unnie midwifery

unnie 언니 — pronounced uhn-nee — is a korean word meaning "older sister" or "friend." it is a deeply felt homage to my matrilineal roots.

my life is a resilient and joyful offering toward remembering the unsequestered knowledge that lives within us, between us, and in relationship with the living world.

my prayer is that remembering oneself into wholeness may set us free.

guiding values

i believe that we all deserve to be welcomed earthside with love.

i know that the quality of life for families is greatly improved when people are centered in their own care and treated with with dignity and respect, and supported in their autonomy.

i believe in research and evidence-based practices, and i also trust intuition—both mine and yours. we carry the innate wisdom.

i believe in Reproductive Justice as a human rights framework.

i do not uphold hierarchies of care rooted in domination.

i do not support systems of oppression born of patriarchal, colonial legacies that continue to exploit our creative potential, our bodies, our care work, and nurture.

i recognize how colonization, land theft, and anti-Black racism continue to shape our experiences of birth, bodily autonomy, and access to care. i hold a responsibility to listen, learn, and challenge these harms through my practice, nurturing relationships rooted in respect, reciprocity, and repair.

i honor the indigenous peoples who have cared for this land, its waters, plants, and living communities since the time beyond memory, and recognize their continued presence, resilience, and sovereignty.

i recognize that birth, healing, and community care are inseparable from our relationships with the land and one another.

my call to midwifery

my life is stitched across borders. born in russia, raised across central asia and eastern europe, and having immigrated to the states alone at the age of 19, i am intimately practiced in navigating profound life transitions.

i became a mother in 2017.

when i got pregnant, an arbitrary assignment by medi-cal insurance prenatally placed me in the care of a midwife. only later did i realize how lucky i was to land in her hands. i did not have a midwife by my side during my labor and birth at the hospital — a stark contrast to such a supportive start.

an immigrant without extended family nearby, i was completely unprepared for the isolating lack of postpartum care that is our current standard, unless you have a dedicated birth team or a robust circle of support.

navigating the depths of postpartum depression was a heavy burden, but it ultimately shaped my purpose. it took a few years and lots of love, but i found my footing—grounded, well, and deeply rooted in my own motherhood— i knew i wanted to love it forward. i felt called to offer my caring hands and a spacious heart to hold steady, witness, and sometimes carry someone over the threshold of becoming more.

that was my call to midwifery.

my path to becoming

i am currently completing my academic studies at National Midwifery Institute - an accredited midwifery school approved by the Medical Board of California - a pathway towards becoming a licensed, independent professional who provides primary care during pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period.

i started building my clinical foundation while apprenticing with Pearl Yu, an experienced community midwife for 18 months - listening, witnessing, supporting, becoming. i have a lot to learn, and am actively calling in a preceptor and mentor to nurture my growing competency.

i continue to build the skills, knowledge, and community through workshops, trainings, and monthly student skills program supported by The Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) Student Midwives Fund, where students can learn hands-on midwifery skills from community midwives.

i have had the honor of learning about midwifery as a way of life from a traditional healer, midwife, community and ceremony holder Gingi Allen, as part of her The Way of the Midwife mentorship circle.

i am grateful for every person, who welcomed me during some of the most intimate times in their lives, every midwife who has shown me patient kindness and encouragement, the generations of Indigenous and Black grand midwives, healers, and knowledge keepers whose care and wisdom have sustained families and communities across time and space.

walking together

while i continue on my path toward licensure, i offer non-clinical support to families navigating the profound transitions of pregnancy, loss, abortion, birth, and postpartum. my approach is rooted in the wisdom of traditional community care—the kind offered by relatives, trusted companions, and those who have walked these rites of passage themselves.

as your companion, i seek to offer knowledge without overriding your knowing, supporting you in making informed choices that are your own and rooted in your values. i will listen deeply, offer my grounded presence, and walk alongside you with reverence and courage.

pregnancy navigation and support: a time of nurturing abundance, peace, and possibility. i can hold steady space for what arises as you process the deep emotional, spiritual, and physical transitions of this time. this can look like asking and sitting with questions, looking at research, airing concerns, and calling on the network of my mentors and experienced practitioners for in-depth knowledge and support.

honoring loss and release: pregnancy loss and abortion deserve tenderness and unwavering support. should your path take that turn, i can hold you in compassion, and walk with you through that physical and emotional landscape of change.

preparation for the birth threshold: birth is a passage through mystery. each one is unique. each one transforms you. we can explore what will help you prepare to meet the unknown with grace and courage.

integration: postpartum — a sacred becoming, deserving nourishment, rest, protection, and deep care. i can offer practical guidance in preparation for your healing after birth and vital postpartum care for your new family.

a note about my role: am a student midwife completing my academic and clinical training under supervision. i do not provide medical diagnosis, clinical assessments, or clinical care in my current independent offerings. my holistic support is a companion to — and not a replacement for — the comprehensive clinical care provided by your licensed midwife or physician.