womynwise1

I am a self-taught homebirth midwife, birth and health educator and peer counselor. I've supported families in becoming more empowered, informed and inspired in taking responsibility for their health, birth, and family-making choices since 1978. I earned a BA in university studies from Southern IL University in 1979, having studied 'all things about people' during my undergraduate years: psychology, sociology, philosophy and religion; health education, nutrition, child development and education; and a smattering of other topics of interest including art and design. I have undertaken graduate studies on and off since then, in counseling, education, women's studies, health education, nutrition, communication and performance, computer graphics, biological sciences and art. No graduate degrees, just a recurring interest in becoming more educated on all things relating to being human, and helping humans, especially with respect to maternal-child health, pregnancy, birth, babies, breastfeeding and family making. During all these years I've continued my self-directed studies as well, reading widely and attending conferences and workshops. I am nearly done raising 6 children, 5 born at home (and 3 of those unassisted by professional help), and 1 cesarian birth. I'm now a grandmother, and have been a mostly-unschooling mom though all of my kids have had some public schooling. Raised during the Cold War Years and Next Wave Feminism of the 1960s, growing up through the birth of the Green Movement, I have gradually come to believe that saving ourselves and this planet is all about our reclaiming of personal power and self-responsibility in a context of awareness of all of life, the need for strong community and our joint stewardship of Earth and all life forms. Yes, I do think we, and the Earth, need saving--to be backed off the brink of oblivion upon which we teeter these past few decades! Nowhere have I witnessed the re-birth/re-membering of women's (and their mates') natural power, joy and self-responsibility as I have during self-chosen birthing; it is that power and self-responsibility that moves families further into health and deeper awareness with their ongoing work in making life-affirming choices for themselves and babies.