Smiling woman standing in a greenhouse with plants

Taccara Dowdell, also known as Midwife Aaushi, is a passionate and dedicated community midwife, birth worker, and advocate for families in Southeast Michigan. Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Taccara’s journey into midwifery began from a place of deep personal pain and transformation. After the tragic loss of her son due to medical violence and racism in 2015, she felt a powerful calling to ensure that other families of did not face the same heartbreaking experiences in the healthcare system.

Her path into birth work began as a birth doula, where she worked in hospitals across Oakland, Washtenaw, and Wayne counties, providing essential support and advocacy to families during labor and delivery. Taccara’s work soon extended beyond the hospital setting, as she also volunteered within the Detroit SUD recovery community. She provided education and support to pregnant folks navigating recovery and drug treatment programs, offering valuable information on pregnancy, childbirth, and infant care. In 2019, Taccara took her dedication to supporting families even further by becoming a Birth Assistant, working alongside several experienced homebirth midwives from metro-Detroit. As the COVID-19 pandemic brought increased demand for birth support, she became more committed to pursuing midwifery full-time. She began her midwifery education as a PEP (Preceptor Education Program) student, training under both homebirth and birth center midwives, as well as under the guidance of a Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM).

After taking a brief break to have her own baby in 2021, Aaushi returned to her midwifery studies with renewed determination. She enrolled in a MEAC-accredited program at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College, where she graduated in December 2024. Throughout her apprenticeship, she trained under different preceptors, gaining diverse experience and ensuring that she could provide competent, confident, and adaptable care in various birth settings. This extensive training and clinical experience have equipped her with a wide range of skills and expertise. She has attended nearly 200 births across Southeast Michigan and has completed many certifications in multiple areas.

Aaushi’s Approach

Home birth photographer doing newborn exam

Taccara’s unique blend of personal experience, professional training, and unwavering dedication to the families she serves has shaped her into a compassionate and skilled midwife. She continues to fight for the rights of marginalized people to receive equitable, respectful, and supportive care during pregnancy and childbirth, all while honoring the sacredness of the birth process.

  • Affiliations

  • Michigan Midwives Association, Member

  • International Cesarean Awareness Network (ICAN), Member

  • Specialties

  • Trauma-Informed Care

  • Well-Person Care

  • Fertility Support

  • Lactation Support

  • Infant Care Support

A woman sitting on a couch holding a sleeping baby wearing patterned clothing and gloves. There is a laptop and a pink jacket beside her.
Black and white image of two women assisting in a home birth, smiling and holding medical instruments, with a bed in the foreground.
A woman sitting on a couch holding an infant wrapped in a dog-patterned onesie with a pacifier.
A mother holding a newborn baby in a blanket while a midwife in scrubs uses a stethoscope to check the baby's health. The Detroit midwife is also holding a smartphone displaying heart rate information.
A woman holding a baby with a polka dot blanket, both appearing relaxed and content. The setting is indoors with soft lighting and a decorative mirror in the background.
A woman in a birthing pool holds a newborn baby close to her chest while another person, possibly a midwife, assists her. The scene appears to be a home water birth with supportive care. The woman is emotional and possibly relieved after childbirth.
Southeast Michigan Midwife aiding another leaning over stair railing, indoors, in labor.
Person handling placenta on a medical pad
A woman lying in a birthing pool during a water birth, with people assisting and a newborn baby on her chest.
A woman using a Doppler fetal monitor
Woman in scrubs holding a yawning baby on a couch
Woman weighing a floral-patterned bag with a digital scale indoors.
Person assisting another in a birthing pool, indicating a home water birth setting.
Midwife Aaushi - What it's like to work with me
Mother holding newborn during water birth with assisting woman and child.
A man is holding a newborn baby wrapped in a towel. A woman is crouching nearby, providing assistance. Another person is leaning on the couch, watching with a smile. The setting appears to be a home environment.
A group of people in a room, with one person sitting on an exercise ball next to a birthing pool. Another person is standing, partially visible in jeans. The atmosphere suggests a home birth setting.
Person wearing colorful headscarf attending to a newborn baby on a hospital table.
A person holding a baby on a couch, laptop nearby, wearing a shirt with the word 'MIDWIFERY'.
Person wearing a bonnet and sweater supporting a kneeling person during a moment of physical or emotional need in a room with laundry in the background.
A newborn baby being held during a water birth.
Newborn baby on a white blanket while the umbilical cord is being cut by a healthcare professional's hands with gloved assistance. The placenta is visible next to the baby.
A person changing a baby's diaper on a wooden table.