“We don’t answer to the same authority as everyone else,
so we dont practice like everyone else”
15Moreover, the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was called Shifrah and the other Pu‘ah. 16“When you attend the Hebrew women and see them giving birth,” he said, “if it’s a boy, kill him; but if it’s a girl, let her live.” 17However, the midwives were God-fearing women, so they didn’t do as the king of Egypt ordered but let the boys live. (ii) 18The king of Egypt summoned the midwives and demanded of them, “Why have you done this and let the boys live?” 19The midwives answered Pharaoh, “It’s because the Hebrew women aren’t like the Egyptian women — they go into labor and give birth before the midwife arrives.” 20Therefore God prospered the midwives, and the people continued to multiply and grow very powerful. 21Indeed, because the midwives feared God, he made them founders of families.
exodus 1:15-21
how we treat pregnant women
The women are mothers, not consumers. We will never treat our clients like a paycheck. We are one of few who offer refunds for care not received, as well as large discounts for military families, and families in need. We happily negotiate long term contracts and accept many types of payment for services.
Every pregnancy from conception is a gift. We will never offer or press for abortion and miscarriage care is always included in who we are. Lab orders and ultrasound orders for those pregnant or not- we are happy to provide to our community of mothers without payment or contract.
Midwifery care is collaborative, not a hierarchy. Women never need to feel like they have handed their lives and babies lives over to someone else.
The women are the best decision makers in the care of themselves and their babies. Nobody cares for and loves these babies as much as their mothers. You won’t get condescending medical “suggestions” from your midwives. You will get information that you can understand, and the space and support to make the best decision for your family.
true traditional midwifery
Pregnancy is natural and midwifery is wisdom. Obstetrics have a separate place.
Generations of female wisdom should be given freely to the women giving birth. This is the heart of informed consent. The wisdom should be shared so the decision is in the hands of the mother. Through pregnancy into the newborn stage-whether birthing alone or with a midwife, the knowledge of caring for the pregnant woman and her growing baby, the skills to move a stuck baby, help them breathe, or stop bleeding, should be passed down to the generations of women in our families and communities. The knowledge of breastfeeding and caring for the postpartum mother- should be passed down with our heritage. The midwives - as keepers of this wisdom, should be sharing it for the sake of every woman and future generations.
The midwife’s role is to PROTECT WOMEN AND BABIES FROM THE ADVERSARY.
This may look like keeping your information from the wrong hands at your request. It may look like honoring your wishes against an unnecessary transfer during a long or difficult labor. This may look like providing free care to a family who may be safer at home. This may look like avoiding state requested parent consent forms for declining certain screenings. It may look like your midwife taking some heat for you and for “allowing you” your decisions. This may look like your midwife teaching you what your options are for doctors visits, consent, vaccines, pediatricians, cosleeping, family planning, hospital advocacy, and so much more.Midwifery is not meant to be a “Career”. It is ordained, passed down, & a gift of wisdom. It is not best served by career chasing, young aspirations and ego, or those with limited patience for the beauty and gift of life. The female elders with many children, the ancestral and generational attendants, and those that are called, are the true midwives. Apprenticeship with traditional midwives will teach a midwife far deeper than an expensive college. The old saying was “each one teach one” - but the midwifery model has been infiltrated by obstetrics and the ego of the young and aspiring. The team we have is carefully and prayerfully selected to be a part of our lives here. The midwives and the assistants/students are devoted to autonomy, fully serving women & babies, and honoring the Creators design for childbearing.
The women are the decision makers, the midwives are the facilitators, God is behind the wisdom, the protection, and the creation. The real heroes of every birth are the mothers and their babies.
hard things - how we manage emergencies, hard births, and hard requests
Emergencies are handled with precise protocols ensured to save the lives of mom and baby. Utilizing both traditional and modern obstetric knowledge and skills, preventing and managing emergencies is a key part of midwifery care. It is also a vital skill to keep non-emergency situations, safe and uneventful to ensure excellent outcomes. We go the extra mile to keep non-emergency events from becoming emergencies, or unnecessary traumatic transfers. We do NOT transfer for non emergencies unless the mother’s desire is to transfer.
Long labors, malpositioned babies, requests to stay home, these require a special set of skills to keep you safe, and a level of trust that we only see in this Cardinal Birth community by the Grace of God. This can look like a request for no vaginal exams during very long labors, honoring the mother’s desire to avoid unnecessary transfer after hours of pushing or after a hemorrhage, attending a vbac after multiple cesareans, or attending someone with zero prenatal care, labs or ultrasounds. If we, as your midwives, are confident in their skills and ability to keep you and your baby safe, we want to stay there alongside you when it gets hard.
With the heart of a lion- midwives need to be confident and controlled during a true emergency. Emergencies happen. Every midwife has them in her experiences. The Lord knows who has the heart for this work, and the confidence during difficult moments, comes only from the strength of our faith in the Lord’s protection, mercy, and perfect plan.
During emergencies, we are not panicked, and we do not ignore the families needs, or consent. We do not keep thoughts and observations secret, and the family is always at the head of the conversations about care and potential or necessary decisions during any perceived emergency.