In October of this year, Elissa Carney, a Springfield native and Holyoke resident, joined my homebirth midwifery practice as student midwife and is now our apprentice.Elissa’s entry has reminded me of the value of the apprenticeship model. Prior to the dominance of educational institutions for training, apprenticeship was the route for most professions. With direct…

For most of human history, there was no question as to where and how an infant would sleep in the weeks and months after their birth. The importance of the constant protective contact and accessibility of the mother for breastfeeding was so historically necessary for survival that to suggest an alternative would have been neglectful.…

In the journey of childbirth, the presence of a doula can be transformative. A doula is a trained professional who provides emotional, physical, and informational support to individuals and families before, during, and after childbirth. Their role is not just about assisting with the technical aspects of labor but also about advocating for the birthing…

In May of this year, I wrote an article that I dedicated to my daughter. It was entitled, “My Daughter, The Mother.” And considering the occurrences that followed, I felt compelled to write this follow-up article. I struggled with where and how to begin, so I’m just going to start.