The Village by Millie

Nobody needs to tell you that pregnancy, childbirth, and parenthood are experiences that come with massive changes.

What type of pregnancy care is best? The two medical practitioners typically involved in pregnancy and birth are obstetrician-gynecologists (OB-GYN) and midwives, but what’s the difference? And do you have to choose one or the other?

The truth about trying to get pregnant is that it may not happen immediately for most people — and many people in the U.S. experience trouble conceiving and staying pregnant.

When I set out to write this article, I would have loved to have said that as a Black birthing person I selected an all-Black birthing team to meet my needs. But the reality is that there aren’t enough Black reproductive healthcare professionals. So, I selected a team of birth-work and mental health professionals who listened to me, who made me feel seen, and who were not afraid to engage in a discussion about my experience as it pertains to my race and identity.

I am a Black, gay, transgender man, and seahorse dad. I gave birth to my first daughter on January 9, 2014 — four years after beginning my medical transition. Six years later, I gave birth to my second child on July 21, 2020. Neither pregnancy was planned.

Something that’s hard to really understand until you go through it yourself is just how difficult and isolating the postpartum period can be.

With all the planning that goes into getting pregnant, being pregnant, deciding where to give birth, and then settling into life with a baby, coming up with a “birth plan” might feel like just another stress-inducing item on the to-do list.

I am Anu Sharma, the founder and CEO of Millie. Together with Talia Borgo, Millie’s Clinical Director (who was also my midwife), and Sarah Reynolds, our Chief Technology Officer, we’re on a mission to improve the U.S. maternity care system from the inside out.

Millie, a maternity and women's health clinic, announced a partnership with UCSF Health, as the clinic continues to expand access to high-quality pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care in collaboration with leading health systems.

Maia, Millie’s New AI Agent, Delivers Smarter Clinical Insights and Personalized Patient Support

The Hybrid, Midwifery-Led Clinic Broadens Its Services to Include Comprehensive Care For Women Across Life Stages

The Capital Enables the Hybrid Maternity Care Company to Scale Through Tech Advancement and Physical Expansion

The Maternity Clinic Releases Data Exceeding National Benchmarks, Proving the Efficacy of its Future-Forward Care

At the center of Millie's care model are Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs), who serve as the primary clinicians for the majority of patients. CNMs are advanced practice clinicians who complete graduate-level nursing programs and are nationally board certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board. They specialize in managing low- to moderate-risk pregnancies, physiologic labor, birth, and non-surgical gynecology.