
#456: Principalities & Powers & Protecting Traditional Midwifery with Abby Iovine
From Birthing Instincts by Dr. Stuart Fischbein + Midwife Blyss Young
March 11, 2026 · 1h 23m · Episode 456
About this episode
The episode features Abigail Iovine discussing her mission to protect traditional midwifery through legislation.
On this week’s episode Blyss and Stu introduce guest Abigail Iovine, a Pennsylvania traditional midwife, and her mission to create legislation to protect traditional midwifery through her organization The National Alliance for Traditional Birth Rights. Iovine discusses how legislation and institutional credentialing can criminalize basic midwifery care and shrink options. This episode outlines harms from siloed maternity care and discusses NARM’s influence. About Abby Iovine: Abby is a traditional midwife, mother of ten, and a passionate advocate for medical freedom who was raised with a deep love for God and family. Yes, all ten are hers, and yes, she has given birth ten times, an experience that profoundly shaped the way she approaches birth and care. Her journey into midwifery began after the birth of her fourth child, and while pregnant with her fifth, she famously searched, “How to NOT have a baby in the hospital?” That question set her on a new path. After welcoming her first homebirth with her fifth baby, she began formally studying midwifery in 2010, later becoming a certified doula in 2013 and attending births soon after. Trained through a five-year traditional…
People in this episode
Hosts: Blyss Young, Dr. Stuart Fischbein
Guest: Abigail Iovine
Topics covered
- traditional midwifery
- legislation
- medical freedom
- maternity care
- homebirth
Keywords
- traditional midwifery
- legislation
- medical freedom
- homebirth
- maternity care
- NARM
- midwifery care
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: The National Alliance for Traditional Birth Rights, Cardinal Birth Midwifery, NARM
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