<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Origin Midwifery]]></title><description><![CDATA[Compassionate care for expecting mothers, honoring your journey every step of the way.]]></description><link>https://www.originmidwives.com/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Fri, 28 Aug 2026 04:05:35 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.originmidwives.com/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[What's the Difference Between a Midwife and a Doula?]]></title><link>https://www.originmidwives.com/post/midwivesanddoulas</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a90853d35809d196a3e9577</guid><category><![CDATA[Midwifery]]></category><category><![CDATA[Doulas]]></category><category><![CDATA[Video Posts]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 27 Aug 2026 18:47:48 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/35401e_ea8a0d9a1f274bdfb59deeea5046e8bf~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Kim Pekin</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Meet Kim Pekin, CNM and founder of Origin Health &#38; Birth Center]]></title><link>https://www.originmidwives.com/post/meet-kim-pekin-cnm</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a90839ab26be70df8905b5b</guid><category><![CDATA[Midwifery]]></category><category><![CDATA[Video Posts]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 27 Aug 2026 18:39:51 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/35401e_ea8a0d9a1f274bdfb59deeea5046e8bf~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Kim Pekin</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[What do you bring to a birth?]]></title><link>https://www.originmidwives.com/post/what-do-you-bring-to-a-birth</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a90824bb26be70df89058bd</guid><category><![CDATA[Video Posts]]></category><category><![CDATA[Birth Preparation]]></category><category><![CDATA[Home Birth]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 27 Aug 2026 18:33:34 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/35401e_159226e837054a0cbe6e28d7329a6e3c~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_666,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Kim Pekin</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[What is the Midwives Model of Care?]]></title><link>https://www.originmidwives.com/post/what-is-the-midwives-model-of-care</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a907e8a04a1bf285d3d2c6b</guid><category><![CDATA[Video Posts]]></category><category><![CDATA[Midwifery]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 20 Aug 2026 18:14:45 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/35401e_c87a929d1d174639a0ec7f88a3ba5ee0~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_692,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Kim Pekin</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Herbs in Pregnancy]]></title><description><![CDATA[We’ve written in the past about a pregnant woman’s lowered immunity. Good nutrition, sanitation habits, rest, and exercise all help to strengthen the pregnant woman’s immune system—yet she will inevitably be exposed to viruses and other immune challenges. Pharmaceutical remedies may prove too strong or be contraindicated in pregnancy, so we wondered about herbal remedies. […]]]></description><link>https://www.originmidwives.com/post/herbs-in-pregnancy</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a907be2400cc523027ffa20</guid><category><![CDATA[advocating for yourself]]></category><category><![CDATA[Birth Preparation]]></category><category><![CDATA[Herbs]]></category><category><![CDATA[Labor support]]></category><category><![CDATA[Nutrition]]></category><category><![CDATA[Postpartum]]></category><category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category><category><![CDATA[Women's Health]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 22 May 2017 13:43:16 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/35401e_f5cf1a81ea8f48998c4ec1bf78ac0012~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_800,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Kim Pekin</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Physiology of Birth]]></title><description><![CDATA[Birth is often a mystery—at least that’s what we’re led to believe. But closer examination reveals basic physiological truths that underpin normal birth for both the mother and baby. Certain truisms can indicate risk, such as a pregnant woman’s prenatal nutrition and medical history, but, in the end, birth is a complex orchestration of hormones, […]]]></description><link>https://www.originmidwives.com/post/the-physiology-of-birth</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a907be2400cc523027ffa25</guid><category><![CDATA[advocating for yourself]]></category><category><![CDATA[Birth Preparation]]></category><category><![CDATA[Home Birth]]></category><category><![CDATA[Labor support]]></category><category><![CDATA[Medical Model of Care]]></category><category><![CDATA[Midwifery]]></category><category><![CDATA[Postpartum]]></category><category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category><category><![CDATA[Women's Health]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 12 May 2017 11:13:57 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/35401e_60c895460e754e4fb9001037ad6f8a00~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_403,h_403,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Kim Pekin</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[How to Get Healthy and Stay Healthy During Pregnancy]]></title><description><![CDATA[Each woman arrives at a new pregnancy from a different starting point. One woman may have planned for months to get pregnant, taking vitamins, eating healthy, and exercising. Another might be classified as medically obese and is worried about how that will affect her pregnancy—should she lose weight or focus only on eating healthy? […]]]></description><link>https://www.originmidwives.com/post/how-to-get-healthy-and-stay-healthy-during-pregnancy</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a907be3400cc523027ffa28</guid><category><![CDATA[advocating for yourself]]></category><category><![CDATA[Birth Preparation]]></category><category><![CDATA[family relationships]]></category><category><![CDATA[Labor support]]></category><category><![CDATA[Nutrition]]></category><category><![CDATA[Postpartum]]></category><category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 30 Mar 2017 19:27:27 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/35401e_a61e9575a0114d20af00626a08f1eddb~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_444,h_444,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Kim Pekin</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[What it Means to Have a Powerful Birth Experience]]></title><description><![CDATA[When a woman first discovers she’s pregnant, the birth can seem distant, an event that happens at the very end of pregnancy. There are nine months to get through first. She knows the birth will be something big, but it’s still a somewhat abstract idea—and maybe even a little scary. She can prepare by taking […]]]></description><link>https://www.originmidwives.com/post/what-it-means-to-have-a-powerful-birth-experience</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a907be2400cc523027ffa23</guid><category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 25 Mar 2017 07:17:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/35401e_60e746ecc8e94d1284e4bc5604a95102~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_364,h_273,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Kim Pekin</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[When Your Body Knows Just What to Do]]></title><description><![CDATA[I just read Gloria Lemay’s blog post “Are You A Good Candidate For A Hospital Birth?” and it really got me thinking about how to reach more people to help them understand the range of choices that exist for childbirth. I think if first-time moms really understood the challenges inherent in a hospital birth experience, […]]]></description><link>https://www.originmidwives.com/post/when-your-body-knows-just-what-to-do</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a907be3400cc523027ffa29</guid><category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category><pubDate>Sun, 29 Jan 2017 14:36:11 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/35401e_0a73b9bd70244b278e219db614584493~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_437,h_291,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Kim Pekin</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Fourth Trimester]]></title><description><![CDATA[When a newborn emerges from the womb, it leaves behind a warm, dark, and physically stimulating environment that includes the mother’s heartbeat, the sounds of children or other adult voices, and the rocking, jostling, and rhythmic steps of the mother moving about. Upon birth, a baby will turn toward the familiar sound of its mother’s […]]]></description><link>https://www.originmidwives.com/post/the-fourth-trimester</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a907be2400cc523027ffa26</guid><category><![CDATA[advocating for yourself]]></category><category><![CDATA[breastfeeding]]></category><category><![CDATA[Midwifery]]></category><category><![CDATA[Postpartum]]></category><category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category><category><![CDATA[Women's Health]]></category><pubDate>Sun, 22 Jan 2017 20:07:38 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/35401e_f399b46b36274aeaa7cfff03b0fcae4f~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_401,h_265,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Kim Pekin</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Natural Ways to Boost the Pregnant Immune System]]></title><description><![CDATA[Pregnant women are more at risk for acquiring infection or viruses given the altered immune state that accompanies pregnancy. Most care providers and health agencies agree that the flu is a risk in late pregnancy and recommend certain types of flu vaccines. But there are also natural ways to aid the pregnant immune system. Habits […]]]></description><link>https://www.originmidwives.com/post/natural-ways-to-boost-the-pregnant-immune-system</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a907be2400cc523027ffa27</guid><category><![CDATA[Nutrition]]></category><category><![CDATA[Postpartum]]></category><category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category><category><![CDATA[Women's Health]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 14 Jan 2017 13:22:42 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/35401e_c39b1fc338cd48e893f8c38fe01e0bf8~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_280,h_420,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Kim Pekin</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Immunological Paradox of Pregnancy]]></title><description><![CDATA[photo credit: Carmen Hibbins For most women, navigating pregnancy is difficult. There are decisions to be made: maternity care, labor preferences, place of birth, newborn care, breastfeeding, etc. Not to mention vaccines. Currently the CDC recommends the influenza vaccine for all pregnant women. When making the decision to accept or decline the flu vaccine, it’s important […]]]></description><link>https://www.originmidwives.com/post/the-immunological-paradox-of-pregnancy</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a907be2400cc523027ffa22</guid><category><![CDATA[Birth Preparation]]></category><category><![CDATA[Medical Model of Care]]></category><category><![CDATA[Midwifery]]></category><category><![CDATA[Nutrition]]></category><category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category><category><![CDATA[Women's Health]]></category><pubDate>Sun, 08 Jan 2017 14:00:09 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/35401e_1f3e7953fbeb4b39a15d4a3179e85c35~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_554,h_369,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Kim Pekin</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Shaming Has to Stop]]></title><description><![CDATA[Get ready for a major soapbox post. I get it. Those of us who choose to birth outside the box are different. We make choices that don’t necessarily follow mainstream society norms. Our choices may not be in alignment with what is embraced by the obstetrical model of care. Our choices may make medical professionals […]]]></description><link>https://www.originmidwives.com/post/the-shaming-has-to-stop</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a907be2400cc523027ffa21</guid><category><![CDATA[Home Birth]]></category><category><![CDATA[Labor support]]></category><category><![CDATA[Medical Model of Care]]></category><category><![CDATA[Midwifery]]></category><category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category><category><![CDATA[Women's Health]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 24 Dec 2016 17:03:55 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/35401e_e5e8cbcb725545c69da83f3c90e0020b~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_494,h_379,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Kim Pekin</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Good Cheer and The Pregnancy Diet]]></title><description><![CDATA[It’s that time of year. The time when we bake cookies and fudge and tasty pies. The time when the workplace break room is littered with holiday candy and plenty of chocolate. It’s a time when it feels almost obligatory to feed the sweet tooth. But what if you’re pregnant? Does pregnancy give you an […]]]></description><link>https://www.originmidwives.com/post/good-cheer-and-the-pregnancy-diet</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a907be7bb9b5df795169fd3</guid><category><![CDATA[Midwifery]]></category><category><![CDATA[Nutrition]]></category><category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category><category><![CDATA[Women's Health]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 19 Dec 2016 11:55:30 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/35401e_84770445267f401697c10a13456d1c23~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_240,h_360,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Kim Pekin</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[When a Home Birth Becomes a Hospital Birth]]></title><description><![CDATA[You did everything “right.” You took Bradley Method childbirth classes. You hired a doula. You hired a midwife to attend your birth. Your diet has been perfect. You rented the birth pool. You took all of the right supplements, attended prenatal yoga classes, had regular chiropractic care, and gained a good amount of weight — not too much, […]]]></description><link>https://www.originmidwives.com/post/when-a-home-birth-becomes-a-hospital-birth</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a907be7bb9b5df795169fd1</guid><category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 06 Dec 2016 16:15:21 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/35401e_be889a84027741558a5fe47fe1cf53c0~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_280,h_330,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Kim Pekin</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Differences Between Hospital and Out-of-Hospital Birth]]></title><description><![CDATA[People who have never given birth outside of a hospital may have no idea of the differences between hospital and out-of-hospital birth. What’s the big deal? You can have a natural birth in the hospital. Why would someone want to have their baby at a birth center or (gasp!) at home? The answer is not […]]]></description><link>https://www.originmidwives.com/post/the-differences-between-hospital-and-out-of-hospital-birth</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a907be7bb9b5df795169fd4</guid><category><![CDATA[advocating for yourself]]></category><category><![CDATA[Birth Preparation]]></category><category><![CDATA[Doulas]]></category><category><![CDATA[Home Birth]]></category><category><![CDATA[Labor support]]></category><category><![CDATA[Medical Model of Care]]></category><category><![CDATA[Midwifery]]></category><category><![CDATA[Postpartum]]></category><category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category><category><![CDATA[Women's Health]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 28 Nov 2016 16:19:22 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/35401e_133201f5eb9f43aa9ac4ec6ee963ef6c~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Kim Pekin</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Gratitude]]></title><description><![CDATA[Gratitude is the fairest blossom, which springs from the soul – Henry Ward Beecher. The old adage, “Avoid politics at family gatherings,” is particularly prescient for the 2016 Thanksgiving holiday. Some have family members who enjoy political arguments or the ability to get a rise out of those who hold different beliefs. But if this […]]]></description><link>https://www.originmidwives.com/post/gratitude</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a907be7bb9b5df795169fcf</guid><category><![CDATA[family relationships]]></category><category><![CDATA[Homekeeping]]></category><category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 23 Nov 2016 18:28:51 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/35401e_974e3edbae2e4fefbba03bb1e7b3b9b1~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_300,h_200,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Kim Pekin</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Breastfeeding Wisdom: Encouraging Words from Experienced Moms]]></title><description><![CDATA[If you’re new to breastfeeding or have been breastfeeding for a while, but could use some encouragement, read and savor this special list.]]></description><link>https://www.originmidwives.com/post/breastfeeding-wisdom-encouraging-words-from-experienced-moms</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a907be7bb9b5df795169fd6</guid><category><![CDATA[breastfeeding]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 31 Oct 2016 14:22:26 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/35401e_36e067e2c79a442a9123ddc518b5aa17~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_360,h_360,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Kim Pekin</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[20 Interview Questions to Help You Find the Right Midwife for You]]></title><description><![CDATA[There’s a midwife for every woman. What’s right for one woman may not be right for another. So, how do you choose the right midwife for you?]]></description><link>https://www.originmidwives.com/post/20-interview-questions-to-help-you-find-the-right-midwife-for-you</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a907be7bb9b5df795169fd7</guid><category><![CDATA[birth center]]></category><category><![CDATA[Home Birth]]></category><category><![CDATA[Midwifery]]></category><category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 25 Oct 2016 21:22:57 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/35401e_41932d61e8a041e0848b7defbc8ec669~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_360,h_539,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Kim Pekin</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[There’s a Midwife for Every Woman]]></title><description><![CDATA[Visualize what would make you most comfortable. Sit with that image awhile. When there is clarity around what you want, everything else will fall into place.]]></description><link>https://www.originmidwives.com/post/there-s-a-midwife-for-every-woman</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a907be7bb9b5df795169fd5</guid><category><![CDATA[Birth Preparation]]></category><category><![CDATA[Midwifery]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 18 Oct 2016 20:55:26 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/35401e_9b12ab4fe9e04b65a2a30514e8480e30~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_640,h_640,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Kim Pekin</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>