Blooming Moon Midwifery Services

06/12/2026

In the early 1900s, Black midwives attended nearly 75% of births in the Southeastern United States. Then came Abraham Flexner. His influential report reshaped American medicine, moving birth from homes to hospitals and pushing midwives out.

Flexner’s vision emphasized university training, laboratory science, and physician authority. Childbirth, once largely managed by community midwives, was reframed as one that took place in hospitals under physician care.

What happened next? Access to care narrowed for many rural and Black communities who had long relied on midwives. Generations of knowledge and valued traditions were lost. And today, Black women still experience the highest maternal mortality rates in the United States. Many scholars and clinicians argue that rebuilding midwifery, especially community-based models, could improve maternal health outcomes and restore trust in care during one of the most significant events in a woman's life.

06/05/2026

05/29/2026

Here is our availability calendar for the rest of 2026/2027. Please plan accordingly and feel free to reach out for area midwife recommendations.

05/28/2026

Memorial Day reminder! Labor begins when both baby and body are hormonally aligned, not when a calendar says so.

When baby and body are in sync, oxytocin rises, cervix softens, and contractions begin naturally.

No amount of scheduling can replace that physiologic timing.
If baby was ready, you’d be in labour — and that readiness is worth trusting.

05/16/2026

What types of midwives are there? In many countries, the term midwife describes one or two types of providers.

***This is a BRIEF graphic designed to help families understand there are different types of midwives and that terms overlap. Parents seeking midwifery care should ask specifically about training, experience, etc., and choose the provider that feels right for them.

ETA: NARM is exam, MEAC accreditation is for midwifery schools. Each program type of midwifery could have multiple pathways. And "birth keepers" are NOT midwives but included so parents who are marketed to understand that. And finally, Licensed Midwife was missed on our end (LM) as it's not used in all states including where we're located, a mistake which was brought up in comments.

In the US, we have several types of providers and the way they practice can vary significantly state to state. Each state has unique licensing, laws, etc. Even when it comes to Certified Nurse Midwives with state licensing, their level of autonomy varies.

The lack of well integrated midwifery care in the US influences access and overall US maternal child health stats.

Some terms overlap, might be used interchangeably, and definition can vary with context. NOT LISTED IN ANY PARTICULAR ORDER:

✨️ Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) - has a bachelors in nursing and an advanced practice degree in midwifery
✨️ Certified Midwife (CM) - has a bachelors, but not in nursingn complete the same advanced degree CNMs complete
✨️Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) - complete an accredited midwifery school and take the NARM exam or complete self-study and apprenticeship and take the NARM exam
✨️Direct Entry Midwife - might be used to refer to any non-nurse midwife, or describes a midwife who trained but did not pursue NARM accrediation
✨️Traditional Midwife - might be used to describe any midwife based on practice style, or might mean a midwife trained through apprenticeship only
✨️"Birth Keeper" - a term that is sometimes used by non midwives who attend births. There's no formal midwifery training, may not have any birth emergency skills training, and might have attended only a few births

A birth keeper is not a midwife, but might market themselves as an alternative to a midwife. It is important for anyone seeking home birth care to make informed decisions and know the education, skill level, and experience of anyone they hire.

While CNM are a little more integrated into the US system in some states, this is not necessarily due to increased formal education = better care. It is simply a different type of midwifery training.

All qualified and well trained birth attendants can safely play a role in maternity care.

The challenge in the US is there are not always clear terms, state laws, etc., so parents must do their due diligence.

👇🏽 did you use a midwife?

05/15/2026

We're celebrating families today and everyday! The Association of Mississippi Midwives is doing our part to help strengthen the bonds of families in Mississippi by offering Family-Centered Care Midwifery Care to families all over the state. ❤

05/13/2026

🧬Join us on Thursday, May 14th from 6:00-7:00 for a Q&A session with Janayia Richardson (ASN, BSN, FNP) about DNA, genetic diseases, healthcare, children, and more!
Richardson’s healthcare career spans over 20 years. Her clinical experience with direct patient care includes, but is not limited to ICU, step-down, medical-surgical, orthopedic, geriatric, neurosurgery, ER, and post-operative recovery. Richardson has a wealth of knowledge, experience, and a deeply personal experience that has shaped her advocacy and inspired her to bring greater awareness to the world of genetic disease, particularly for those still waiting for answers. We look forward to hearing her story and learning from her expertise.
This program is recommended for adults and older teenagers.