Welcome to The Birth Mag! In the years since I first felt called to the birth community many changes have happened, while many other things have remained remarkably the same. The rise of social media has allowed for more voices to be heard, but many have continued to be heard almost exclusively by their own circles. The internet has increased our awareness of disparities in care, but too frequently the voices of those most negatively impacted by those disparities have been made unwelcome in the conversation. These things need to change, and it is my hope that The Birth Mag can function as a platform for both the joyful exchange of knowledge and the potentially uncomfortable hard conversations that need to be had for midwifery, and the rest of the birth community, to move forward towards a future that is inclusive, equitable, and sustainable. In the interest of moving forward, this magazine will include a quarterly print volume, but will have all articles available digitally as well. I am excited about the ability to bring you content that goes beyond what a traditional print magazine allows us to share. While I expect text and still images to make up the majority of what will be posted here, a digital medium means audio, video, and even interactive options are all available. This project has been a long time dream of mine, but it is absolutely not my baby alone. A huge thanks to the birth community members who have poured out their support for The Birth Mag before we ever got anything published. Every share, repost, and link is helping create a foundation that this magazine can be built on, and every single one is appreciated. Likewise, every contributor who took a chance and sent their writing to a brand new publication with no established track record is hugely appreciated. Thank you also to everyone on the collaboration team that has proofread articles, brainstormed ideas, helped find writers, or just generally provided the support and encouragement to get this started. This would not be happening without you. Together I believe we can do better. Jen Marlow LM, CPM (she/her/hers) Jen is a homebirth midwife in Fort Worth, TX, and the primary editor of The Birth Mag. When not catching babies, she loves to draw, garden, and cook.

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