About

My journey into midwifery began about 22 years ago when I found myself working with unsupported pregnant women in a place called Heritage Home in San Jose, California. I had already been volunteering in a Crisis Pregnancy Center as a counselor, but this was the first time that I was able to become a support person and friend with a woman throughout her pregnancy and delivery. As we went together for her regular prenatal visits, her nurse-midwives asked if I was her doula. I had never heard the term before. When they explained that a doula is a professional labor support person, it immediately resonated with me and I wanted to learn more. A short time later I pursued DONA (Doula’s of North America) Doula training in Santa Cruz, California. 

I eventually found that I had desired to help women and families as a midwife. The time did not prove to be right and it would be many years until I was able to pursue that calling. In the meantime, I helped women when I could while beginning the journey of motherhood for myself. Three children and many years later, the idea of pursuing formal midwifery training began presenting itself in my life. Trusted friends gathered around me in support; ready to help with my children at all hours of the night or day as the demands of childbirth are varied and unpredictable. My husband believed the time to be right for our family to pursue and support this calling. And so, thus began the 3 ½ year process of both a formal didactic midwifery course as well as clinical training. What a change from my previous vocations, as at the time I held degrees in both Mathematics and Graphic Communications. Nothing related to childbirth!

I graduated from the Association of Texas Midwives Midwifery Training Program (ATMMTP), and am currently a licensed midwife in Oregon and Washington. Additionally, I am a certified professional midwife (CPM) through the National Association of Registered Midwives (NARM). 

I have attended births in diverse settings including hospital, birth center and home birth. My midwifery care has been shaped and influenced by exposure to a variety of disciplines; learning from licensed midwives, nurse midwives, obstetricians, naturopaths, chiropractors, massage therapists, and others. I have lived in the Columbia River Gorge since 2004, and have enjoyed serving women and families in childbirth in this area since 2011. I have three children of my own, two born at home here in the Columbia Gorge.

I have had the privilege of working with childbearing women and native caregivers in both Kenya and Mexico at freestanding birth centers as well as hospital settings. Additionally, my husband and I held the honor of helping with leadership at a birth center in Oaxaca, Mexico as they transitioned to a more locally directed structure. The perspective of birth outside of our American culture has been profound and impactful.

My philosophy rests in my understanding that God created the female body to bear children. Childbirth is a natural process and yet every aspect of pregnancy, birth and lactation is no less than a miracle.

My desire at Columbia Gorge Midwifery (CGM) is to build a community of strong, healthy families – one miraculous birth at a time. I am committed to listening, encouraging, educating and respecting each growing family as we build relationships.