Twin Cities Midwives in Action: International Day of the Midwife 2021

For many families expecting a new baby over the past 365 days, it was truly the Year of the Midwife. As the global health crisis expanded in impact and hospitals shuffled their restrictions in order to meet emerging needs related to COVID-19, prospective parents became newly aware of the critical role that educated, dedicated, talented midwives hold for those in need of prenatal and postpartum care. Families were looking for safe, supportive alternatives and that’s where midwifery care shines! Many birthing parents researched midwife-supported home birth as an option for the first time; others sought out the care of midwives working in independent birth centers. And lets not forget the many midwives who work in the hospital setting, who continued serving families with skill and passion even as their personal risk for exposure and illness rose on a weekly basis.

At Gather, we know there is so very much to admire about midwives - during this extraordinary and challenging year, certainly, but also during every other time and in every location. We are fortunate to have a talented community of local midwives in the Minneapolis, St. Paul, and greater Twin Cities area and we absolutely love working side-by-side with them. Whether we are supporting them as doulas or documenting their important work as birth photographers, we’re always happy to work alongside a skilled midwife. Nothing speaks more loudly than photographs (well, maybe we’re biased, but we sure think documentary birth photography is pretty powerful) so we hope you enjoy seeing some favorite recent shots of Twin Cities midwives in action!