WELCOME TO

THE VILLAGE MIDWIFE

EDUCATION DATABASE

This is your trusted, evidence-based resource hub for all things mom and baby. Every resource here is created or curated by licensed midwives who believe that informed families have safer, more satisfying birth experiences.

Whether you’re planning your first birth or growing your family again, you’ll find clear answers and gentle guidance. Browse by topic or dive deeper into our blog for expanded insight and real-life support.

Our education library is always evolving as new evidence emerges and as we expand our resources. While no online guide can replace individualized, in-person care, these materials are here to help you feel confident as you choose the care that aligns with your family's needs. In a world full of mixed messages and outdated information, we aim to offer reassurance and evidence-based guidance you can trust.

MENTAL HEALTH ACROSS THE CHILDBEARING JOURNEY

This section gathers educational resources focused on emotional and mental well-being throughout the childbearing journey.

These readings are offered to help normalize a wide range of experiences, increase awareness of when additional support may be helpful, and empower families to recognize, name, and care for their mental health as an essential part of the childbearing process.

WHY HOMEBIRTH?

This section invites you to explore the philosophy, values, and real-life experiences behind choosing to give birth at home. Rather than focusing solely on statistics, it offers a rich collection of essays, studies, and reflections that illuminate the personal, cultural, and emotional dimensions of homebirth.

From large prospective research on outcomes with certified midwives to thoughtful stories about trust, presence, and empowerment, these resources provide insight into why home can be a safe, supportive, and deeply meaningful place to welcome a baby.

Whether you are certain about homebirth or simply curious, these readings are designed to support reflection, informed decision-making, and a deeper understanding of the homebirth choice.

SAFETY AND STATISTICS

Safety is at the heart of every decision we make.
Here, you’ll learn how out-of-hospital birth is evaluated for safety, what features make homebirth a safe option for healthy pregnancies, what emergency equipment we bring, and how we manage transfers if needed.

Our approach blends evidence-based care with vigilant assessment and skilled hands-on practice.

PRENATAL EDUCATION

Pregnancy is a time of transformation—physically, emotionally, and spiritually.


This section walks you through what to expect in each trimester, how to support your body with nutrition and movement, and how to navigate prenatal care with clarity and confidence. We break down common symptoms, safe remedies, and help you understand your choices every step of the way.

LABOR AND BIRTH EDUCATION

Labor is powerful, sacred, and entirely unique to every person.
Here you’ll learn what actually happens during labor, the comfort measures midwives use, how to prepare for waterbirth, and how we support you through each stage. We also explain when transfers may be recommended and how safety-guided decision-making works in real time.

These resources help you approach birth with confidence, calm, and a deep understanding of your body’s wisdom.

POSTPARTUM EDUCATION

The postpartum period is a tender and important time of new beginnings.


In this section, you’ll find guidance for the first 48 hours, what normal healing looks like, how to support your emotional health, breastfeeding, and how partners can help you rest and recover. We break down what to expect week-by-week so you never feel unsure or alone.

Use these resources to feel supported, nurtured, and empowered through your fourth trimester.

NEONATAL EDUCATION

This section is dedicated to supporting families in making informed, thoughtful decisions for their newborns. From interventions like infant circumcision and vitamin K administration to practices such as delayed umbilical cord clamping, these resources provide evidence-based information, professional perspectives, and ethical considerations to help parents navigate early care choices.

Each article emphasizes respect for the newborn’s physiology, well-being, and bodily integrity while honoring diverse cultural and personal values.

The Community Library

This reading library is curated by Woman Care Centers.


We are grateful for their thoughtful work compiling resources that support informed decision-making across preconception, pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. We share this library to support our commitment to accessible education and community care.

    • Taking Charge of Your Fertility: The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement, and Reproductive Health by Toni Weschler

    • Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn by Penny Simkin

    • Sit Up and Take Notice, by Pauline Scott (available at www.midwiferytoday.com)

    • The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth, by Henci Goer

    • The Pregnancy Book: Month-by-Month, Everything You Need to Know From America's Baby Experts, by Martha Sears

    • The Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth, by Sheila Kitzinger

    • A Good Birth, a Safe Birth: Choosing and Having the Childbirth Experience You Want, by Diana Korte

    • Birthing From Within, by Pam England

    • The Whole Pregnancy Handbook, by Joel Evens and Robin Aronson

    • The Colors of Birth, by Ellyn Hutton

    • The Birth Partner, by Penny Simkin

    • Ina May's Guide to Childbirth, by Ina May Gaskin

    • The Birth Book: Everything You Need to Know to Have a Safe and Satisfying Birth, by Martha Sears

    • Active Birth: The New Approach to Giving Birth Naturally, by Janet Balaskas

    • Gentle Birth Choices, by Barbara Harper

    • Birth Without Violence, by Frederick Leboyer

    • A Wise Birth : Bringing Together the Best of Natural Childbirth With Modern Medicine, by Penny Armstrong and Sheryl Feldman

    • The Breastfeeding Book: Everything You Need to Know About Nursing Your Child from Birth Through Weaning, by Martha Sears

    • The Breastfeeding Cafe: Mothers Share the Challenges, Joys, and Secrets of Nursing, by Barbara Behrmann

    • The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, by La Leche League

    • The Nursing Mother's Companion, by Kathleen Huggins

    • Nighttime Parenting: How to Get Your Baby and Child to Sleep (La Leche League International Book), by William Sears

    • Your Amazing Newborn, by Marshall Klaus and Phyllis Klaus

    • Trees Make the Best Mobiles: Simple Ways to Raise Your Child in a Complex World, by Jessica Teich and Brandel France de Bravo

    • The Baby Book: Everything You Need to Know About Your Baby from Birth to Age Two, by James Sears

    • Attachment Parenting: The Commonsense Guide to Understanding and Nurturing Your Baby, by Martha Sears

    • The Vaccine Book: Making the Right Decision for your Child, by Robert Sears

    • Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom, by Christiane Northrup

    • The New Our Bodies Ourselves, by The Boston Women's Health Book Collective

    • Woman's Experience of Sex, by Sheila Kitzinger 

    • Mother-Daughter Wisdom: Creating a Legacy of Physical and Emotional Health, by Christaine Northrup

    • The Wisdom of Menopause, by Christine Northrup

Are you a care provider in the Hampton Roads area who has valuable information to contribute to our educational database?

We’d love to hear from you.