Though calling for a midwife may sound like something out of the Middle Ages, in actuality, midwives can offer much more than you may think. Midwives provide all sorts of prenatal and postpartum support, with some even assisting throughout labor and attending home births. Odds are, whatever you find yourself struggling with during your pregnancy, a midwife can help get you through it. Here are my recommendations for Boston midwives as a Boston maternity photographer.
How Can Boston Midwives Help Support Your Birth Journey
Boston midwives are essentially knowledgeable, compassionate partners by your side through the wild and beautiful ride of pregnancy, birth, and even postpartum. They’re healthcare professionals trained to care for moms-to-be, mainly focusing on low-risk pregnancies. They offer prenatal checkups, help monitor your baby’s growth, guide you through all your questions and concerns (there are always so many, right?), and work to ensure you and your baby stay healthy. But the real magic of a midwife is in how personal and supportive they are—they’ll get to know you, your birth preferences, and your fears, tailoring their care to what works best for you.
When it comes to giving birth, midwives are total rock stars. Whether you’re planning a hospital birth, a birthing center experience, or even one at home, they’re there to help you through labor, ensuring you feel empowered and supported. They’re used to everything—coaching through contractions, suggesting comfort measures (like different positions or breathing techniques), and catching that sweet baby if all goes to plan!
Even after birth, midwives have your back, checking in on the baby’s health, your recovery, breastfeeding, and all those first-time-mom questions. Their goal is to make pregnancy and birth feel natural, safe, and as empowering as possible. Moms love their warmth!
5 Incredible Boston Midwives To Care For Your Dream Birth Experience
Ann Kilroy Whitman
It’s safe to say that Ann knows a thing or two about birth: not only has she been a Boston home birth midwife for over thirty years, but she has six children of her own! Ann offers support throughout every stage of your pregnancy, and she does it all from the comfort of your own home. Her prenatal home visits and birth services take advantage of her vast wealth of experience. She also provides postpartum care, staying with you immediately after your pregnancy and returning for multiple follow-up visits to ensure that both you and your baby are in good health.
Brigham and Women’s Hospital
75 Francis Street, Boston, MA, 02115
Brigham and Women’s Hospital is the oldest continuous hospital-based midwives in Boston. Delivering over 1,000 babies per year, Brigham and Women’s provides 24-hour in-hospital care. They are also a community health center, offering robust prenatal and postpartum care at locations throughout Boston, although births themselves occur at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital directly. Brigham and Women’s Hospital provides prenatal care in English, Spanish, French, Cape Verdean Creole, and Haitian Kreyol. Located at the hospital is also their Adolescent Reproductive Health Services, a prenatal clinic that serves women aged 21 and younger.
Roots Midwifery
7 Harvard St., Suite 204, Brookline, MA, 02445
Midwifery is in Stephanie Johnson’s blood— her grandmother was a Grand midwife in North Carolina— which perhaps explains why she’s always felt drawn to birth work in Boston. Disappointed by her experiences serving as a hospital doula, Stephanie decided to open her own holistic midwifery practice. Roots Midwifery puts you first, centering your worries, wishes, and needs throughout your pregnancy. Roots’s prenatal care is comprehensive, offering office lab work and ultrasounds as well as home visits. These home visits extend through to postpartum care, too, with Roots’s midwife team available for up to 6 weeks after your birth. In addition, Roots provides a variety of medical support should you need it during your birth.
Birth Matters
249 Pleasant Street, Suite 206, Stoughton, MA, 02072
Birth Matters is a family-centered team of midwives offering home birth and doula services in Boston. They’re available 24 hours a day and offer at-home prenatal, birth, and postpartum care. Birth Matters is with you through every step of the birthing process, starting from their excellent checkups and preventative care all the way through the birth itself— should anything happen, Birth Matters is prepared with emergency equipment and will accompany you to the hospital. They also stay for several hours after your birth, cooking a meal for you and performing a newborn exam at your side. Birth Matters postpartum care is also attentive, with their home visits handling documentation and ensuring your family’s physical and emotional well-being. Additionally, Birth Matters offers VBAC and water births.
Nightingale Midwifery
Arlington, MA
Nightingale Midwifery’s heart is its CEO, Susanna Mauzy, a CPM-certified Boston midwife and doula. Serving the Boston area for over ten years, Susanna values getting to build deep relationships with her clients. She offers home birth midwifery, birth doula, and insemination services, which include a free consultation for families considering her practice. Nightingale Midwifery’s prenatal care can happen either in-office or at your home, with blood work and ultrasounds available. During birth, Susanna is there to support you, sticking with you until your birth is finished. Her postpartum visits last for six weeks after your birth, at which point she can also do a well-woman exam for you, including a pap smear. Unfortunately, Nightingale Midwifery is currently only accepting repeat clients, though a spot may open up in the future.
Trust A Boston Midwives for an At-Home Birth That Speaks to You
There is no single correct way to experience pregnancy. These Boston midwives will work with you to design the process that feels the most safe, intuitive, and resonant for you. Forget the stress and worries that come with planning your pregnancy alone; let these expert midwives help you focus on the moment.
One of the benefits of at-home care is that you have more time and energy for the things that matter to you. If you find yourself inspired in any way during this time, send me a message. I would love to collaborate with you on a maternity, newborn, milestone, or family photoshoot. Take a look through my online galleries and reach out when you’re ready to make new memories.
