Birthing Baby - About Sherry S. Rumsey

About Me

For as long as I can remember, I've been in awe of the
power of women to nurture life within and then bring
forth this life into our world. So, long before my husband
and I decided to take the plunge and conceive, I took it
upon myself to become as educated as possible about
pregnancy, birth, newborns and parenting. I spent hours
on the internet and a fortune in books and magazines.

My husband was on board with all of my choices except birthing at home.
Naturally, he was concerned about safety and my ability to handle “the
pain”. After looking into the different options available and the pros and
cons of each, he also decided a home birth was the right choice for us. We
experienced our first home waterbirth in 1999 with the arrival of our first
daughter. In 2001, our son was born (another home waterbirth). In January
2004, our third child (another daughter) was born at home (not a waterbirth).

***Note: Although we chose to birth at home, I fully support those
couples who choose to birth in birth centers or hospitals. In fact, the
majority of my students are hospital birthers.

In addition to countless hours of my own research on the topics of pregnancy, birth, newborns
and parenting (which I began in earnest in 1998), I attended and successfully completed the
1999 Bradley Teacher Training when my first daughter was only 8 weeks old. I taught Bradley
for over 5 years before ending my affiliation with that organization.

In 2003, as a prerequisite to midwifery school, I attended Seattle Midwifery School’s Labor
Support Course for Birth Doulas. I had the privilege to study under Penny Simkin, P.T., CD
(DONA), one of the founders of Doulas Of North America (DONA), author of several birth
related books and a legend in the birthing community. I was so inspired by the course that I
continued my doula training and became a DONA certified doula.

In 2004, I became certified as a La Leche League Breastfeeding Peer Counselor through
the Pasadena Public Health Department.

In 2005, I attended a wonderful workshop teaching Acupressure and Jin Shin Jyutzu
for pregnancy and birth. I have enjoyed incorporating these new skills into my doula practice.
Also in 2005, I became a Certified Lactation Educator through CAPPA and I received my first
certification in Neonatal Resuscitation and Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers.
In June 2005, I began attending home births as a Midwife Assistant at Birthing Women's
Health in Pasadena.

In 2008, I began my formal studies to become a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM). I am
doing my didactic work through the Midwives College of Utah (MCU) and my clinical work as a
Student Midwife is done under the supervision of Margo Kennedy, CNM of Birthing Women's
Health. Also in 2008, I earned Continuing Education Units (CEUs) by completing workshops on:
               * Helping Women after a Traumatic or Negative Birth,
               * Supporting Women through Perinatal Loss,
               * Supporting Survivors of Abuse,
               * Aromatherapy, and
               * Use of TENS During Labor

In 2009, I continued my didactic and clinical work. I also participated in a 7-week internship at a
high volume birth center. At the birth center, I was able to polish my clinical skills in a relatively
short period of time. I attended many births and had the honor of being the Primary Midwife
(under supervision) for 10 of them. I plan to return for another stay in 2010.

My dream is to one day own and operate my own freestanding birth center serving families as
a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) both at the birth center and at home births.

I support the following organizations:

Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association (CAPPA)
Citizens for Midwifery (CfM)
Coalition for Improving Maternity Services (CIMS)
Doulas Association of Southern California (DASC )
Doulas Of North America (DONA )
Homebirth And Midwifery Support Group (HAMSgroup)
International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA)
La Leche League International (LLLI)
Lamaze International
Midwives & Mothers in Action (MAMA)
Midwives Alliance of North America (MANA)

Giving birth is a monumental event in a woman’s life. With education and preparation, it CAN
be joyous and empowering. The impact of this experience forever changes a woman. I feel it
is my calling in life to help as many women and babies as possible have safe and HAPPY
BIRTH-DAYS!!