Land Acknowledgement:
I acknowledge that I live and work in the unceded ancestral territory of the Ramaytush Ohlone peoples, now known as San Francisco. Indigenous peoples lived here long before the land was called California, Spain, Mexico, or the United States. The process of colonization is ongoing and still adversely affects the indigenous people from the Bay Area
Who am I?
Michelle Welborn, CPM, LM | Primary Midwife
Yes! It’s my real family name! An invitation to attend the births of my sister-in-law’s twins in in 2002 changed my life forever. Since that initiation I have witnessed more than 875 births. No matter how many births I attend, I learn something new at each birth and find myself profoundly moved and humbled by the transformational power of birth. When I told my grandmother that I was beginning my midwifery apprenticeship she revealed that I come from many generations of doctors and midwives who attended births at home. I am honored to continue my family’s tradition and eternally grateful to the families I have served, the midwives and mentors who shared their knowledge with me, and maybe an ancestor or two looking out for me.
I am a Certified Professional Midwife, a California Licensed Midwife and a graduate of the National Midwifery Institute’s 3-year midwifery program. I attend homebirths in and around San Francisco, California.
Beliefs/Philosophies
Midwifery is an art that integrates ancient wisdom, modern knowledge and the greatest of intimacies. Perhaps the most basic core human experience is to give birth. Yet, this “normal” life process of childbirth has the power to transform us at the deepest levels. The vulnerability and courage of this transformation, often in the face of challenges and witnessing women/birthing parents realize their strength and power is both a joy and a privilege. I know that how we are heard, held and cared for in pregnancy, birth and the postpartum can change our lives.
Education and individualized care are two of my most cherished core values. I provide professional advice, information and resources to empower my clients to make autonomous decisions about their pregnancies, births and babies. I believe the Midwifery Model of Care builds confidence in parenting skills.
I serve on the boards of Californians for the Advancement of Midwifery and the California Association of Licensed Midwives with the goal of centering birthing person and midwife autonomy.
My Midwifery Lineage
Homebirth and traditional midwifery is still taught the way it has always been taught in oral tradition passed on in apprenticeship and community circle from one midwife to another. I chose to learn midwifery in the apprenticeship model.
My Formal Teachers: Lucero Dorado, Leah Redwood, Yeshi Neumann, Maria Iorillo, Beah Haber, Nancy Myrick and all the midwives who came before them.
My Informal Teachers: The Farm midwives (Pamela, Stacy, Deborah, Joanne and Ina May), the Vanuatu midwives (Simone, Jocelyn, Lizzie, Amanda, Lydia, Antoinette, Olina, Leitangi, Evelyn) every midwifery student I have sat in circle or study group or classes with or trained, all the midwives, teachers and healers I have shared community with, been in peer review with, assisted at births, who have assisted me, whose classes and workshops I have taken (Teri Schilling, Abigail Reagan, Karen Strange, Gail Tully, and Tereza Iñiguez Flores in particular) those whose books I have read, whose stories I have heard and all the midwives, teachers and healers who came before them.
By far my most important and influential teachers have been and will continue to be each birthing person who I have the great honor of witnessing on their journey.
Apprentice Midwives
As part of my commitment to the future of midwifery, I also train midwives. Typically, I have one apprentice midwife at a time, so the care you receive from us is intimate. You will get to know the apprentice and they will be an integral part of your care.
Anti-racist, intersectional statement
As a white cisgender woman, I have debated about a public statement because I do not want to participate in optical allyship. Ultimately, I have decided that is better to be transparent so that potential clients can know a little more about me and so that I can share the work of great organizations. I have included links to some the organizations I that love and support. I hope you will get to know them and consider supporting them too.
The ongoing crisis of black people being murdered by the police, (#saytheirnames) forces me to formally state, something that should not need to be said, that Black Lives Matter and further state the obvious, that racism harms maternal/birthing person health. Racism is a public health crisis. We must work to dismantle racism in our society, in all our health care systems, including midwifery.
Midwifery and obstetrics in the United States, like all of our institutions, has been built on a legacy of racism. I honor lifework of the mostly black southern granny midwives and all the midwives who had to go underground when faced with political, legal, and/or medical adversity. They kept the heart, traditions, art, and skills of midwifery alive. I uplift the lives of Anarcha, Betsey, and Lucy, the enslaved women who involuntarily gave so much to obstetrics and gynecology. I uplift the BIPOC midwives, student midwives and aspiring midwives,who serve their communities and still face discrimination and barriers to the profession due to racism today. The midwifery profession in the U.S. today is disproportionately white, and we urgently need more BIPOC midwives. Californians for the Advancement of Midwifery has a number of programs including a Black Student Midwife Scholarship Fund.
I am committed to personal and professional investment in anti-racism and anti-white supremacy in myself, and my work as a birth doula trainer and a homebirth midwife. I believe this lifelong work intrinsically improves birth outcomes for all birthing people. Some of the local grassroots and community-based organizations founded by and for BIPOC communities that I support are: SisterWeb, the Black Bay Area Birth Fund and Mothers for Mothers.
Race is not the only intersection that needs and deserves acknowledgment. I recognize, appreciate and indeed celebrate that it’s not just women that can give birth and breastfeed. Transgender individuals who were born with a womb, but who have undergone or are undergoing a gender transition may also be able to give birth. I also recognize that it’s not just a baby’s biological mother/birthing parent who can breastfeed/chestfeed. Our Family Coalition is a local organization I support.
All birthing people, all races, all cultures, all genders and all family structures are celebrated and welcomed in my midwifery practice.
I believe that everyone deserves to live and birth with dignity, safety, and access to culturally aware care. If you are looking for a midwife or resources that more closely reflect your intersections, I have listed some below and welcome your insights as to how I can be more inclusive.
BIPOC midwives
Pearl Yu (415) 516-7606
Single/Solo/Choice Parents
LGBTQ+
· Childbirth Preparation for LGBTQ Families
· LGBTQ Perinatal Wellness Associates
· Non-Bio Queer Parents Support Group
· LGBTQ Healthcare - Anti-oppression Work in Midwifery
Low Income Options
The San Francisco Homebirth Collective has a fund to help make homebirth accessible for low-income families working with SFHC midwives
The Black Bay Area Birth Fund makes midwifery care by and for black families accessible for low-income black families
I contribute a portion of every midwifery fee to a fund for low-income families who want to work with me. I have a sliding scale based on income. I consider trade and payment plans. Please don't let finances be the reason you don’t investigate homebirth!