come support me at homebirths while I get back to baseline. I am so grateful for my community support! @wisewound @refugemidwifery

#repost #pmckiddos introducing ellery mattisse joy. born 8/1/2020 at 11:19am. 6lbs 15oz. 21 inches long. they/them pronouns. we hope ellery will bring y’all some joy like so many of you have done for us during this adventure. the support we’ve received means everything to us and we are so lucky to have such a great community. a special shoutout to Mac at @philadelphiamidwives for making our dreams come true.

#Repost @biffandi with @get_repost I don’t know how to tell women that I am not a threat to them. That my ability to give birth doesn’t take away from their ability to give birth. That my encouragement of affirming birthing spaces is not an attack on their sacredness spaces. That I, too, am sacred. That I, too, am a giver of life... that my self-knowledge as a man does not make any of that go away. How can I convince them? . Because also, I understand their skepticism tow...ards me. After all, it is I who stormed out of the Lady Party years ago, vowing to never return. I shunned the feminine for so long, falling victim to the idea that there was only one way to be a man. And for that, I am truly sorry. Sexism poisoned me too, and I am still recovering. . When I entered the birthing world, I initially tried to act as an uninvited guest might treading lightly until I understood my place. What I found was a community of people who had built their entire identities around birthing-person-as-woman. . If I am a woman because I can give birth, but now men can give birth too, then what does that make me? I cannot answer that question for you, because the ability to give birth should never have been the foundation for your identity to begin with. What about the choice not to birth? What about the inability to birth? What about the feminist idea that none of us is required to birth in order to secure our role as valuable human? . I try to be gracious. To understand that in many ways, I am still a guest here. This is a Lady Party, and I wasn’t invited back in. But wherever I encounter defensiveness, I know there is a wound. We don’t defend the parts of ourselves that have healed. This is why I don’t attack women who don’t believe I should be at their party it’s not me they’re mad at. It’s not me who hurt them. It’s sexism that forced them to seek refuge with women, and now I’m barging in like I own the place. . When we are able to see sexism not trans peopleas the problem, that’s when liberation will come. See more

#worldbodyfeedingweek #worldchestfeedingweek #worldbreastfeedingweek

Deniro Shakur White went home this morning to meet big brother Dejuan jr! This lucky midwife got to be there for both :) #pmckiddos #midwifelife #hospitalbirth @einsteinhealth