Hi, I’m Melissa Abernathy, homebirth midwife. I’m a mom to 4 kids and a Louisville native. I like to dabble in the arts of homesteading and feel connected to my Appalachian ancestors when I’m baking bread, washing dishes, and canning fruits and vegetables. Our family loves eating meals with others and it seems like we always have someone over! I’m an oldest sister and daughter and my friends say you can tell. Late spring is my favorite season and you will find me at the pool most summer days. I spend a lot of time outside and love hiking with my kids. I’m honored you would consider me to be a part of your journey! 

The midwifery model of care sits on the foundation of pregnancy, labor, and birth being a life event instead of a medical emergency. Midwives provide personalized prenatal, labor, and postpartum care, focusing on the unique family in front of them, not a set of policies and regulations. Often, appointments last up to an hour or more, as the midwife and family develop a strong relationship together. The midwifery model has been shown to lead to lower rates of cesarean birth, reduced interventions, higher satisfaction, and excellent outcomes for low-risk pregnancies when compared to more medicalized models.