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 OregonHow a postpartum hemorrhage reshaped her herbal approachHer signature use of hot ginger towels for pain relief during laborWhy more women are turning to free birthThe midwife as “birth guardian,” grounded in presence and prayerHer transition from midwifery into natural skincare and artKelly’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.comMentioned in this episode:Red Raspberry Leaf Tea – used during pregnancy to tone the uterus and support gentle laborShepherd’s Purse – a hemostatic herb Kelly no longer recommends postpartum due to clotting concernsAlfalfa – taken during pregnancy to build blood volume and prevent hemorrhageCinnamon – used in tincture form to stop postpartum bleedingCayenne Pepper – given to redirect blood flow during hemorrhage and buy time for other herbs to workAngelica & Dong Quai – used to encourage delivery of a retained placentaFurther Reading & Support:Special Delivery by Rahima Baldwin – the book and educator who certified Kelly in childbirth educationSurja Johnson – a Santa Cruz midwife who mentored Kelly in her early apprenticeshipPenny Simkin – beloved birth educator known for her pain-relief techniques, though Kelly’s hot towel method came through a different lineageThank 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 LyonsArchivist and Producer: Blyss YoungInstagram: @TheBridgeMidwivesJoin our Facebook community: The Bridge Midwives Project

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