About Me I didn’t choose to be a midwife, midwifery choose me. God planted the midwife seed into my tender heart long before I knew what a midwife was. I “played house” like most little girls but I also played “newborn nursery” and cared for my pretend mama’s. After graduating from high school I began to pursue a nursing career to become a certified nurse midwife. Before I made it to midwifery school I married Mark, started having babies and instead focused on my family. When my third son was a few months old, I became a certified Bradley® childbirth teacher. After attending the birth of my very first student I knew that I had found my ‘calling’ and had to once again pursue my childhood dream of caring for women and babies. I became a certified birth Doula, began a midwifery apprenticeship and even spent time in the Netherlands with my aunt who is a Dutch midwife (now retired). My license plate displays VRTFRAU, short for the Dutch word Vroedvrouw which means Midwife as a tribute to my dear aunt who passed her love of midwifery on to me. I have been married to my husband Mark since 1985 and together we have 4 children. My first 2 children were interventive and medicated hospital births, the third was a natural hospital birth and my fourth child was born wonderfully at home with a midwife in attendance. In addition to midwifery, I am a "home schooling, hockey mom," avid reader and scrap booker. My Training I completed a comprehensive and intensive midwifery program and graduated at the top of my class. Concurrently, I apprenticed with a local midwife and participated in an externship program in Jamaica, West Indies. As required for State Licensing at the time, I completed the California Challenge Process through Seattle Midwifery School. After becoming licensed with the State of California I also fulfilled the NARM (North America Registry of Midwives) requirements for national certification becoming a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM). As part of my midwifery practice I endeavor to update my knowledge and skills by attending regular midwifery education workshops, attending conferences and using current evidence within my practice. In October of 2004 and again in 2006, I had the privilege to travel to Germany and complete advanced water birth training with Cornelia Enning and Barbara Harper. Barbara was instrumental in helping me plan my own water birth back in 1998. I believe in the Midwifery philosophy of “Each One, Teach One” and that we need well trained and compassionate midwives! The more midwives we have; the more women will be able to choose this form of normal birth. I have helped train several midwives and am on staff as a preceptor for National Midwifery Institute in Vermont and National College for Midwifery in Taos, New Mexico. Click here for Love Notes Midwifery Informational Links