Midwife means, “with woman.” Sometimes all we need when going through one of our life passages is another woman to guide us, or just be with us or to say, “You can do this.”

A midwife is a woman who is trained in the ways of women’s bodies. A midwife holds the space for a laboring woman to enter into her deepest, innermost place where wisdom dwells. The body-wisdom that moves us through labor and other physiologic transitions throughout our cyclic lives.

At the core of midwifery is the belief that women’s physiology is normal and healthy.  That our cycles are beneficial and that birth is good for a woman as well as her baby. That a woman does not need to be rescued from herself or her labor pain. Midwives support a woman in her health and encourage women to participate in their own health care, including prenatal care and active participation in birth.

A midwife is involved in bringing forth a woman’s innate wisdom and body knowledge. Midwives are educators, supporters, facilitators, advocates, and keepers of a body of knowledge specific to women.