PRESENTERS
Our speakers will not just be sharing information. They will be inviting you to look deep within yourself for the purpose of remembering the privilege and responsibility that we carry as birthworkers. If not you then who? If not now then when?
Zulgeil Ruiz-Gines, LM
Zul is a midwife, anthropologist and educator. She is currently the Director of Commonsense Childbirth School of Midwifery and Executive Director and founder of Kolibri International Birth Institute (KIBI). Although Zul won't be presenting a topic of her own, you will see a lot of her on stage! Zul is joining us in support of our two parteras - Doñas Lina and Marthita - to offer translation of their wisdom to English and to ensure their safe passage to and through this gathering.
Rebecca KellyG
Rebecca KellyG is a sound artist and speaker who supports individuals and groups to challenge conditioned beliefs, embrace accountability, and cultivate self-love for our personal and collective liberation through a unique blend of public speaking and performance, she weaves vocal harmonies with percussive sounds to create meditative soundscapes accompanied by story-telling and affirmations.
Fadwah Halaby, A-APRN, CNM
Fadwah has given birth six times at home and raised five more children over the years through her rich, blended family experiences. She works as a Nurse Practitioner with a specialty in Midwifery (CNM) in Southern Florida, attending home births and supporting families from conception through postpartum. Before pursuing midwifery, she worked in several Emergency Rooms and Labor and Delivery units. She is the founder of Midwife360.
Doña Marthita Arotingo
Doña Marthita es una partera, herbalista, líder comunitaria, agricultora, guardiana y defensora de la tierra. Es fundadora y directora de la primera escuela tradicional de partería en Cotacachi, Ecuador: "Unanchu Mamakuna". Es miembro del Consejo Indígena de Salud Ancestral "Hampik Warmikuna". Aprendió la práctica de la partería a través de las manos de su madre y las sabias abuelas de su comunidad, con la bendición de la montaña sagrada que ha protegido su linaje durante siglos: Mama Cotacachi. Doña Marthita es autora de un libro de poesía titulado: "Al principio de la vida".
Stuart Fischbein, MD
Dr. Stu is a vaginal breech and twins educator and (sort of) retired home birth obstetrician. He has a podcast called Birthing Instincts, co-hosted with Blyss Young, CPM. Stu also hosts workshops around the world Reteach(ing) Breech in the lithotomy position.
Hermine Hayes-Klein, JD
Hermine is an attorney specializing in human rights in childbirth. She represents both birthing families and birthworkers in a myriad of ways within the legal system, with informed consent as her guide.
Rixa Freeze, PhD
Rixa is one of the most prolific living researchers and authors on the topic of vaginal breech birth. She is the founder and president of Breech Without Borders.
Nicole Morales, CPM
Nicole is a home birth midwife from San Diego, CA. She is also a Spinning Babies instructor and author. Nicole embraces the power of storytelling in guiding her clients and students. She is the founder of The Art of Opening, where you can find her books and other resources.
Elizabeth Catlin, CPM
Elizabeth "Liz" Catlin is a certified professional midwife (CPM) from Penn Yan, New York. She has 14 children. By the time she finished her roughly three-year training and had assisted at hundreds of births, New York had raised its licensure requirements. It added a master's degree or equivalent, extra training, and a board exam. The state did not recognize her CPM title. Local news reported that she worked mostly with the Mennonite community. In 2019, a community that defended her was outraged after her second arrest in two months, when state police said she was posing as an unlicensed midwife. Liz was charged with 95 felonies including the charge of negligent homicide for a baby who died in the hospital after she transferred a client in labor. The film "Arrest the Midwife" follows her legal journey, and the journeys of other midwives serving the mennonite communities of Pennsylvania and New York.
Nubia Earth Martin, CPM
Nubia Earth Martin is a Global Midwife and “woman of two waters” by calling, and she is the founder of a community-based non-profit organization, Birth from The Earth, Inc. Among Nubia's many credentials, she has had the honor of completing world renown Midwife Jennie Josephs's Direct-Entry Midwifery Program at Commonsense Childbirth School of Midwifery. In 2021, Nubia opened Earth Groundz, a space that centers healing and wellness, in the heart of Downtown Yonkers, NY, dedicated to improving birth outcomes for women of color.
Simulation Instructors
Bradley Meyer, MD
Bradley is a practicing OBGYN in Twin Falls, Idaho. After completing residency, Bradley subsequently completed an international physician internship in Frankfurt, Germany under Dr. Frank Louwen in upright breech birth in a hospital setting. In addition to working full-time in his private practice, he works as an instructor for Breech Without Borders.
Rixa Freeze, PhD
Rixa is one of the most prolific living researchers and authors on the topic of vaginal breech birth. She is the founder and president of Breech Without Borders.
Stuart Fischbein, MD
"Dr. Stu" is a vaginal breech and twins educator and (sort of) retired home birth obstetrician. He has a podcast called Birthing Instincts, co-hosted with Blyss Young, CPM. He also hosts workshops around the world reteaching the skills of vaginal breech birth in lithotomy position.
Dennis "Denny" Hartung, MD
Denny an OBGYN providing comprehensive care at a critical access hospital in Wisconsin, including vaginal breech and twins births. He is a veteran of the U.S. Army after 26 years on active duty. He's also a veteran of the Born Free Twins-Breech conferences, this will be his 3rd time joining us! Fun fact: Dr. Hartung is also a flutist!
Mystery Simulation Instructor
We have one final simulation instructor, but she does not want her participation publicized due to some important personal reasons. Here are some hints: a) midwife, b) highly-rated instructor at the 2024 event, c) she attended countless vaginal breech births.
Can you guess who it is? We are so lucky to have her joining us again in 2026!
Zulgeil Ruiz-Gines, LM
Zul is a midwife, anthropologist, and educator. She is currently the Director of Commonsense Childbirth School of Midwifery and Executive Director and founder of Kolibri International Birth Institute (KIBI). Although Zul won't be presenting a topic of her own, you will see a lot of her on stage! Zul is joining us in support of our two parteras - Doñas Lina and Marthita - to offer translation of their wisdom to English and to ensure their safe passage to and through this gathering.
Rebecca KellyG
Rebecca KellyG is a sound artist and speaker who supports individuals and groups to challenge conditioned beliefs, embrace accountability, and cultivate self-love for our personal and collective liberation through a unique blend of public speaking and performance, she weaves vocal harmonies with percussive sounds to create meditative soundscapes accompanied by story-telling and affirmations.
Fadwah Halaby, A-APRN, CNM
Fadwah has given birth six times at home and raised five more children over the years through her rich, blended family experiences. She works as a Nurse Practitioner with a specialty in Midwifery (CNM) in Southern Florida, attending home births and supporting families from conception through postpartum. Before pursuing midwifery, she worked in several Emergency Rooms and Labor and Delivery units. She is the founder of Midwife360.
Marthita Arotingo
Marthita is a midwife, herbalist, community leader, farmer, guardian, and defender of the land. She is both founder and director of the first traditional midwifery school in Cotacachi, Ecuador: “Unanchu Mamakuna”. She is a member of the Indigenous Council of Ancestral Health “Hampik Warmikuna.” She learned the practice of midwifery through the hands of her mother and the wise grandmothers of her community, with the blessing of the sacred mountain that has sheltered her lineage for centuries — Mama Cotacachi. Marthita is the author of a book of poetry titled: “At the Beginning of Life”.
Stu Fischbein, MD
Dr. Fischbein is a vaginal breech and twins educator and (sort of) retired home birth obstetrician. He has a podcast called Birthing Instincts, co-hosted with Blyss Young, CPM. Stu also hosts workshops around the world Reteaching Breech in the lithotomy position.
Hermine Hayes-Klein, JD
Hermine is an attorney specializing in human rights in childbirth. She represents both birthing families and birthworkers in a myriad of ways within the legal system, with informed consent as her guide.
Rixa Freeze, PhD
Rixa is one of the most prolific living researchers and authors on the topic of vaginal breech birth. She is the founder and president of Breech Without Borders.
Nicole Morales, CPM
Nicole is a home birth midwife from San Diego, CA. She is also a Spinning Babies instructor and author. Nicole embraces the power of storytelling in guiding her clients and students. She is the founder of The Art of Opening. =
Elizabeth Catlin, CPM
Elizabeth "Liz" Catlin is a certified professional midwife (CPM) from Penn Yan, New York. She has 14 children. By the time she finished her roughly three-year training and had assisted at hundreds of births, New York had raised its licensure requirements. It added a master's degree or equivalent, extra training, and a board exam. The state did not recognize her CPM title. Local news reported that she worked mostly with the Mennonite community. In 2019, a community that defended her was outraged after her second arrest in two months, when state police said she was posing as an unlicensed midwife. Liz was charged with 95 felonies including the charge of negligent homicide for a baby who died in the hospital after she transferred a client in labor. The film "Arrest the Midwife" follows her legal journey, and the journeys of other midwives serving the mennonite communities of Pennsylvania and New York.
Nubia Earth Martin, CPM
Nubia Earth Martin is a Global Midwife and “woman of two waters” by calling, and she is the founder of a community-based non-profit organization, Birth from The Earth, Inc. Among Nubia's many credentials, she has had the honor of completing world renown Midwife Jennie Josephs's Direct-Entry Midwifery Program at Commonsense Childbirth School of Midwifery. In 2021, Nubia opened Earth Groundz, a space that centers healing and wellness, in the heart of Downtown Yonkers, NY, dedicated to improving birth outcomes for women of color.
Simulation Instructors
Bradley Meyer, MD
Bradley is a practicing obgyn in Twin Falls, Idaho. After completing residency, Bradley subsequently completed an international physician internship in Frankfurt, Germany under Dr. Frank Louwen in upright breech birth in a hospital setting. In addition to working full-time in his private practice, he works as an instructor for Breech Without Borders.
Rixa Freeze, PhD
Rixa is one of the most prolific living researchers and authors on the topic of vaginal breech birth. She is the founder and president of Breech Without Borders.
Stu Fischbein, MD
Dr. Fischbein is a vaginal breech and twins educator and (sort of) retired home birth obstetrician. He has a podcast called Birthing Instincts, co-hosted with Blyss Young, CPM. He also hosts workshops around the world reteaching the skills of vaginal breech birth in lithotomy position.
Dennis “Denny” Hartung, MD
Denny is an OBGYN providing comprehensive care at a critical access hospital in Wisconsin, including vaginal breech and twins births. He is a veteran of the U.S. Army after 26 years on active duty. Fun fact: Dr. Hartung is also a flutist!
Mystery Simulations Instructor
We have one final simulation instructor, but she does not want her participation publicized due to some important personal reasons. Here are some hints: a) midwife, b) highly-rated instructor at the 2024 event, c) she attended countless vaginal breech births.
Can you guess who it is? We are so lucky to have her joining us again in 2026!
Some Feedback From Our Last Event
"This was the best midwifery conference ever. Truly a trip. So wild and multi-fauceted. Very impactful!"
"I don’t have any words to describe what a transformative, powerful, inclusive, event this was. I get a little teary when I think about it."
"Thank you for organizing such beautiful event, I still cannot believe what was I just part of..."
"I truly loved this conference, it has lit a fire in me that was pretty dim."
"Often, birth is simple. But if it were always simple, we wouldn't need these events."
"Thank you! Wow! Amazing! Can’t wait for 2026!"
