50. Kristine Laurie - A Career in High-Risk Obstetrics and Birth Advocacy

Podcast Show Notes

Episode Title: Kristine Laurie - A Career in High-Risk Obstetrics and Birth Advocacy

Episode Overview:

Join your hosts as they interview Kristine Laurie, a highly experienced Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) and Licensed Midwife (LM) with an incredible 33 years of practice. Kristine shares her journey working internationally for over 20 years, including her work with Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in low-resource settings, and her passion for advocating autonomy in women’s health and physiologic birth.

Topics include:

• Providing humanitarian aid in developing countries

• Specializing in high-risk obstetrics in low-resource environments

• Teaching advanced midwifery classes, including through Midwifery Wisdom Collective and Breech Without Borders

• Attending over 5,000 births, including 516 breeches, 387 sets of twins, and 7 sets of triplets

• Autonomy in women’s health and the importance of physiologic birth

• Insights into her work as an expert witness in court cases involving breech birth

Kristine’s dedication to improving outcomes for women and families worldwide offers valuable insights for midwives, birth workers, and advocates of physiologic birth.

Key Topics Discussed:

1. High-Risk Obstetrics in Low-Resource Settings

• Kristine discusses her work with Doctors Without Borders, providing care in developing countries and managing complex cases in challenging conditions.

2. Advanced Midwifery Education

• The importance of continuing education for midwives, including Kristine’s work teaching virtual AP midwifery classes and facilitating master classes on breech birth.

3. Breech Birth and Multiples

• Kristine’s extensive experience attending breech births and supporting families through twin and triplet pregnancies, emphasizing physiologic and autonomous care.

4. Advocating for Autonomy in Women’s Health

• How Kristine champions informed choice and respects women’s decisions in all aspects of reproductive health and birth.

5. Expert Witness Work

• Insights into her role providing expert testimony in court cases involving breech births and advocating for safe, evidence-based care.

About Kristine Laurie:

Kristine Laurie is a CPM and LM with over three decades of experience attending births in diverse settings. Her commitment to autonomy in women’s health, high-risk obstetrics, and education has made her a respected leader in the global midwifery community.

• Website: Midwife Without Boundaries

• Instagram: @honeymother64

Listen to the Episode:

• Podcast Link: Spotify

• Instagram:

• @sophiabirth

• @bayareahomebirth

• @bornwildmidwifery

Final Thoughts:

Kristine Laurie’s career demonstrates the power of midwifery to transform lives in even the most challenging circumstances. Her passion for education, advocacy, and physiologic birth offers inspiration for all those involved in supporting families through pregnancy and birth.

Stay Wild 🌳