CBS Midwifery | Owned & Run by New York City Midwives Since 1982

Barbara Sellars, CNM

The International Day of the Midwife

May 5, 2019

For forty years I have had the privilege of practicing midwifery, an endeavor more rewarding, demanding, and just plain fun than anything else in my life except motherhood. Thank you all for being a part of it - I have such wonderful memories!

As I midwife, one practices every day, in the same way a musician or an athlete, a yogi or an artist must practice. I would have happily continued to practice, learning new things and meeting new people, but the nights and the years caught up with me.

A year ago I stopped attending births, but have had the continuing pleasure of seeing clients for well-woman health care needs. Unfortunately, the office where I was subletting space at a very reasonable rate was closed at the end of March. Efforts to find affordable part-time space, suitably equipped, have been futile. WeWork doesn’t seem to have gyn exam rooms.

While I will no longer be practicing midwifery, I will always be a midwife. The email, texts, and phone calls will still reach me, and I maintain client records until the youngest child turns 21 years old, or it’s been more than 7 years since you were seen for other than pregnancy care.

Please stay in touch - I love seeing your photos and sharing your news. I will be gardening, traveling, and studying French.

Love and best wishes,
Barbara

Blog

10 days in Oxford and Paris

On May 5, 2019

By Barbara

In early April, I spent a lovely 10 days with my daughter Jen and her husband Tim in Oxford and Paris. Jen, founder and CEO of Code for America, was invited back to the Skoll World Forum in Oxford (she won an award last year; this year Nancy Lublin was honored for founding Crisis Text: brava, Nancy!) While Jen was busy with Forum activities, Tim and I explored the colleges, museums, and parks of Oxford. We took a day trip to Bath, where we toured the Roman baths, the cathedral, and the famous Pump Room. On to Paris via the Eurostar train through the Chunnel (sure beats the boat!). Jen and Tim left for California early Monday morning, but I had given myself an extra day in Paris. That night I watched Notre Dame burn from my 6th floor hotel room at 1, Quai St. Michel – an experience I will never forget and wish had never happened. I joined the throngs of Parisians Tuesday morning who lined the banks of the Seine and marveled at what had survived as we mourned what had been lost. Very kind locals who were able to comprehend some of my rudimentary French helped me navigate my way to Orly for my flight home, after I discovered the St. Michel AND the Chatelet RER C stations were closed. Quite an adventure!

Barbara at the Roman baths, Bath

Women’s March 2019

On January 19, 2019

By Barbara

Incorrigible.

Best Wishes to All for 2019!

On January 2, 2019

By Barbara

I hope you all had a wonderful and not-too-stressful holiday time with family, friends, and good food – I sure did! I loved getting all your holiday cards with family photos – it’s great to see the babies become big kids and the parents appear just a little less tired and a little less uncertain as the years go by. I gotta tell you, it is a wonderful thing not to be tired all the time, and I hope you live long enough to enjoy it, as I am now. It was totally worth it, as a parent and as a midwife, but my constant refrain for half a century (my older daughter is 50 for Pete’s sake!) was “someday.” Have faith – “someday” has come for me, so hang in there. Maybe you, too, will be able to buy a half-price ticket to a Broadway matinee at the TKTS booth, go to the gym, grab a bite for lunch, then take in the play; or spend a day poking around museums or galleries. Leisurely lunches with friends = not a fantasy. Stay healthy so you can!

Good genes help – see below in the right of the photo my 94-year-old Dad. He just hand-built an oak cradle for my niece’s baby, due any day. This is just some of the family in Tulsa; my daughter and granddaughter who live 2 hours away in Arkansas (kneeling on the floor below my dad) had brought me back from their house, where I spent a day with them and my grandson (not pictured). My younger daughter and her family were with other relatives in Colorado, but I got to see both my sisters and their kids and grandkids too.

Glad to be back in NYC for the New Year, and to keep in touch with clients whom I can help. Always available by text, phone (917-686-5309) or email ([email protected]). Stay in touch!

Arizona

On October 17, 2018

By Barbara

Barbara went out West to visit old friends in Arizona, and got to see the natural wonders of the Red Rocks of Sedona and the Grand Canyon. Pretty impressive!