Midwifery Wisdom
Autism & Midwifery | Midwifery Wisdom Podcast Episode 99
updated
This year’s conference is extra special because we’ll be launching three brand-new Midwifery Wisdom courses during the event. You’ll get early access to fresh content designed to elevate your midwifery practice.
✨ Conference Topics Include:
DAY 1 - The First 48 Hours for the Newborn - Oct 4th 2025 9:00AM PST- 3:00PM PST
Day 2 - Defensive Charting Updates & Midwife And The Machine - Oct 5th 2025 9:00AM PST - 4:00PM PST
📚 Earn CEUs and connect with midwives from across the country.
Discounts are available for students and WARM members!
🔗 Register now by visiting warmmidwives.com/events
With gratitude,
Augustine Colebrook & MWC Team
We’re thrilled to announce the launch of the Midwifery Wisdom Fellowship. Christie Davis and Augustine Colebrook created this mentorship to help future leaders step into advanced practice with confidence, build sustainable careers, and truly change the culture of midwifery for good.
And here’s the best part — to celebrate, we’re hosting a giveaway! One lucky midwife will win a complete starter kit valued at over $500 — everything from a Doppler and neonatal stethoscope, to a scale, instruments, NRP kit, blood pressure cuff and more. PLUS, a gorgeous handmade Patchwork Carpet Bag from St. Clair Designs to carry it all in.
For more details, go to our website midwiferywisdomcollective.com/midwifery-wisdom-fellowship#birth-kit-giveaway
The winner will be announced on September 24th, so don’t miss your chance to join the Fellowship movement and start your practice with the tools — and support — you deserve.
#midwiferywisdomfellowship #midwifeburnout #midwiferycareer
#MidwiferyWisdomPodcast #HannahDahlen
In this conversation, Hannah shares:
Her powerful journey into midwifery, growing up in Yemen alongside her mother, a practicing midwife.
The art of holding space in birth, and why it’s often misunderstood as “doing nothing.”
Stories of humility, intuition, and the delicate balance between action and inaction in midwifery.
Her vision for shifting the global understanding of midwifery alongside obstetrics.
We're also thrilled to announce the launch of the Midwifery Wisdom Fellowship. Christie Davis and I created this mentorship to help future leaders step into advanced practice with confidence, build sustainable careers, and truly change the culture of midwifery for good.
And here’s the best part — to celebrate, we’re hosting a giveaway! One lucky midwife will win a complete starter kit valued at over $500 — everything from a Doppler and neonatal stethoscope, to a scale, instruments, NRP kit, blood pressure cuff and more. PLUS, a gorgeous handmade Patchwork Carpet Bag from St. Clair Designs to carry it all in.
More details on our website www.midwiferywisdom.com
Midwives have a unique advantage: with smaller client loads and closer relationships, they can actually ask clients about their wearable data and begin forming their own case studies.
#AIandMidwives #AIinHealthcare #MidwiferyWisdomPodcast
For midwives, this raises urgent questions:
⚠️ Who owns your client’s birth data?
⚠️ What happens when AI systems are built on biased information?
⚠️ How do you stay compliant when different states (and countries) have stricter privacy protections than others?
#AIandMidwives #AIinHealthcare #MidwiferyWisdomPodcast
That’s where midwives have a real advantage. As independent practitioners, we aren’t tied down by hospital politics, contracts, or layers of approval. We can pivot quickly, adopt the best new technology, and give families access to tools that traditional systems take years to adopt.
Midwifery isn’t behind—it’s actually better positioned for the future.
#AIandMidwives #AIinHealthcare #MidwiferyWisdomPodcast
That’s where midwives have a real advantage. As independent practitioners, we aren’t tied down by hospital politics, contracts, or layers of approval. We can pivot quickly, adopt the best new technology, and give families access to tools that traditional systems take years to adopt.
Midwifery isn’t behind—it’s actually better positioned for the future.
#AIandMidwives #AIinHealthcare #MidwiferyWisdomPodcast
👉 Subscribe for more conversations on midwifery, birth justice, and the future of maternal health.
#AIandMidwives #AIinHealthcare #MidwiferyWisdomPodcast
You’ll hear candid stories about electronic charting, breaches, and the financial risks small practices face, balanced with a hopeful look at innovations like handheld ultrasounds, continuous glucose monitors, and integrated lab tools. The trio also explores how midwives can harness social media and AI—like ChatGPT—to expand influence, streamline documentation, and amplify their voices in a system that too often silences them.
Whether you’re tech-curious, tech-cautious, or somewhere in between, this discussion reminds us that while technology can never replace the human essence of midwifery, it can support us in practicing more safely, efficiently, and visibly.
Interested in learning more? Augustine will be teaching a course on AI and Midwives at this year's WARM conference. Sign up on our website www.midwiferywisdom.com
In this clip, midwife Aubre Tompkins calls for change: it’s time for midwives in America to stop being polite, to stand up, and to claim their rightful place in healthcare. Midwifery care has the power to improve outcomes, increase access, and transform women’s health.
👉 If you believe in the future of midwifery care in America, share this video and add your voice to the movement.
#midwiferywisdompodcast #safebirth #healthcarereform
Capitalism may have its place—but when it comes to healthcare and education, it’s failing us. The U.S. system is profit-driven, and it’s costing families their lives, safety, and access to care.
Consumers hold more power than they realize. Where we spend our money, who we elect, and how loudly we demand midwifery care—it all shapes the future of our healthcare system.
🗳️ From the city council to the federal level, our votes and our dollars matter.
What’s one change you’d like to see in how healthcare works in the U.S.? Drop your thoughts below 👇
In this clip, midwife Aubre Tompkins calls for change: it’s time for midwives in America to stop being polite, to stand up, and to claim their rightful place in healthcare. Midwifery care has the power to improve outcomes, increase access, and transform women’s health.
👉 If you believe in the future of midwifery care in America, share this video and add your voice to the movement.
#midwiferywisdompodcast #safebirth #healthcarereform
👉 The data is clear: poor outcomes are coming from the hospital-based, physician-led system—not from home birth, birth centers, or midwifery care.
Midwives, birth workers, and consumers: it’s time to speak up, get loud, and demand change. This is a human rights issue.
💬 Do you believe healthcare should be for-profit? Let’s talk ⬇️
Watch the full episode youtu.be/_ZnAi8Uka6M?feature=shared
Augustine and Aubre unpack the dangers of pregnancy in the U.S.—especially for BIPOC communities—revealing how poor outcomes stem from the hospital-based, physician-led system rather than midwifery care. Yet, the for-profit model of healthcare continues to suppress the most obvious solutions. This conversation, as urgent today as ever, is also a call to action—for midwives and consumers alike—to raise their voices and demand meaningful change in U.S. healthcare.
✨ Topics covered:
-Why profit-driven healthcare works against families
-Polarization in the Midwifery World
-Why midwives and consumers need to push for real change
👉 If you care about maternal health, birth justice, and the future of midwifery, this is a must-listen.
Keep the conversation going on skool.com/midwiferywisdom
Red clover for kidneys, plantain for skin repair, dandelion for detox—these powerful plants grow wild all around us.
Would you recognize them? 🍃
🎧 Listen now on the Midwifery Wisdom Podcast youtu.be/tInksYXYIIE?feature=shared
Join Midwifery Wisdom Skool—your all-in-one membership for courses, community, and NARM prep for $69/month. Unlock 12+ classrooms inside as you level up: skool.com/midwiferywisdom
✨ If you’ve ever felt like your period is a “death sentence,” this conversation is for you.
🎧 Listen now on the Midwifery Wisdom Podcast youtu.be/tInksYXYIIE?feature=shared
Join Midwifery Wisdom Skool—your all-in-one membership for courses, community, and NARM prep for $69/month. Unlock 12+ classrooms inside as you level up: skool.com/midwiferywisdom
Zaire shares her remarkable journey from pediatric cardiac transplant nursing to apprenticing with grand midwives in Georgia and herbal masters in Nigeria, weaving together clinical knowledge, traditional midwifery, and holistic herbalism. She discusses the vital difference between community herbalists and clinical herbalists, how unresolved emotions can manifest physically in the body, and why reclaiming herbal wisdom is essential for reproductive health and sovereignty.
We also dive into her new book, Herbal Harmony: A Comprehensive Guide to Using Herbs to Help with Reproductive Health, which empowers readers to better understand their bodies, advocate for themselves in medical spaces, and pass on generational wisdom to their families.
✨ Topics we cover:
- The path from allopathic nursing to traditional midwifery
- What sets a clinical herbalist apart from community herbalism
- The role of emotions, trauma, and lifestyle in reproductive health
- Everyday herbs growing in your own backyard
- Practical steps to begin your herbal journey
- How Herbal Harmony helps bridge the gap between patients and providers
📖 You can find Herbal Harmony on Amazon and at mysticmommaherbals.com
Join Midwifery Wisdom Skool—your all-in-one membership for courses, community, and NARM prep for $69/month. Unlock 12+ classrooms inside as you level up: skool.com/midwiferywisdom
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By naming every issue and creating a plan you follow at each visit—whether it’s VBAC/TOLAC, creeping blood pressure, anemia, or co-care with a physician—you’re not just documenting, you’re building your best legal defense.
That’s exactly what we’ll dig into inside the Defensive Charting Lab—a 3-hour, live, hands-on webinar with Augustine Colebrook. Together, we’ll review real charts, update defensive charting rules for 2025, and give you the tools to safeguard your practice while strengthening client care.
🖊️ Learn more & join the lab → https://DefensiveChartingLab.eventbrite.com
She shares her journey from witnessing her mother’s VBAC and traumatic hemorrhage as a child, to teaching life-saving skills in the army, to blending EMS training with midwifery wisdom in both civilian and disaster settings. Jessica opens up about why VBACs hold a special place in her heart, how resourcefulness and quick thinking translate across emergencies, and why every family—not just midwives—can benefit from basic birth and survival knowledge.
We also dive into her Combat Midwife workshops and OB kit, created to prepare families and communities for emergencies, and discuss how midwifery and EMS share surprising historical roots. Whether you’re a birth worker, parent, or simply curious about resilience in the face of the unexpected, this episode is full of insight, grit, and inspiration.
👉 Resources, free downloads, and kits are available at combatmidwife.com (use code WISDOM for a discount).
👉 Listeners also receive 15% off CEU courses at www.midwiferywisdom.com with code MWCPOD15.
🖊️ In a courtroom—or before a board—your notes in your medical chart are either your strongest safeguard or your biggest liability.
That’s why we created the Defensive Charting Lab—a live, hands-on workshop where Augustine Colebrook will walk you through real midwives’ charts, pointing out risks, gaps, and the updates you need to protect your license in today’s climate of litigation and increased scrutiny.
This isn’t a lecture—it’s a lab. Bring your questions, your curiosity, and your commitment to making your chart your #1 legal defense.
👉 Join us for the Defensive Charting Lab and learn:
✔️ The top 5 rules of defensive charting—updated for 2025
✔️ The most common mistakes that still put midwives' licenses at risk
✔️ How to spot weaknesses in your patient chart before an attorney does
✔️ Why charting is also a tool for client connection, not just protection
🗓️ 3 hours. Real charts. Real-time edits. Updated strategies.
Your future self will thank you.
#DefensiveCharting #midwiferywisdom #CoursesforMidwives #ChartingforMidwives
In this clip from the Midwifery Wisdom Podcast, Satori Shakoor shares why we must demand better healthcare and embrace menopause as a true rite of passage. With honesty and passion, she reframes this season as a time to stand proudly and say, “I’ve arrived at my destiny of giving birth to myself.”
🎧 Watch the full episode here: youtu.be/_bD9xJOvo5o
#MenopauseAwareness #WomensHealth #MenopauseSupport #SatoriShakoor #MidwiferyWisdomPodcast #HealthEquity
In this clip from the Midwifery Wisdom Podcast, Satori shares the journey behind Confessions of a Menopausal Femme Fatale—from navigating unknown territory to finally releasing her raw, vulnerable, and deeply human story worldwide.
🎬 Now streaming on Amazon Prime, Apple TV+, and Google Play, the film is earning rave reviews and touching hearts in ways Satori never imagined.
🎧 Watch the full podcast episode here: youtu.be/_bD9xJOvo5o
#FilmmakingJourney #WomenInFilm #Storytelling #MenopauseAwareness #ConfessionsOfAMenopausalFemmeFatale #SatoriShakoor
In this clip from the Midwifery Wisdom Podcast, storyteller and advocate Satori Shakoor shares why she’s working with Governor Whitmer’s statewide panels—bringing together menopause doctors, psychologists, sex therapists, and researchers—to give women the answers, support, and connection they deserve.
🎧 Watch the full conversation here: youtu.be/_bD9xJOvo5o
📌 Learn more about Confessions of a Menopausal Femme Fatale: youtu.be/EMWUKScmv4I?feature=shared
#MenopauseAwareness #MidwiferyWisdomPodcast #WomensHealth #MenopauseSupport #SatoriShakoor #HealthAdvocacy
Now, 5 years later, we’re taking it LIVE in a 3-hour Defensive Charting Lab:
✅ Live critique of real midwives’ anonymized charts
✅ The updated Top 5 Rules of Defensive Charting for 2025
✅ How to spot weaknesses before an attorney does
✅ Protect your license while strengthening client trust
🗓 Seats are limited—reserve yours today:
https://DefensiveChartingLab.eventbrite.com
#Midwifery #MidwifeLife #Homebirth #BirthCenter #Midwives #DefensiveCharting #MidwiferyEducation #BirthWorkers #MidwiferyTraining
Satori brings that same storytelling magic to a topic too often shrouded in silence: menopause. From her acclaimed film Confessions of a Menopausal Femme Fatale to her advocacy with the Michigan Women’s Commission, she shares her deeply personal journey through perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause—illuminating the emotional, physical, and societal challenges along the way.
This conversation explores the gaps in medical training that leave women unsupported, and the transformative self-discovery that can emerge in this life stage. With humor, heart, and unflinching honesty, Satori reframes menopause not as an ending, but as an opening to deeper self-awareness and freedom.
🎧 Listen now to discover:
-Why most doctors get only one hour of menopause training—and what that means for women’s health
-The emotional and physical symptoms of perimenopause and menopause
-How storytelling can break stigma and build community
-The urgent need for advocacy, awareness, and accessible care
Resources & Links:
Watch Confessions of a Menopausal Femme Fatale on Amazon Prime, Apple TV+, or Google Play
Learn more about Satori on her website www.satorishakoor.com
In this short but powerful insight, Augustine Colebrook challenges midwives to zoom out, study successful healthcare business models, and realize that multi-location midwifery practices are 100% possible. Here's how.
✨ Perfect for:
Student & practicing midwives
Birth center owners
Anyone dreaming of scaling their midwifery practice
🚀 Learn how to bridge the gap between clinical skills and CEO-level business thinking.
#Midwifery #MidwiferyBusiness #BirthCenter #MidwifeCEO #MidwiferyWisdom #BirthBusiness #MidwiferyLeadership #HomeBirth #StudentMidwife #EntrepreneurshipInHealthcare
Let’s talk about what’s really in common period and hygiene products. From dioxins in pads to perfumes messing with your hormones — it’s time to rethink what we’re putting on (and in) our bodies.
✨ Watch this clip to learn how everyday products could be affecting fertility and hormone health. Watch the full episode here: youtu.be/Mt4b6GlDSkM?feature=shared
#PeriodHealth #HormoneDisruptors #FertilityAwareness #CleanLiving #MidwiferyWisdom #WomensHealth #ToxicFree
Your vagina is 10x more absorbent than your skin — and no one’s talking about this.
🎙️ A must-hear clip from our latest podcast on @MidwiferyWisdom on period truth, body literacy, and reclaiming menstrual health.
#PeriodTruth #ToxicTampons #BirthworkerEducation #BodyLiteracy #ReproductiveHealth #Glyphosate #PFAs #TamponStudy #MenstrualHealth #Midwives #NaturalLiving
As a former e-commerce strategist turned slow fashion entrepreneur, she brings both science and soul to this powerful conversation about conscious menstruation, cycle care, and body literacy. Together, we explore:
Why midwives and birthworkers should care about what clients use post-birth and beyond
How period underwear is reshaping not just menstruation, but postpartum recovery
What it means to create a product that actually honors the female body
🔗 Learn more: flowergirl.co
📲 Follow on Instagram: @flowergirl.co_
💬 Share with a postpartum doula or cycle educator or anyone in your life who needs to hear this!
In this episode of #AskAugustine, Augustine Colebrook breaks down one of the most complex clinical judgment calls: differentiating normal labor bleeding from a possible placental abruption.
✨ Learn:
When to worry (and when not to)
Real-life case examples from community birth settings
How to balance risk, intuition, and evidence
The red flags that led to transfers—and what was actually discovered
This is a must-watch for student midwives, doulas, and community birth providers navigating the gray areas of clinical care.
📌 Mentioned:
Retroplacental clots
Copious bloody show vs. real danger
What ultrasounds might miss
Transfer and return protocols
Hospital collaboration and client autonomy
👉 Join our community of midwives at Midwifery Wisdom Skool — over 50 hours of clinical education and business support: www.skool.com/midwiferywisdom
Have a question for Augustine? Ask us in the comments!
🔔 Subscribe for more clinical case breakdowns, birth stories, and wisdom from the field.
#Midwifery #PlacentalAbruption #LaborBleeding #MidwiferyEducation #HomeBirth #StudentMidwife #BirthCenterCare #MidwiferyWisdom #CommunityMidwifery #BirthTransfer #ClinicalJudgment #askaugustine
In this honest conversation from the Midwifery Wisdom Podcast, two seasoned midwives reflect on life balance, team practice, and why sometimes sailing, side gigs, or building something totally different is what keeps them whole.
Listen to the full episode now on our channel and don't forget to subscribe!
🎧 Full podcast live now
🌍 Join the Webinar Series Midwifery on the Move to explore whether the Traveling Midwife Lifestyle is for you!
Tickets on our website www.midwiferywisdom.com
#MidwiferyWisdom #MidwifeBurnout #MidwiferyOnTheMove #TravelingMidwives #PodcastShorts #LifeWorkBalance #GlobalMidwife #MidwiferyLife
From lifelong friendships to deeper cultural sensitivity with clients back home, traveling midwives carry these lessons into every birth space they enter.
Join our ongoing Webinar Series on the Traveling Midwife: Midwifery on the Move — an honest look at the joy, ethics, and complexity of practicing midwifery across borders.
🎧 Listen to the full conversation now
🧳 Join the full webinar series (live + recorded) on our website www.midwiferywisdom.com
#MidwiferyOnTheMove #MidwiferyWisdom #CulturalHumility #GlobalMidwife #TravelingMidwives #MulticulturalCare #PodcastShorts #MidwiferyMatters #GlobalCitizenship
Ask ChatGPT
From the loss of her father at a young age to the clarity that comes with global travel, she reminds us that turbulence is part of transformation — and that expanding our worldview can deepen both self-compassion and understanding of others.
If this stirs something in you, join our ongoing Webinar series on the Traveling Midwife. Sign up now on www.midwiferywisdom.com
🎧 Full episode out now
💻 Register for the full webinar series (live + recorded)
#MidwiferyOnTheMove #MidwiferyWisdom #TravelingMidwife #BirthWorkerLife #GlobalMidwifery #LiveBoldly #LifeIsShort #PodcastShorts #PerspectiveShift #CompassionInPractice #WomenWhoMove
In this clip from the Midwifery Wisdom Podcast, Augustine and Allison reflect on the deep, unspoken connection midwives share across languages, borders, and cultures.
Whether you’re catching babies in Canada, New Zealand, or on a boat in the South Pacific — there’s just something about midwives. We see each other. We know each other.
🎧 Full episode streaming now
✨ Join our Webinar Series Midwifery on the Move and explor if the Traveling Midwife Lifestyle is for you.
Subscribe for more global midwifery stories, interviews, and wisdom.
#MidwiferyWisdom #TravelingMidwife #GlobalMidwifery #MidwivesUnite #MidwiferyOnTheMove #BirthWork #SisterhoodOfMidwives #PodcastShorts #WomenSupportingWomen #ReproductiveJustice
This conversation is part of a larger theme we’ve been exploring this month in our ongoing webinar series Midwifery on the Move where we explore what it really means to live a mobile midwifery lifestyle. We’ve been talking about the beauty, the complexity, the ethics, and the practical steps to working around the world.
✨ If this episode sparks something in you, know that it’s not too late to join the webinar and explore what traveling midwife life might look for you. Sign up today on our website www.midwiferywisdom.com
00:00 Introduction and Backstory
00:09 The Universal Bond of Midwives
01:11 Adventurous Spirit of Midwives
02:16 Allison's Journey to Midwifery
03:55 Life as a Traveling Midwife
09:30 Sailing Adventures Begin
12:45 Challenges of Boat Life
15:09 Reflections on Midwifery and Sailing
18:06 Embracing Change and Uncertainty
18:41 Breaking Free from Conventional Life
19:45 Living in the Unknown
21:53 Facing Burnout and Seeking Balance
25:43 The Challenges of a Global Lifestyle
27:32 Navigating Relationships as a Wanderer
30:59 Future Plans and Adventures
34:42 Connecting with Fellow Sailing Midwives
In this powerful short, Christie Davis, Midwife and somatic practitioner, shares insight with Augustine, midwife and founder of Midwifery Wisdom, about how trauma can live in the body long after the event is over.
Together, they unpack:
✨ Why two people can live through the same crisis, but only one walks away with trauma
✨ How your body protects you — and why “slowing down” can feel so threatening
✨ What somatic support can do for birth trauma, burnout, and nervous system healing
Whether you’re a new parent still carrying stress from birth or a birthworker supporting others through intense experiences, this conversation invites a gentler, deeper way to process and move forward.
Listen to the full podcast here: youtu.be/uvexTV-PUYo
#SomaticHealing #BirthTrauma #NervousSystem #MidwiferyWisdom #NewParents #ChristieDavis #Augustine #TraumaRecovery #ParentingSupport
Sometimes, it means something deeper: shift.
In this moment from the Midwifery Wisdom Podcast, Midwife and somatic healer Christie Davis shares a powerful reframe for birthworkers, parents, and anyone living in a constant state of overwhelm:
👉 Don’t shove your fear away.
✨ Acknowledge it. Soothe it. Thank it.
🧠 Tell your nervous system: “I see you. I get why you’re here. But you don’t get to drive.”
This subtle shift—from suppressing emotion to meeting it with compassion—can change your entire approach to burnout, fear, and fatigue.
Whether you're a midwife, doula, or a new parent navigating the postpartum fog… this is for you.
🎧 Full episode available now on the Midwifery Wisdom Podcast
🔔 Subscribe for more somatic tools, birthwork support, and nervous system wisdom.
#MidwiferyWisdom #BurnoutRecovery #SomaticHealing #ParentingSupport #BirthworkerBurnout #NervousSystemRegulation #FearIsNotTheEnemy #PostpartumSupport #FunctionalHealing #SootheDontSuppress #BirthworkIsBrave
Try this surprisingly simple somatic tool to calm your nervous system in seconds.
👉 Put your hand on the nearest surface.
👉 Say one word to describe how it feels.
That tiny pause sends your brain the message:
“You’re safe. You’ve got this.”
Whether you’re up all night with a newborn, anxious about doing things “right,” or just running on fumes — this practice can help bring you back to yourself.
🎧 This gentle reminder comes from our conversation with somatic practitioner Christie Davis on the Midwifery Wisdom Podcast — a show supporting parents, midwives, and birthworkers with real talk and real tools.
✨ You don’t have to push your feelings away. Acknowledge them, soothe them, and keep going.
—
🔔 Subscribe for more grounded parenting support, birth wisdom, and nervous system tools.
🎙️ Full episode: youtu.be/uvexTV-PUYo
#NewParentSupport #SomaticTools #GentleParenting #NervousSystemRegulation #MidwiferyWisdom #PostpartumCare #AnxietyReliefForParents #YoureDoingGreat
Augustine Colebrook and and Christie Davis explore how being an empath is often a survival strategy from childhood—and how part of the work as birthworkers now is learning to uncouple empathy from self-sacrifice.
🌀 You can be empathetic without performing the role of the empath.
🧠 You can do this work without burning out.
Listen to the latest Midwifery Wisdom Podcast 🎧
#MidwiferyWisdom #BirthworkAndTrauma #SomaticHealing #BirthworkerBoundaries
Together, we unpack the somatic foundations of trauma, how nervous systems get "stuck," and what real healing can look like. We also talk boundaries (the kind that keep you and your clients safe), deconstruct the martyrdom baked into midwifery culture, and explore how to build more sustainable careers in birth work—without abandoning your heart.
Whether you're a seasoned provider or a student midwife just entering the field, this is an honest, compassionate conversation you need to hear.
Topics Covered:
- Why so many midwives are burned out—and how to shift that
- What somatic healing actually means (beyond the buzzword)
- The emotional toll of traumatic births on providers
- Signs you’re stuck in a survival nervous system state
- Real-world examples of “normal” midwifery expectations that are not normal
- How boundaries can change everything—for you and your clients
- The difference between empathy and emotional entanglement
- How to start healing—without talk therapy lasting 10 years
🔗 Show Notes:
Learn more about Christie Davis and her somatic healing work for birth professionals at perinataltraumacenter.com/about
Check out our Boundaries for Birthworkers course on our website www.midwiferywisdom.com
00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction
00:11 Christie Davis' Background and Transition
00:54 The Importance of Birth Trauma Healing
02:12 Coaching and Support for Midwives
07:48 Somatic Healing Explained
12:00 Challenges in Midwifery
15:32 Global Perspectives on Midwifery
21:24 Comparing Midwifery to Other Professions
22:58 The Importance of Boundaries in Midwifery
24:52 Guidelines for New Midwives
25:58 Challenges Facing Modern Midwives
29:08 Somatic Approaches to Midwifery
32:16 How to Work with Christie
33:49 Practical Techniques for Nervous System Regulation
37:10 The Future of Midwifery and Student Training
41:11 Conclusion and Contact Information
1️⃣ Stuck but not compromised
2️⃣ Compromised but not stuck
3️⃣ The “oh sh*t” birth—stuck and compromised
Midwives, birth workers, have you ever wondered what really happened at a birth you attended? Understanding these types might offer a new lens.
👇 Drop a comment—have you ever attended one of these scenarios?
#Midwifery #ShoulderDystocia #BirthEmergency #MidwifeTraining #BirthEducation #InformedBirth
Host Augustine Colebrook is joined by two extraordinary traveling midwives: Katrina, a licensed midwife and educator who began her international work in India, and Jata, a neurodivergent advocate and researcher who has practiced in Tanzania, the UK, Australia, and more.
This series explores what it really means to bring midwifery across cultures:
- The beauty and challenge of practicing globally
- Cultural humility vs. cultural competence
- How travel shapes us personally and professionally
- Navigating ethics, expectations, and impact
If you’ve ever dreamed of taking your midwifery work on the road — or you’re just curious about what’s possible — this conversation will inspire, challenge, and expand your view.
Want more? This episode is just a taste of our four-part Midwifery on the Move (8 CEU) webinar. Sign up now to get the full recordings, handouts, and join us live on August 6 and 11, 2025 for the final sessions.
Links:
🎧 Learn more & register for the webinar → midwiferyonthemovewebinar.eventbrite.com
📌 Follow us on Instagram → www.instagram.com/midwiferywisdom
We talk about the power of small daily practices, why midlife is such a profound (and often overlooked) period of transition for women, and how stacking five-minute habits can change everything. From meal planning to hormone shifts, from fiber to essential oils—this is a candid, practical, and empowering conversation for anyone seeking a more vibrant life.
Whether you're in your 30s, 50s, or simply feeling the need for change, this episode reminds us: your well-being is a worthy goal—and you're not alone in the journey.
Feeling burnt out from birthwork? You need to take our Boundaries for Birthworkers class online!
midwifery-wisdom-collective.teachable.com/p/boundaries-for-birth-workers
Access the community at vibestribe.co
00:00 Intro & Guest Welcome
01:30 Burnout & Brain Fog
03:00 Redefining Success
04:30 Discovering Natural Health
06:30 Building Vibes Tribe
08:00 Balance Through Small Habits
10:00 Nutrition & Macros 101
12:30 Brain Fog Solutions
14:00 What Midlife Really Means
16:00 Aromatherapy Myths & Safety
18:00 Final Thoughts
Adilah also recounts the unexpected discovery of a brain tumor just as she was preparing for her NARM exam—and how rest, community support, and cultural postpartum traditions helped her recover and slowly return to practice.
Based in Houston, Texas, Adilah provides culturally rooted postpartum care through Malay Postpartum Spa and Wellness, alongside her midwifery work with Tulip Midwifery.
Looking for a preceptor? Download our free Ultimate Preceptor Match Checklist at www.midwiferywisdom.com to help you find the right fit on your midwifery journey.
00:00 Introduction to the Midwifery Wisdom Podcast
00:20 Meet Adilah Yelton: A Journey to Midwifery
01:46 Navigating the Limbo: Graduated but Not Licensed
06:14 The Importance of Humility and Confidence in Midwifery
08:44 Building Bridges: Networking and Preceptorship
14:27 Self-Care and Balancing Family Life
18:11 The Final Stretch: Preparing for the NARM Exam
20:01 Navigating State Protocols for Midwives
21:28 Learning from Different Preceptors
22:03 Preparing for the NARM Exam
24:24 Transitioning from Student to Licensed Midwife
25:44 A Life-Changing Diagnosis
27:39 Rehabilitation and Community Support
30:32 Returning to Midwifery Practice
33:19 The Importance of Self-Care and Community
39:08 Final Thoughts and Future Projects
Indie began her career working with UNICEF’s Maternal and Neonatal Health Team in Kyrgyzstan before returning to the UK to complete her midwifery training. From there, her path led her to clinical work in Cambodia and Malawi, ultimately drawing her to Ethiopia.
After a year and a half leading neonatal services and emergency obstetric care at a busy referral hospital in rural southwest Ethiopia alongside her colleague Atsede Kidane, the two chose to build something different: their own clinic, rooted in compassion and centered on women’s needs.
Stories from their work in Ethiopia is beautifully captured in the book With Two Souls, co-written by Indie McDowell and Atsede Kidane.
We also dive into what it means to truly commit to place, community, and long-term impact in global birth work.
Are you a midwife called to work beyond borders?
Join us for our upcoming Traveling Midwife Webinar —a 4-part, 8-hour CEU event designed for aspiring and experienced birthworkers who are exploring midwifery on the move.
Led by Augustine Colebrook, and guest traveling midwives, this immersive series will cover legalities, logistics, and cultural considerations of traveling birth work—both international and domestic.
🗓️ Part 1: July 3rd & 9th | 7–9PM EST
🗓️ Part 2: August 6th & 11th | 7–9PM EST
✅ 8 MEAC-approved CEUs
Register now on tinyurl.com/travelingmidwife
With over a decade of experience and more than 100 births attended, Sophia brings a deep reverence for birth as both a physiological marvel and a spiritual rite of passage. She shares how her journey—from drama school to midwifery school in the UK, to her current work supporting families in Corfu—helped her realize what she had always known deep down: she is and has always been a midwife.
Learn more about Sophia on her website: birthingwisdomcorfu.com
In this video, Augustine breaks down what happens when a Foley bulb falls out but the baby’s head isn’t well-applied. Without strong contractions or proper engagement, the cervix can regress. Knowing how to recognize this and plan the next steps is essential for safe and effective labor support.
Learn more in our newest course Physiological Induction & Augmentation
These three entry points form what I call The Balance Triangle.
At the start, one angle of the triangle is disproportionately weighted. Maybe you entered midwifery through a passion for maternal health and sovereignty. Maybe it was the undeniable pull of attending to newborns and life’s first breath. Or perhaps, it was the transformation you yourself experienced through birthwork that called you to this path.
Each is a valid doorway. But remaining in one corner of the triangle will limit your growth and effectiveness as a midwife.
“Balance is not a static state — it is an active dance between self, birther, and baby.”
Learn more in our latest course Physiological Induction and Augmentation:
Drawing from her work at West Middlesex University Hospital and nearly a decade of teaching and clinical leadership, Adelaide shares why perineal health matters, how we can improve outcomes for birthing people, and what inspired her to create a globally recognized training program for midwives and doctors.
If you care about pelvic floor integrity, respectful repair, and empowering providers to do better, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.
Learn more about Adelaide's work here:
perihealthlondon.com


