In this remastered episode, Emily brings back one of the most beloved and most-listened conversations on Soul Evolution. This intimate dialogue with Maine midwife Gayle Eckey offers deep insight into how to choose the right midwife when preparing for a physiological and undisturbed home birth. Together, Emily and Gayle walk through the essential questions every woman should ask when interviewing a midwife, weaving evidence-based wisdom with intuition, sovereignty and emotional intelligence.
Emily also shares that she has a free downloadable resource, Questions to Ask Your Midwife When Seeking a Physiological, Undisturbed Birth: Your Rights and What Is Legal. You can find the link below or directly on emilygracenixon.com.
Emily reads from Dr. Rachel Reed’s work on woman-centered midwifery, opening a powerful conversation about informed decision-making, autonomy, and the sacred responsibility midwives hold in supporting physiological birth.
Throughout the episode, Gayle shares her philosophy of care as a Certified Professional Midwife, emphasizing continuity, individualized support, emotional intelligence, and the deep relational work that shapes safe, aligned birth experiences. This conversation is a must-listen for any woman preparing for home birth or seeking a midwife whose values honor instinct, sovereignty and physiology.
• Why continuity of care and emotional intelligence matter so deeply in midwifery
• The difference between fear-based and intuitive decision-making in pregnancy and birth
• Laws, regulations and scope for midwives in Maine and New Hampshire
• How to ask about ultrasounds, labs, monitoring and time limits with clarity
• The nuances of long labor, membrane release, meconium, pushing and fetal monitoring
• Physiological third stage, golden hours and protecting the immediate postpartum
• When and why a midwife might recommend transfer
• How to discern whether a midwife is truly woman-centered
• What autonomous, instinctual birth can look like when supported by deep trust and relationship
Gayle is a Certified Professional Midwife serving Southern Maine and parts of New Hampshire from her practice Stone Mountain Midwife, offering deeply relational, intuitive and physiology-honoring home birth care.
Questions to Ask Your Midwife When Seeking a Physiological, Undisturbed Birth: Your Rights and What Is Legal
Download using the link or find it anytime on emilygracenixon.com.
For women on the conception, pregnancy, birth and postpartum path, Emily offers:
• Beyond a Doula private support (in-person in Southern Maine + virtual worldwide)
• So You Want a Home Birth? full self-paced program
• Birth Integration Sessions
• Mother Blessings + Closing of the Bones
• One-to-one Wise Woman sessions for cycle connection, lineage work and embodiment
If you’re local to Southern Maine, join the monthly Women’s Circle and Perinatal Village Circle.
Stay connected through Emily’s email list for upcoming circles, courses and community gatherings.
Website: www.emilygracenixon.com
Instagram: @embodiedwomenswisdom
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Music: The Ancients (feat. Loga Ramin Torkian) by Azam Ali
Disclaimer:
The information and resources provided by me are not intended to constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice or a Mother’s intuition. Instead, all information provided is intended for education purposes only. My advice is not to be seen as medical diagnosis or to treat any medical illness or condition of Mother or baby/fetus.
Keywords: natural birth, home birth, freebirth, physiological birth, birth stories, postpartum healing, women’s circles, rites of passage, womb wisdom, feminine embodiment, sisterhood, conscious conception, birth trauma healing, matrescence, menopause, first-time mom birth story, VBAC, spirit baby.