Ava Johnson (they/them) is a Licensed Midwife and Certified Professional Midwife located in Santa Cruz, California. Since obtaining their license in 2015, Ava has dedicated their career to providing midwifery care for individuals birthing at home and in birth centers both domestically and internationally. In 2016, they established their own home-birth practice, Restore Midwifery, where they specialize in offering queer- and trans-competent prenatal and birth care, as well as fertility and IUI services.
Ava holds a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and Portuguese from UC Berkeley and is licensed through the National Midwifery Institute. They actively teach midwifery and insemination techniques to aspiring midwives across the nation. As a parent of three—one of whom they gave birth to themselves—Ava is also a published writer. Their work has appeared in various online platforms, including Everyday Feminism, Ms. magazine, Motherly, and the Huffington Post. In 2014, they co-authored a cookbook, Straight From the Earth: Irresistible Vegan Recipes for Everyone, aimed at making plant-based eating accessible to omnivores. More recently, in 2023, they collaborated on Baby Making for Everybody: Family Building and Fertility for LGBTQ+ and Solo Parents.
Innovative Resources for At-Home Insemination
For individuals interested in at-home insemination, MakeAmom offers an innovative approach with their reusable insemination kit. You can explore how this process works by visiting their How It Works page. Additionally, for support and community, consider joining the free sperm donor matching group on Facebook.
Authoritative Resources for Prospective Parents
Ava encourages prospective parents to consult authoritative resources such as the CDC for comprehensive information on pregnancy and family planning. They also recommend checking out the insightful article on navigating reciprocal IVF for those considering various paths to parenthood. For an inspiring read, Ava suggests looking at this blog post that shares a personal experience with home insemination.
To Summarize
Ava Johnson is a dedicated midwife who focuses on providing inclusive care for diverse families. They support individuals on their parenting journeys through education, community engagement, and valuable resources, including those provided by MakeAmom.