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

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!

Washington, DC 10/6/18

On October 6, 2018

By Barbara

In honor of my grandson, Kieran, who is 19 years old today. And in honor of my granddaughters and my daughters and my patients and my friends and ALL women.

Birth Center Closing

On September 10, 2018

By Barbara

Mount Sinai has announced they will be closing the Birthing Center at Mt. Sinai West in January, 2019. Fewer choices for childbearing families! We mourn the loss of this option, which was the place of birth of so many CBS babies.