About Us
Birth in the Tradition
“One of the darkest moments in US history was the systematic eradication of the African American midwife from her community, resulting in a legacy of birth injustices.”
— Shafia M. Monroe, DEM, CDT, MPH
Here at Birth in the Tradition, we are carrying the torch of freedom for mothers to exercise their right to safely birth at home with the help of qualified midwives.
Midwife Herstorical Timeline
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Before 1921, over 9,000 Granny midwives in Georgia
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1921 "Sheppard-Town Act" medicalized pregnancy, claiming to provide “adequate” prenatal care to all Georgia's women, regardless of race. The Act actually removed the midwives’ reliable source of care that it provided to many Georgians.
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1944, Granny Midwives reduced to 2,000, being replaced by nurses
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1975, only a handful of Granny Midwives serving in Georgia rural areas.
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1987 Mrs. Arilla Smiley retired from Midwifery, ending the era of Granny Midwives who had served during the Civil rights period
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1993 new era of Midwives fighting back for licensure or certification to make home birth accessible again
"Mama" Sarahn Henderson
Principle Birth Attendant
Sarahn Henderson is the mother of five adult children. She and her husband decided to birth all kids at home in support of their holistic lifestyle.
She has assisted in the deliveries of over 1,000 births since 1980, after being invited and initiated in by her own midwife. She has assisted in delivering twins, breeches, VBAC’s and now second generation babies!
She has also trained many women in the field of birth work and offers apprenticeships.
Her vision is that home-birth will become nationally recognized as a safe alternative to hospital births (for the low-risk mother) and that midwifery will become a licensed profession in the maternal healthcare system.
She is a founding member of the Community Midwives National Alliance and the Georgia Midwifery Association. Sarahn also was the Midwife Consultant for Berry Jenkins film, The Underground Railroad airing now on Amazon Prime.
Birth in the Tradition Videos
Birth in the Tradition Videos
These are the Hands of a Midwife
The Birthing of AHNARU ASAIRA
The Birthing of Azheyo Aeoro Pt1
The Birthing of AZHEYO AEORO Pt3
"I got so much experience in here that I just want to explode. I want to show that I knew what I knew. I want someone to realize what I am…So I’m lettin’ out my secrets…What I know about deliverin’ babies comes from motherwit."- Onnie Lee Logan