At Her Feet10 Juli 2025

The Simplicity of Trust: Kelly Frohnauer, Traditional Midwife

In this gentle and grounded episode, Blyss sits with Kelly Frohnauer, a retired traditional midwife from Merlin, Oregon. Kelly’s story is one of trust—in birth, in women, and in the quiet power of simplicity. She shares how her path unfolded outside the bounds of licensure, guided instead by elder midwives, spiritual conviction, and hands-on learning.

Kelly shares:

Practicing outside licensure in pre-regulation Oregon
How a postpartum hemorrhage reshaped her herbal approach
Her signature use of hot ginger towels for pain relief during labor
Why more women are turning to free birth
The midwife as “birth guardian,” grounded in presence and prayer
Her transition from midwifery into natural skincare and art

Kelly’s presence is a reminder that birth can still be a sacred, sovereign experience—free from fear, rich with faith, and rooted in trust.

To explore Kelly’s handcrafted skincare line, visit: naturalfamilybotanicals.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Red Raspberry Leaf Tea – used during pregnancy to tone the uterus and support gentle labor
Shepherd’s Purse – a hemostatic herb Kelly no longer recommends postpartum due to clotting concerns
Alfalfa – taken during pregnancy to build blood volume and prevent hemorrhage
Cinnamon – used in tincture form to stop postpartum bleeding
Cayenne Pepper – given to redirect blood flow during hemorrhage and buy time for other herbs to work
Angelica & Dong Quai – used to encourage delivery of a retained placenta

Further Reading & Support:

Special Delivery by Rahima Baldwin – the book and educator who certified Kelly in childbirth education
Surja Johnson – a Santa Cruz midwife who mentored Kelly in her early apprenticeship
Penny Simkin – beloved birth educator known for her pain-relief techniques, though Kelly’s hot towel method came through a different lineage

Thank you to all the elders, donations and volunteers that have made this project possible.

Together, we can preserve the wisdom of elder midwives for generations to come. Give today and be part of this legacy.…please visit bridgemidwives.com for more information on how to donate.

Community Circles (First Thursdays of each month)

Podcast Editor: Shea Lyons

Archivist and Producer: Blyss Young

Instagram: @TheBridgeMidwives

Join our Facebook community: The Bridge Midwives Project

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