Refuge Midwifery

Admin appreciation post! Last year when COVID midwifery was swamping our practice, Ray texted @elizabeth.weinstein and asked "would you like a part time job doing all the boring stuff for a midwifery practice?" Elizabeth said yes, and SAVED our butts by keeping our office presentable, tracking down records, and helping us move twice during this pandemic amongst a million other tasks. Elizabeth is also an awesome Philly doula that we love midwifing alongside, and is transitioning out of the role as our admin person this summer because her doula practice is so full. We're excited to keep working with Elizabeth at births and are so grateful for your help getting us through this past year!

We are almost full for 2021! If you'd like us to help you catch your own baby at home, reach out soon to schedule your free consultation. As a midwife team we cap our births at 5 per month so we can be attentive to all of our clients and also count on some sleep in our lives.

It's happening again! Join us on August 2nd from 6-8pm EST on Zoom to learn the ins and outs of making a baby for queer and solo parents to be - link to register in bio. . The class covers: *tracking the menstrual cycle to identify ovulation *where to get sperm... *different insemination methods *going off T to get pregnant *how to support your fertility and *care provider options to help you conceive including midwife supported IUI with me and Shosh. . This class is sliding scale $50-$100, $30 for BIPOC. Reserve your spot by registering, link in bio. If you are QTGNC BIPOC person and cost is a barrier to attend, email [email protected] for a free spot. . This session is only open to folks that are queer, trans, gender non-conforming, or folks pursing solo parenting. More birth worker education happening with @manhattanbirth July 24th - link in bio! . #queer #lgbt #lgbtqia #queerfamilies #queerparents #parents #families #fertiliity #sperm #eggs #transfamilies #reproduction #iui #ici #donorsperm #intrauterineinsemination #assistedreproduction #singleparent #midwives #midwife #singleparentbychoice #singlemotherbychoice #seahorsepapa #seahorsedad #nonbinary #phillymidwife #cpm See more

Happy Pride from your two queer midwives here at @refugemidwifery When we started midwifery school together in 2013, the idea of being publicly out as practicing home birth midwives was almost unimaginable. But thanks to amazing queer midwives that came before us like @taprootmidwifery @midwitchery @losangelesmidwife Sara Flores and MAIA Midwifery, we get to be ourselves all day every day

We're teaching Beyond the Baster again! This is the *how* to create a pregnancy when you lack sperm class for queer, trans, and future solo parents, and connect to your future parent community! Tickets for sale on Eventbrite and free spots available for BIPOC, email us at [email protected] for details.

#earlylabor can be lengthy and demanding of energy. Without the high endorphin release that comes with longer and stronger #laborcontractions , we often move... through excitement and eagerness over the start of labor to feeling uncomfortable and tired. Putting too much emphasis on #contractions and not enough focus on rest and distraction can leave #laboring people feeling exhausted and frustrated. Here are a few reminders to help you stay grounded, centered, and physically and emotionally nourished through the early phase of #laborandbirth . #thisisyourbirth #blossomingbelliesbirth #lnowyouroptionsinbirth #comfortinlabor #labortips #pregnantlife #endofpregnancy #40weekspregnant #laborandbirth #empoweredbirth #healthybirth

Beyond the Baster: Introduction to Alternative Insemination is back online next month! This class is geared towards queer and trans people with uteri, and prospective single parents about how to get pregnant if you lack sperm, geared more to the DIY side of things. This session will only be open to queer, trans and non-binary folks, and people pursing single parenting. More birth worker education coming in 2021! Beyond the Baster is sliding scale $50-$100, $30 for BIPOC. Free spots available for TGNC BIPOC by emailing me at [email protected]

"Research shows that healthy patients who have their births with midwives, as opposed to physicians, have better birth outcomes. They have lower rates of C-section, as well as lower rates of episiotomy and a reduced risk of fetal loss before the third trimester. They report better communication with their providers and overall have a higher level of satisfaction with their birth experiences. Studies haven’t found differences in Apgar scores or admission rates to the NICU between births with midwives and births with doctors. Midwifery care also costs significantly less. And yet, 90% of births in the U.S. are attended by doctors." https://www.huffpost.com//obgyn-pregnancy-good-doctor_n_5f https://www.huffpost.com//obgyn-pregnancy-good-doctor_n_5f

End of the year Hanukkah present to your midwife? Google review me! Every bit of client love helps me keep doing what I'm doing by reaching future home birth families and folks trying to conceive at home. Help me midwife the revolution! . Link in bio!

I've been finding so much solace in the day to day of midwifing my client's in recent weeks. The world has felt really hard and painful and unsettled, but the cycle of pregnancy, birth and postpartum are the same. The childbearing year is a bit more isolating during the pandemic. Luckily babies are still incredible tiny humans, and meeting yours is the best moment on earth. Photo from @lindsey_eden_photography

Online support group for pregnant and postpartum folks this year

They often say your second birth might be a bit faster than your first. Not always, but often. Well this second baby wasn't messing around! Contractions starte...d around 10pm, and by 11pm dad texted to tell me they were coming regularly but not in any real pattern yet. Near midnight I heard that midwife Refuge Midwifery was on the way, and I knew it was time to follow. We were all assembled by 1am, and baby August was born into his mom's hands about half an hour later! The amazing looks on her face say it all! Did your births follow the 1st long, 2nd short pattern? Then of course, if you keep going, 3rd births are the wild card and you never know what you're gonna get! #fastbirth #secondbirth #bornathome #birthinthetimeofcovid #waterbirth #philadelphiabirthphotographer #Phillybirth #racheluephoto

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologist released a statement about COVID Vaccination and pregnancy and lactation

I’m so excited to announce that I’m working on a new project with @restoremidwifery !!! We are collecting stories about the LGBTQ conception process for the purpose of creating an anthology about how people in our communities build families. We are hoping to get this book published and available in the mainstream, to create more knowledge about LGBTQ family creation and to celebrate our families. If we do get a publishing deal, we plan to compensate contri...butors for their work and willingness to share their stories. If you’re interested in submitting your story, here is the link to the website which includes the call for submissions: https://www.lgbtqconceptionstories.com/ A little more about us: We are two queer midwives based in Oakland, CA and Philadelphia, PA serving our community. We help LGBTQ people conceive, grow, and birth their families in a system that isn’t designed for us. Where fertility clinics, insurance coverage, sperm and egg banks, community conception and pregnancy resources fail to support and uplift our unique family planning needs, we rely on our queer community’s collective wisdom. The importance of sharing our stories with each other remains one of the key ways queer folks learn how to make babies and support each other’s transition into parenthood. Please share widely! #queerfamilies #lgbtqfamilies #iui #iuisuccess #adoption #spermdonors #callforsubmissions #queerstories See more

#walterwallacejr #blacklivesmatter art by @micahbazant

Day 3 postpartum + halloween . . . Photo cred @queerailoi

This Sunday I'm teaching about trans inclusive reproductive care for the midwest access project. The webinar is FREE but spots are limited - register to reserve your spot.

Did you know there is an alternative to Pap smears? HPV swabs are a reasonable alternative to routine cervical cancer screening, do not require a speculum exam and are self administered. Check out this video to learn more

A very belated shoutout to my friend Kate of @moonstonesunrise midwifery, who quarantined, COVID tested, and came to Philly to assist me in a busy stretch earlier this month. Kate and I attended midwifery school together, and were lucky enough to live around the corner from each other and do just about all of our schoolwork together for three years. . I wouldn't have made it through #midwifery school without her, and am so grateful for her friendship and support for 7+ years. If you need an amazing midwife AND lactation consultant in Vermont, check her out!

It’s raining babies! Weston James was born early last Friday morning, weighing 9 pounds 5 ounces. Wes is a stellar nurser and also quite possibly a red head, which is ridiculously cute

Introducing August Gray! Baby Gus was born at home into his mom’s hands early Monday morning, in an exciting speedy birth. His big sister woke up shortly before he was born and had A LOT to say about birth sounds and, along with his parents, is so excited Gus is here. Welcome baby! . . .... . . #homebirth #bornathome #newbaby #freshbaby #thisishomebirth #newborn #homebirthbaby #naturalbirth #2ndbaby #waterbirth #borninwater #secondbaby #homebirthmidwife #phillymidwife #refugemidwifery See more