Lori has been in private midwifery practice since 2000.  When asked why she became a midwife her reply is, “I didn't choose to be a midwife, midwifery chose 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 Lori began to pursue a nursing career to become a certified nurse midwife. Before finishing school she married her husband, started having babies and instead focused on her family and mothering. Each of her births impacted her life but the birth of her third spurred her into the birth world.  She became a certified Bradley® childbirth teacher and DONA certified birth doula. After attending the birth of her very first students she knew that she had found her 'calling' and had to once again pursue her childhood dream of caring for women and babies. A couple weeks later she was enrolled in midwifery school, began an apprenticeship and spent time in the Netherlands with her husbands midwife aunt who passed on her wisdom and love of midwifery.

Lori completed a midwifery training program as well as apprenticeship (clinical training).  She also participated in an externship program in Jamaica, West Indies. As required for State Licensing at the time, Lori completed the California Challenge Process through Seattle Midwifery School. She has also completed the Bridge Program through MEAC.  In the last few years Lori has worked as an Expert Reviewer for the Medical Board of California. 

Denise graduated at the top of her class from MEAC accredited Nizhoni Institute and completed her midwifery clinical residency training at APM.  Being the cream fo the crop of students, she was added to the APM Midwifery Staff upon completion.

APM midwives are licensed by the State of California as a Licensed Midwives and have fulfilled the NARM (North America Registry of Midwives) requirements for national certification becoming  a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM).  

As part of APM’s commitment to excellence, the midwives endeavors to update their knowledge and skills by attending regular midwifery and obstetrics education workshops, conferences and using  current evidence within the practice.

Lori's waterbirth 'training' began when she was pregnant with her fourth child in 1998.  At that time, water birth wasn't something offered by local midwives and the internet was just becoming available to the public.  Lori became friends with a woman she met online who introduced her to the concept of waterbirth.  That woman turned out to be midwife, author of Gentle Birth Choices and founder of Waterbirth International; Barbara Harper.  Barbara helped educate Lori and her midwife about how to do a waterbirth, what supplies to get and helped her get a tub.  She birthed her daughter in water in her living room and knew instantly that this was something more women needed to know about!  She and Barbara remain good friends!

In October of 2004 and again in 2006, Lori had the privilege to travel to Germany and complete advanced water birth training with both Barbara Harper and German midwife Cornelia Enning.  Since Lori began going to births, she has attended over 1000 births of babies born in water and lectured at conferences on waterbirth.  Together Lori and Denise are able to teach midwifery students and families the nuances about birthing in water. 

Lori and Denise are all known for their hard work, dedication to excellence and attention to detail. They are compassionate, friendly and believe that women deserve to be included in their care and treated with respect.  

Disclaimer:  Licensed Midwives are not medical doctors and hold no nursing licences