Into Loving Hands, the First Five Years
On August 3, 2009, I opened the door to Local Care Midwifery. Five years and 145 LCM Babies later, we are still here.
Baby Graham Kenwwod
Graham Kenwood, in both name and looks, you are quite a distinguished little fellow. May your whole life be as easy and smooth as your birth (and slightly less exciting). Welcome Baby Graham, we are so glad to have you here! Michelle May all babies be born into loving hands
Starting Local Care Midwifery
In 1999, my family and I moved to New York from Carbondale, Colorado. We moved here for my first job as a midwife. We moved here with my job contract, a lot of hope, and more than just a few prayers. We drove a U-Haul filled with all our belongings and a station wagon filled with our three kids. We drove across mountains, plains and the great Mississippi. Our finances were tight (our budget could handle an occasional treat at Friendly's, not gallons of organic milk). This move was a stretch for all of us, a leap of faith as a family to support my dream of being a midwife.
The Gift of Quiescence
For my birthday, I gave myself the gift of quiescence. Human existence is always a balance of activity and stillness. Literally from the beginning of our physical being, we must move and rest. From the moment that egg and sperm join, a dance begins, movement balanced with quiet. In that beginning, there is work and rest, activity and stillness. That stillness is quiescence.
Baby Isabel Rose
Babies are sweet, and soft, and lovely, and the hope of humanity, and... Babies are a lot of work Birth is natural, and healthy, and safe, and a wondrous journey, and... Birth is a lot of work Isabel Rose, you are all of those things and so much more. Izzy, you are worth all the work and so much more. Welcome Baby Isabel! Michelle May all babies be born into loving hands
Baby Dexter Messineo
Newborn Dexter Messineo has a lot to express: happiness, sadness, irritatation, confusion... Perhaps he spent his prenatal time learning fine points of communication from his big sister? Welcome Baby Dexter! Michelle May all babies be born into loving hands
Baby Naruto Thurston
Naruto Thurston. What a name! Asian and British. Modern and old fashioned. Energetic and sedate. And the little baby that goes with this interesting name? Well, he is only interested in one thing and it is not his name! Welcome Baby Naruto! Michelle May all babies be born into loving hands
Flesh is strong
As a midwife, I have known strong and determined women that by sheer will and determination made their bodies do impossible feats. But sometimes, the opposite happens: the body is so strong that the heart and mind simply have to bend.
Baby Isabelle Marie
Isabelle was born at home as planned. From the moment she was born, her heart was strong and steady. Her breathing? Not so much. So a lovely home birth was followed quickly by midwifery stabilization, an ambulance ride, an Emergency Department visit, another ambulance ride, a 20 day NICU stay, then, finally a wailing, screaming, tear-streaming car-seat-encased drive back home. Whew! That is a lot for ...
Baby Jory Blaise
Jory Blaise, your mommy is so happy to have you in her arms. It is an added bonus that you are super-duper cute! Welcome, Baby Jory. Michelle May all babies be born into loving hands