Franny Kinslow

Although born and raised in Philadelphia, Franny has spent the last ten years enjoying the aloha spirit of rural Big Island Hawai’i.  Her passion for the incredible Hawaiian landscape inspired her to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and minor in Environmental Studies from the University of Hawaii-Hilo.   Currently she is pursuing a Masters degree in Education through the distance program at the University of Southern California.  Franny works part time in research ecology for the US Forest Service in Hawaii.  Just to be sure she fills every spare moment of time, she also keeps busy with freelance writing and editing while raising a very active little girl with her partner, who is pursuing a Masters degree in Chinese Medicine.

Franny is thrilled to be teaching aspiring midwives through MCU.  It was in Hawaii where Franny encountered the practice of midwifery and the beauty of natural childbirth, at the home birth of her best friend’s child.  Inspired by the confidence and competence displayed by the women at that birth, Franny never thought twice about home birth when she became pregnant.  In 2006 she birthed her own daughter at home with a midwife attending, her best friend serving as doula, and her partner as a proud, certified Bradley birth coach. 

Franny wishes that all women could experience the feeling of personal ability and pride she had after childbirth. She hopes that by helping midwives on their journey, she can be some small part of a broader movement toward childbirth becoming an empowering, rather than traumatic, event in all women’s lives.