Medicaid coverage has been an ongoing saga in the medical world for decades now. We have written previously about it many times and discussed barriers to care for folks as well as barriers for providers in accepting it as payment. The privatization of Medicaid put the nail in the coffin for a lot of providers. Not only has reimbursement decreased, the private model has made it a dog and pony show to get paid.

“A home birth was my dream. Even before my husband and I got married I knew I wanted an alternative to hospital birth. I have very negative associations with hospital births as I have known too many people who were pressured into interventions or had traumatic experiences. I knew I wanted something different for myself and my future babies. A sweet friend of mine received midwifery care from Charlie and had amazing home birth experiences. So it was a no brainer that Charlie was our first call in early October 2019, just weeks before we conceived. Charlie was a breath of fresh air to my hormonally imbalanced and slightly discouraged spirit. She set us up with some practical steps to take right away to support my hormonal rebalance and I took action (a sweet part of our journey that we reminisced about together after Jameson’s arrival).”

When we opened the home birth arm of our practice in 2013 we promised to keep with our transparency pledge and publish our stats each year

In community midwifery we build our care around the relationships we grow with our clients. This is really what sets midwifery care apart from traditional obstetric care. With that being said, when clients want to transfer their care to us late in their pregnancy we are always hesitant. Typically we have full books and clients who have been with us for months to see to. Add a global pandemic to that and we are even MORE trepidatious about taking clients on late in the game. Are the clients choosing home birth for the right reasons? Is their decision making totally fear based? Are they aware of the intense catch up game we will need to play together to get them prepared for a 180 in change of plans? Sometimes the answer is a resounding Y E S!

Brandi Morales and Vanessa Kekuewa have have been working in a partnership, supporting clients, and each other, for a little over a year now. Vanessa and Brandi skipped formal introductions as they knew each other as kids, attending grade school together. They reconnected in 2018 when Charlie Rae Young (Midwife, owner of Barefoot Birth, and Community Roots Collective) held a doula training and guess who took the training?! Yep, Vanessa! Since then. they’ve reconnected, joined forces, even doula’d for each other. Yes, doulas need support too! You will often see them at their little shop, Rooted Provisions, just outside of our Tampa office or markets around Tampa Bay spreading all the good birthy info!

A hallmark of midwifery care we love to share is our ‘high touch, low tech’ approach to pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. Due to COVID-19 our practice and many other health care providers have had to change their protocols for care. This means limiting in person interaction, cutting back on support persons in non-emergent visits, and limiting our normal care schedule. Many obstetrical practices are postponing initial visits and distancing other routine visits to minimize exposure to providers and clients alike. This is good practice and important to public safety at the present time.

As a 501c3 non profit we are only as strong as our community support! Outside of direct donations we depend on folks sharing their time and talents as volunteers. We are so grateful to have had so many special hands and hearts at work since 2015 making The Roots community what it is today.

“Women will often say that the day their baby is born is one of the best days of their lives. While Royce's birth will be one of my most cherished memories, always, it's not just because I finally got to meet my rainbow baby and delicious, chubby cheeked son. I was, and am, irrevocably changed because of the team at Barefoot Birth. “

Searching for a midwife and personalized care for your pregnancy? Look no further!

When we opened the home birth arm of our practice in 2013 we promised to keep with our transparency pledge and publish our stats each year. A few years in to that promise the state of Florida changed to mandated reporting of stats but our year runs June-June so it makes it difficult to keep track of both! Since our last stats published in 2016 a lot has happened. We have had some babies personally, we’ve added a 3rd midwife, and we have changed the landscape of our practice with the growth of The Community Roots Collective as well as our north office in Brooksville.

We have not made good on that promise of yearly public publishing but we promise to catch up with that now that we have more of a flow. We thought it would be nice to do our calendar year of 2019 as a snap shot of our practice. Stay tuned for an update of 2016-2018!

Find out all the ways you can help support our mission at the Community Roots Collective to create community by empowering families with education, resources, and LOVE.

I finally got a magical birth like the ones I've read for so many years. I know without a doubt that if we have anymore babies down the line that I still strive for a home birth again.

We are excited to introduce our new house manager. Read about Amie and next time you’re here, welcome her to the Roots!

As part of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month in October, we will be sharing stories of loss from local families. Please know that if you have experienced loss, you are not alone. Please join us at our 3rd Annual Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Family Walk on October 15th to find the support and community you need to walk through your grief. We will be donating all proceeds to local loss groups who provide year round support for area families. A big thank you to Michelle Beckley of Running Circles Photography for her beautiful contribution of this photo series.

This is Beccy‘s story.

As part of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month in October, we will be sharing stories of loss from local families. Please know that if you have experienced loss, you are not alone. Please join us at our 3rd Annual Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Family Walk on October 15th to find the support and community you need to walk through your grief. We will be donating all proceeds to local loss groups who provide year round support for area families. A big thank you to Michelle Beckley of Running Circles Photography for her beautiful contribution of this photo series.

This is Jessica and Bradley‘s story.

As part of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month in October, we will be sharing stories of loss from local families. Please know that if you have experienced loss, you are not alone. Please join us at our 3rd Annual Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Family Walk on October 15th to find the support and community you need to walk through your grief. We will be donating all proceeds to local loss groups who provide year round support for area families. A big thank you to Michelle Beckley of Running Circles Photography for her beautiful contribution of this photo series.

This is Megan‘s story.

As part of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month in October, we will be sharing stories of loss from local families. Please know that if you have experienced loss, you are not alone. Please join us at our 3rd Annual Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Family Walk on October 15th to find the support and community you need to walk through your grief. We will be donating all proceeds to local loss groups who provide year round support for area families. A big thank you to Michelle Beckley of Running Circles Photography for her beautiful contribution of this photo series.

This is Kayla‘s story.

As part of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month in October, we will be sharing stories of loss from local families. Please know that if you have experienced loss, you are not alone. Please join us at our 3rd Annual Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Family Walk on October 15th to find the support and community you need to walk through your grief. We will be donating all proceeds to local loss groups who provide year round support for area families. A big thank you to Michelle Beckley of Running Circles Photography for her beautiful contribution of this photo series.

This is Sarah‘s story.

As part of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month in October, we will be sharing stories of loss from local families. Please know that if you have experienced loss, you are not alone. Please join us at our 3rd Annual Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Family Walk on October 15th to find the support and community you need to walk through your grief. We will be donating all proceeds to local loss groups who provide year round support for area families. A big thank you to Michelle Beckley of Running Circles Photography for her beautiful contribution of this photo series.

This is Elle’s story.