Childbirth is such a special and sacred time for many people: it is especially for me. I have been blessed by my journeys through pregnancy, childbirth, and even beyond into motherhood! At the same time, this beautiful path can be mixed with challenges just like many important matters in life. But I have grown significantly through facing and tackling those challenges by God’s grace. I hope that you’ll be able to benefit from some of my experiences!

My intention is that Calm Childbirth will be a safe haven for women wishing to be inspired in their journey through pregnancy, labor, and delivery. My hope is that many women will benefit greatly from the help and information shared on this platform. This platform is one way I’m able to help many women while still primarily focusing on my priorities as a wife, mother, and homeschooling mommy -- even working on our family business on the side.

For those who like to learn a little more about your online “childbirth coach” or “virtual doula,” this portion is for you:

Child of God

I’m Franicia T. White, a child of God and born-again believer. Why might that be important for you to know? One, my faith is the foundation to a number of my philosophies and views in life especially when it comes to childbirth, and it’s important that you know that I’ll be approaching childbirth from a faith-based, Christian worldview. I’ve been working on a childbirth book that has been “in the works” for quite some time and hope to finish no later than sometime in 2021. In my research on childbirth books, I’ve noticed a number of times where readers were disappointed to read a childbirth book only to find out that it was not for them due to the perspective from which the author wrote the book. Those not interested in God are sometimes disappointed and mention the lack of the author’s transparency. 

Second, disclosing this helps me to feel free to use my normal every-day language when praising God and mentioning spiritual things like prayer and my views on the human body and children. I also share what I’ve found encouraging and helpful from the Bible that I’ve used to help me think rightly about children, pregnancies, and childbirth among other things.

Lastly, there are times when I might reference things or recommend items that may not come from the same spiritual beliefs as me, but it is my goal to disclose that when appropriate. Birth and, particularly, childbirth can be discussed at times without mentioning faith and religious-based beliefs. 

Mommy of 10

I am a blessed wife and mother to ten wonderful children. As of this writing in 2023, I am now in my 40’s. My children currently cover almost every grade level or rough age bracket (high school to nursing baby) from ages 19 to 9-months old. I gave birth to all of them naturally. My first birth was a waterbirth at home. That first birth went well, but I’ve learned so much since then. I have given birth to 7 of my children at home and 3 at a birthing center. I received prenatal care at a Naval hospital briefly a couple of times (both in Pensacola and overseas in Guam) but transferred my care eventually – that story is for another time :) – and, with other pregnancies, have received all of my prenatal care from midwives.

Military Wife

I’m also a military wife to a senior officer who is an aviator, and I’ve given birth stateside as well as overseas. My husband missed the birth of our second child due to his deployment for a humanitarian mission. Though my parents were able to fly over to Guam and help me greatly, I wasn’t really sure if I would have any help for my toddler and me once I went into labor for my second baby. Such is the life of a military wife. When it comes to flight schedules and praying that my husband will be there, I understand the added stress. When it comes to the unknowns of surprise deployments, I understand. When it comes to getting used to a faraway place with hardly any contacts and needing to build community (especially one of trust), I understand. Birth can be that way: it can force you into a new community where you find that trust is not easily given and can be challenging to find.

Asian Pacific American

I’m an Asian-Pacfic Islander and native Chamorro from the island of Saipan, a lovely U.S. territory close to Guam. I met my husband, Tim, while we were both attending the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis. While we met at the Naval Academy, we didn’t really get to know each other until much later when I had left and was a high school and junior high teacher at a college preparatory school in Saipan, my alma mater.

Home Birthing

I’m not opposed to hospital births and believe that a woman could have a satisfying and safe childbirth, delivery, and care in a hospital. There is, though, an extra level of comfort and peace of mind that a number of healthy women with low-risk pregnancies can have while giving birth at home or even at a good birthing center. For various reasons, my husband, babies, and I greatly enjoyed and benefited from the advantages of my birth choices and experiences.

Our family is grateful for healthcare workers. I’m especially grateful for various options and specialists when it comes to care for our bodies. On the topic of childbirth, I believe it is a blessing to have highly skilled people who can safely guide natural childbirth in a home setting, the watchful eye at a hospital when complications or concerns arise, as well as skilled and caring doctors that perform sometimes very needful C-sections in order to save a baby and mother.

Have a lovely day! I’d love to hear from you.

Blessings, Franicia

You can also find me on our family website, TimandFranicia.com and our publishing company, WholesomePress.com.