Village360’s Birthworks: Your guide to inclusive pregnancy support, natural birth options, and learning through shared birth stories

Becoming a parent changes the way working parents, family, and support all fit together. For many pregnant people and new parents, the question is not just how to prepare for birth, but how to prepare for the real-life responsibilities, relationships, and needs that come with caring for a baby.   In this episode of Village360’s Birthworks, I’m joined by Brittany Ferguson, a midwife whose approach...

Pregnancy care is shaped by more than appointments, providers, and birth plans. For many pregnant people, choices are also shaped by insurance, Medicaid access, local resources, and the policies that determine whether care is easy to reach or hard to navigate. In this episode of Village360’s Birthworks, I’m joined by Brittany Ferguson, a midwife whose approach to birth support is rooted in trust,...

Pregnancy brings constant choices, and too often those choices are shaped by fear, pressure, or limited healthcare access instead of real understanding. When you are trying to make thoughtful medical decisions, it matters to know your voice still belongs in the room. In this episode of Village360’s Birthworks, I’m joined by Brittany Ferguson, a midwife whose approach to pregnancy care is rooted in...

When you’re choosing a birth center, you deserve to know exactly how the team handles those 'every second counts' moments without losing sight of your informed consent. Prioritizing birth center safety before labor begins ensures you are prepared for any turn the journey takes.  A hospital transfer doesn't mean losing your voice; in fact, the right approach actually reduces clinical strain on the...

Are you doing everything you can to prepare for childbirth, yet still feeling unsettled inside? I know how it feels to pour your whole self into motherhood and still wonder if you are doing enough. Birth preparation is not only about information. It is about learning how to return to your body when stress rises. It is about strengthening the part of you that can stay grounded in the middle of inte...

Many families move through pregnancy with short visits and rising anxiety, without space to talk about what is happening in their bodies. Pregnancy health deserves more care, and birth preparation is more than packing a bag. You deserve support in naming how you want your birth space to feel and who you want beside you, so you can walk into birth steady and seen. The mind body connection matters....

When the baby is in your arms and the pushing is done, the work is not over. Your body still has one powerful job left. Few parents fully understand the delivery of placenta until it is already happening, and that moment can feel like a blur. The third stage of labor deserves thoughtful planning. It plays a direct role in how the uterus tightens after birth, bleeding risk, and early postpartum rec...

Many expecting moms find that a simple late night snack can suddenly spark an intense burning sensation in the chest, or that going to the bathroom feels unusually difficult and stalled. If this sounds familiar, it is not something you simply have to put up with. There are practical and gentle ways to ease the discomfort and feel better. It is a strange feeling when your body works so hard to supp...

All the forms, numbers, and informed consent talks can make your pregnancy mindset feel shaky, and you are not alone. That same pregnancy journey can still feel calm, clear, and confident when you have the right context for all those documents. To help you find that confidence, this episode explains how risk assessment works in plain English. I will show you how to think about medical statistics w...

What if your birth story is shaped more by the boundaries you protect than the room you are in? A hospital transfer is not a failure. True empowerment in your motherhood journey comes from trusting your intuitive mothering instead of the outside noise. There is a way to stay grounded even when your birth plan shifts or active labor unfolds unexpectedly. With the right support, you can protect your...

Many parents face long waits, short visits, and limited access to real pregnancy support. It’s common to start this journey without clear pregnancy resources, consistent prenatal care, or a strong support system especially within traditional maternal health settings. In this very first episode of Village360’s Birthworks, midwife and community leader Tara Lawal joins host Jodilyn Owen to share a po...

Pregnancy can bring a lot of questions, and you deserve care that feels steady, connected, and truly personal. Village 360’s Birthworks offers something different: a midwife podcast centered on practical tips, shared wisdom, and grounded support from people who understand the experience of pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood. Hosted by the team at Rainier Valley Birth & Health Center, this...