I first became interested in Midwifery after giving birth to my own two children at home with the help of a midwife. Jeremy was born in July of 1983, and Myrrha was born in December of 1984. There were no midwives on the island at the time. Our midwife, Toni, came to us from outside of Boston. I found her by putting a classified ad in Mothering Magazine.

It was fairly unusual to have a homebirth on Nantucket in those days and, believe me - many people had their opinions about it! But, I never questioned my decision to give birth naturally in the comfort of my home, surrounded by my competent caregivers, my husband, and close friends. Both births were incredibly positive and empowering experiences and I know that they are what propelled me on towards a career in midwifery.

While my children were very small I trained as a birth assistant. I provided labor support to friends and acquaintances birthing at home or in hospital. I assisted Midwives when they came to the island.

I became certified as a Childbirth Educator and ever since have helped couples prepare for the responsibility of homebirth, as well as helped hospital-bound couples take control of their birth experiences and deliver naturally. I created a lending library and am glad to share birthing and parenting information in the form of books and videos with members of my community.

In the late 1980’s I began to assist a local midwife and did so for many years. In order to be of better service to her, in the spring of 1994, I became certified as a midwife’s apprentice by the Massachusetts Midwives Alliance. Part of the year’s training included an opportunity to spend 3 weeks in the labor and delivery ward of the Princess Margaret Hospital in Morant Bay, St. Thomas Parish, Jamaica.

My determination to be more helpful and involved at births intensified. From October of ’96 to January of ’97, I trained as an intern at the Casa de Nacimiento, an El Paso, Texas - a “free standing” birth center. I was invited to return as a resident and did so. In 1997 I obtained an El Paso Midwifery “Permit” through the County Board of Health. In 1998 I became “Documented” (now called a License) through the Texas Board of Health. In January of 2000 I qualified, was tested and became Nationally Certified by the North American Registry of Midwives.

I currently work as an independent midwife on the islands of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, providing complete prenatal, birth and postpartum services for my homebirth clients. When not on call for my homebirth clients, I work as a supervising staff midwife whenever possible at Casa de Nacimiento. I am grateful for the continual challenges I encounter and the additional skills I gain by working there - where we easily handle from 40-60 births a month.