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.
By the time we were expecting our first, I knew I wanted a natural home birth
with a midwife.  I definitely wanted to breastfeed and I discovered that the
style of parenting I wanted to practice had a name - attachment parenting.  
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 Method® Teacher Training when my first daughter was only 8 weeks old.  In
2002, I attended and successfully completed a second Bradley Method® Teacher Training.

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 attended the Bradley Method® B.I.R.T.H.S. Conference where I earned specialty
certification in Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC) training and Assistant Coaching. I also took
the La Leche League Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Training 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
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.

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.

*Update - In January 2008, I began my formal studies to become a CPM. If all goes as
planned, I will realize my dream of becoming a midwife in 2011!
I am a member of and support the following organizations:

American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth® (AAHCC)
Citizens for Midwifery (CfM)
Doulas Association of Southern California (DASC)
Doulas Of North America (DONA)
Homebirth And Midwifery Support Group (HAMSgroup)
La Leche League International (LLLI)
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!!
Doula Services • Bradley Method® Childbirth Classes • Private Classes
sherry@birthingbaby.com    Los Angeles, California    (818) 4•My•Baby
Copyright © 2004 Sherry S. Rumsey All rights reserved.