Meet the Midwife
Licenses & Certifications
2013 - present Licensed Midwife (LM) - State of Texas
2013 - present Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) - North American Registry of Midwives (NARM)
2009 - 2015 Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator (LCCE) - Lamaze International
2006 - 2015 Certified Doula (CD, DONA) - DONA International
2005 - 2008 Certified Lactation Educator (CLE) - Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association
2004 - Breastfeeding Peer Counselor - La Leche League International
2003 - 2008 Bradley Certified Childbirth Educator - American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth
2013 - present Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) - North American Registry of Midwives (NARM)
2009 - 2015 Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator (LCCE) - Lamaze International
2006 - 2015 Certified Doula (CD, DONA) - DONA International
2005 - 2008 Certified Lactation Educator (CLE) - Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association
2004 - Breastfeeding Peer Counselor - La Leche League International
2003 - 2008 Bradley Certified Childbirth Educator - American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth
Education
2017 - Midwives College of Utah (MCU) - Bachelor of Science in Midwifery (BSM) degree
MCU is accredited by the Midwifery Education Accreditation Council (MEAC).
* Graduated Summa Cum Laude
* Graduated with a 4.0 GPA
2013 - Midwives College of Utah (MCU) - Associate of Science in Midwifery (ASM) degree
* Graduated with a 4.0 GPA
* 2010 Student of the Year
* 2010 Developed the MCU Prospective Student Orientation (PSO)
* 2010 - 2013 Student Council Member
* 2010 - 2013 Sister Circle Leader
2007 - 2011 - Birthing Women's Health, Pasadena, CA - Midwifery Apprentice
1991 - 1992, 1994 - 1996 University of South Alabama (Engineering/Business)
1991 - Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science - diploma
Workshops & Trainings (this is a VERY incomplete list - and probably needs updating!):
2005 - present (renewed every 2 years) Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) Provider - American Academy of Pediatrics/American Heart Association
2005 - present (renewed every 2 years) Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers (CPR and AED) - American Heart Association
2017 - 2017 Genetics Conference - Genes to Genomes: The New Genetics (TX DSHS)
2017 - Evidence-based healthcare and evidence-informed practice - Courtney L. Everson, PhD/MCU/Academic Collaborative for Integrative Health
2017 - Zika: What Midwives Need to Know - NACPM/AME/MEAC
2016 - Cultural Competency and Respect in the Provision of Maternity Care - Mercy in Action/MEAC
2016 - VBAC: Evidence and Practical Advice - Brielle Epstein, LM, CPM/Association of Texas Midwives (ATM) Conference
2016 - Resolving Shoulder Dystocia - Gail Tully/ATM Conference
2016 - Postpartum Depression and PTSD - Evelyn Simmons and Bill Jack Davis/ATM Conference
2016 - Preceptor Training - Roxanne Anderson/ATM Conference
2016 - Out-of-Hospital Newborn Critical Congenital Heart Disease Screening - University of Virginia School of Medicine & School of Nursing/MEAC
2016 - Vitamin D for Bone Health and Beyond - Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute/ASCLS P.A.C.E. Program
2014 - Integrating Acupressure into your Midwifery Practice for Labor Support and Postpartum Care - Acumassage Therapy Center/ACNM
2013 - Birth Emergency Skills Training for out-of-hospital providers (BEST) - Andrea Dixon/Family Way Educational Services
2011 - Spinning Babies Workshop - Gail Tully/MEAC/Doula Association of Southern California (DASC)
2010 - Advanced Midwifery Skills - Sonia Ochoa/Midwives College of Utah
2010 - Suturing - Alyson Kuntz-Butler/Advancing Arts in Midwifery
2009 - Hypno-Doula training - Sheridan Ripley/Hypnobabies
2008 - Supporting Survivors of Abuse, Aromatherapy, and Use of TENS During Labor - Kristi Ridd-Young/DONA
2008 - Helping Women after a Traumatic or Negative Birth - Phyllis Klaus/DONA
2008 - Supporting Women Through Perinatal Loss - Miriam Maslin/MEAC/DONA
2005 - Lactation Educator Certification Workshop - Michele Weatherford/Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association
2005 - Acupressure/Jin Shin Jyutsu for Birth - Judy Ballinger/Doula Association of Southern California
2003 - Labor Support Doula Workshop - Penny Simkin, Sandy Szalay, Shellie Moore/DONA/Seattle Midwifery School
1999 - Bradley Method Teacher Training - Marjie & Jay Hathaway/American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth
MCU is accredited by the Midwifery Education Accreditation Council (MEAC).
* Graduated Summa Cum Laude
* Graduated with a 4.0 GPA
2013 - Midwives College of Utah (MCU) - Associate of Science in Midwifery (ASM) degree
* Graduated with a 4.0 GPA
* 2010 Student of the Year
* 2010 Developed the MCU Prospective Student Orientation (PSO)
* 2010 - 2013 Student Council Member
* 2010 - 2013 Sister Circle Leader
2007 - 2011 - Birthing Women's Health, Pasadena, CA - Midwifery Apprentice
1991 - 1992, 1994 - 1996 University of South Alabama (Engineering/Business)
1991 - Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science - diploma
Workshops & Trainings (this is a VERY incomplete list - and probably needs updating!):
2005 - present (renewed every 2 years) Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) Provider - American Academy of Pediatrics/American Heart Association
2005 - present (renewed every 2 years) Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers (CPR and AED) - American Heart Association
2017 - 2017 Genetics Conference - Genes to Genomes: The New Genetics (TX DSHS)
2017 - Evidence-based healthcare and evidence-informed practice - Courtney L. Everson, PhD/MCU/Academic Collaborative for Integrative Health
2017 - Zika: What Midwives Need to Know - NACPM/AME/MEAC
2016 - Cultural Competency and Respect in the Provision of Maternity Care - Mercy in Action/MEAC
2016 - VBAC: Evidence and Practical Advice - Brielle Epstein, LM, CPM/Association of Texas Midwives (ATM) Conference
2016 - Resolving Shoulder Dystocia - Gail Tully/ATM Conference
2016 - Postpartum Depression and PTSD - Evelyn Simmons and Bill Jack Davis/ATM Conference
2016 - Preceptor Training - Roxanne Anderson/ATM Conference
2016 - Out-of-Hospital Newborn Critical Congenital Heart Disease Screening - University of Virginia School of Medicine & School of Nursing/MEAC
2016 - Vitamin D for Bone Health and Beyond - Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute/ASCLS P.A.C.E. Program
2014 - Integrating Acupressure into your Midwifery Practice for Labor Support and Postpartum Care - Acumassage Therapy Center/ACNM
2013 - Birth Emergency Skills Training for out-of-hospital providers (BEST) - Andrea Dixon/Family Way Educational Services
2011 - Spinning Babies Workshop - Gail Tully/MEAC/Doula Association of Southern California (DASC)
2010 - Advanced Midwifery Skills - Sonia Ochoa/Midwives College of Utah
2010 - Suturing - Alyson Kuntz-Butler/Advancing Arts in Midwifery
2009 - Hypno-Doula training - Sheridan Ripley/Hypnobabies
2008 - Supporting Survivors of Abuse, Aromatherapy, and Use of TENS During Labor - Kristi Ridd-Young/DONA
2008 - Helping Women after a Traumatic or Negative Birth - Phyllis Klaus/DONA
2008 - Supporting Women Through Perinatal Loss - Miriam Maslin/MEAC/DONA
2005 - Lactation Educator Certification Workshop - Michele Weatherford/Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association
2005 - Acupressure/Jin Shin Jyutsu for Birth - Judy Ballinger/Doula Association of Southern California
2003 - Labor Support Doula Workshop - Penny Simkin, Sandy Szalay, Shellie Moore/DONA/Seattle Midwifery School
1999 - Bradley Method Teacher Training - Marjie & Jay Hathaway/American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth
Experience
2018 - became approved Field Instructor (preceptor) for MCU
2014 - began work as Teacher's Assistant at MCU
2013 - began attending births as a licensed & certified midwife
2009 - began attending births as a primary midwife under supervision
2007 - became midwife apprentice/student midwife at Birthing Women's Health in Pasadena, CA
2005 - became midwife assistant at Birthing Women's Health in Pasadena, CA
2003 - began supporting birthing couples as a doula
2002 - began teaching childbirth education classes
2014 - began work as Teacher's Assistant at MCU
2013 - began attending births as a licensed & certified midwife
2009 - began attending births as a primary midwife under supervision
2007 - became midwife apprentice/student midwife at Birthing Women's Health in Pasadena, CA
2005 - became midwife assistant at Birthing Women's Health in Pasadena, CA
2003 - began supporting birthing couples as a doula
2002 - began teaching childbirth education classes
Personal
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. As a high school senior weighing my career options, I considered going to medical school to become an Ob/Gyn. I didn't really want to work in a hospital environment, however, and I didn't want to perform surgeries. Had I known that midwives existed and out-of-hospital birth still occurred, I probably would have gone straight to midwifery school. As it turned out, I did not find my true path for several more years.
I learned about modern midwives after my husband and I were married and considering starting a family in a year or so. I came across Mothering magazine in a book store (this was back when it was still in print). I read it cover to cover, got a subscription, and bought back issues. Through Mothering magazine, I learned about midwives and found support for a natural lifestyle.
When we were expecting our first child, I had already decided I wanted to birth with a midwife at home. In addition to Mothering magazine, I had found a website which had lots of birth stories categorized by the type of birth: homebirth, medicated hospital birth, natural hospital birth, induction, cesarean birth, etc. I read many birth stories. The homebirth stories resonated with me. I knew that is how I wanted to bring our children into the world.
My husband was on board with all of my choices regarding pregnancy and parenting - except birthing at home. Naturally, he was concerned about safety and “the pain”. After looking into the different options available and weighing the benefits and risks of each, he also decided a homebirth 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 and second daughter was born at home (not a waterbirth).
We have never regretted choosing homebirth for our family. And now I am so pleased to be able to offer my services as a midwife to today's birthing families. Whether it's your first birth or the last one you have planned, if homebirth is an option that speaks to your soul, I encourage you to listen to that voice. Follow your instincts and do what feels right for you and your baby.
I learned about modern midwives after my husband and I were married and considering starting a family in a year or so. I came across Mothering magazine in a book store (this was back when it was still in print). I read it cover to cover, got a subscription, and bought back issues. Through Mothering magazine, I learned about midwives and found support for a natural lifestyle.
When we were expecting our first child, I had already decided I wanted to birth with a midwife at home. In addition to Mothering magazine, I had found a website which had lots of birth stories categorized by the type of birth: homebirth, medicated hospital birth, natural hospital birth, induction, cesarean birth, etc. I read many birth stories. The homebirth stories resonated with me. I knew that is how I wanted to bring our children into the world.
My husband was on board with all of my choices regarding pregnancy and parenting - except birthing at home. Naturally, he was concerned about safety and “the pain”. After looking into the different options available and weighing the benefits and risks of each, he also decided a homebirth 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 and second daughter was born at home (not a waterbirth).
We have never regretted choosing homebirth for our family. And now I am so pleased to be able to offer my services as a midwife to today's birthing families. Whether it's your first birth or the last one you have planned, if homebirth is an option that speaks to your soul, I encourage you to listen to that voice. Follow your instincts and do what feels right for you and your baby.