Heart of Gold Birth

06/29/2026

There is something I don’t talk a lot about on this page, and I believe it’s doing women a disservice.

The truth is: birth can be wildly unpredictable.

You can do *everything* right, you can dig deep, work so so hard, and STILL sometimes the twisted & windy path will end up where we least thought it would….

You can have a deeply faithful, intuitive, mindful, self-directed pregnancy. You can REALLY prepare your mind, body and soul for the firewalk.

And still (and STILL) sometimes birth will need to happen in the hospital.

What’s more- sometimes a labor will end with a surgical birth.

The truth is, there are times where that is how a baby will need to be born- and when those times happen, when we’ve exhausted all the things at home, a c section can be the safest, most gentle option.

As someone who deeply values the sanctity of physiological birth, autonomy, the motherbaby dyad, etc, you know what? I am also deeply grateful for skilled doctors and surgeons, who are there when they are truly needed. Thank freaking goodness.

Transfer is not failure.
In fact, I see this as the ultimate surrender; an act of devotion and sacrifice. (And is this not what birth asks of us?!).

This is not to diminish the disappointment, or to say that inquiry shouldn’t be a part of your healing journey. Absolutely feel all the feelings, and think all the thoughts. They matter; you matter.
Please: process, question, talk.

However, also remember there is a time and place for ALL interventions.

Nuance must be a part of the conversation. There is a time and place to defer to medical professionals. And if you don’t think so, you may need to attend more births.

Of course your birth experience matters. Of course it matters how your baby is born. It matters how you are both treated, throughout.
But respect and: hospital transfer, a c section, medical intervention, etc are 👏🏽not👏🏽 necessarily👏🏽 mutually👏🏽 exclusive👏🏽.

So, may we continue to honor and have gratitude for the brilliance of our babies and bodies, even (and especially) when a home birth ends in a hospital birth or c section. Because there can be (and usually is) deep wisdom in that as well.
💛

05/11/2026

It’s not often we can honestly say “and just like *that*, she was born!”.

As many of us know, typically labor has a bit more fanfare. Typically we know when someone is pushing (usually, USUALLY, there are signs).

Not this birth. At this birth we had only one, single, punctuated “uh” sound, approximately 5 contractions prior to Sarah exclaiming “she’s coming!”.

So, of course I peered around her backside (Sarah has a birthing style- always on all fours). And sure enough, to everyone’s (except Sarah’s) surprise, she was indeed coming!

Ben, want to catch? “No, he needs to stay. right. here.”
Was there time for gloves? I honestly don’t even remember. Probably not.

And then, just like that, she was out.
Here.
Marked present.
Looking around, taking it all in. A little cry, maybe. But mostly a seamless, gentle entrance. Quickly gathered into her mother’s arms. Like her mama, not one to make much noise.

And just like *that*, she was here.

Not a few minutes later Sarah looking over at her beloved saying “let’s do that again!”. 😂

Just. Like. That. 💫

Welcome to the world, Leah. We are so glad you’re here!

📸 (of newborn exam) permission always given. .studio.photography

03/24/2026

Feeling the pull? Holler at yer girl.
Limited availability for the second half of 2026. ✌🏽❤️👶🏽

02/03/2026

Asheville area:

A 6-week, in-person childbirth education series for couples in Asheville. Grounded, holistic preparation focused on physiology, attachment, and informed choice.

01/24/2026

“How can I be present with pain”.

The words (recorded prior to the labor) were sung to her in her own voice, and hung in the air…

A reminder. An invitation. An incantation.
Be here now.

Surrender. Soften. Remain grounded.

And she did. Riding the waves. Going deep deep deep. Then in between becoming buoyant-laughing, grounding down, coming back to center.
Then doing it all again.

She changed positions then proclaimed to the room: “Im going to start pushing”.

Within 10 minutes, her baby’s head was out. She lifted her leg, reached down, her hands helping and guiding the rest of his body out.

She lifted his body, tangled in his cord like a backpack- over both shoulders, his lower back and upper back, to her chest.

And after a tournament of untangling, he settled on her chest. She laid her head back, locked eyes with her beloved, and softened once again.
The work was done. He was here.

And, once again, and forever, I am humbled and honored to walk alongside, and sit at the feet of women.

Portal work is the best work. 💫

📸 always shared with permission.

01/17/2026

Y’all, I mean really?! Where else are you going to find THIS degree of clinical precision when measuring fundal height?

I don’t know about you, but this is why, whenever possible, I enlist a toddler’s help at prenatals.

Also has the most wildly accurate medical illustrations! 🙌🏽

07/25/2025

Birth as prayer;
as an offering.
Maidenhood for motherhood.
Sacred alchemy.
The crucible.

To be stripped bare,
literally and figuratively, and then reconfigured into something new. The same, yet completely changed.

Where surrender, at some point, becomes the only option.

Over, and over, and over again. Because how else can this transmutation happen??

And so we do.

We do.

We DO.

Surrender.

And when the work is done, oh, when the work is done, we exalt.

Because, my god, what feat of indescribable proportions have we just completed?!

And so, birth as prayer.

Because something that brings us to such depths and such highs (and everything in between) is so worthy of this simple, powerful presence and intention.

Even if in hindsight.

And, so, birth as prayer.

May everyone in the room be reminded (at least once, if not a dozen times) that we are in the presence of something truly sacred.

And may it be so, for all. 💛✨



📸 of mama , shared with permission

05/19/2025

Greater AVL:
Looking?! Holler at yer girl!

Availability later summer, and beyond!

Will travel up to 2 hours for the right fit, but will easily travel within 1 hour of Henderson County!

I also offer PRIVATE childbirth classes in downtown AVL for those birthing at HOME.

Womens circle (to resume once repairs from Helene are finalized!).

Birth Processing.

Placenta encapsulation.

Link in bio!
🙏🏽💛💫

05/15/2025

‘Advanced Maternal Age’, as a diagnostic designation in and of itself, is NOTHING MORE THAN A CONTROL TACTIC.

Every time I need to talk someone through the label of advanced maternal age, a.k.a. geriatric pregnancy (and it comes up A LOT), it’s obvious to me that the designation has done its job. 🪄

Words are powerful. They are spells. Just plant a seed in someone’s mind and watch it grow. 🌱

Look how quickly it can snap even the most self-possessed women back in line. Coincidence?

You see, one of the gifts of aging is that we come into ourselves.

As we get older, we know more what we want and what we don’t want. We often exercise our discernment. This is something that is cultivated and comes with the gift of time.

For many of us, there’s a switch that flips in our 30s.

We are more ok with ourselves; our sense of self is more secure. The gifts of this decade are palpable. How many women say their 30s was one of their best decades?

And this is dangerous in an industry that more or less demands compliance.

And what an opportunity to regain control of a population who might otherwise desire more autonomy!

A game of dominance & submission.

Want to trust in the wisdom of your body? Decline ultrasounds? Forego genetic testing? WHAT?! You don’t want to be a BAD MOTHER, do you?

Don’t you realize how closely you and your baby need to be monitored now that you’re *GASP*- 35?! (The horror!)

I mean, really?? 🙄

So I say this:

Find a holistic community midwife, and ask her opinion.

Chances are she won’t bat an eye if you’re 35. Or 40. Or 45.

Because do you want to know what the greatest predictors of a healthy pregnancy are?

Your pre-pregnancy health status.

How well do you eat? Sleep? How much water do you drink? How much time outside do you get? How do you feel mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually? Chances are this carries forward into your pregnancy.

These ACOG streets are rough. Make the decision to stay out from under the thumb of unfounded fear.

You’ve come too far to allow it to be taken too easily. 💛

📸 by of my geriatric birth at the old age of 42.