elcome and congratulations on your pregnancy! If you are here because you have decided on a homebirth and you are searching for a midwife, congratulations! If you are here because you are still researching and comparing your options, I hope that this website will be of some help. If you have any questions that are not addressed on this webpage & would like to set up an interview, please contact me

What is a midwife?
There are 3 distinctly different types of midwives in the United States:

• CNM (Certified Nurse Midwife) - a board certified nurse with advanced training and education to deliver babies and care for pregnant women. Many CNM’s also provide well-woman care such as PAP tests. The governing organization, which certifies and registers these midwives, is the ACNM (American College of Nurse Midwives). The ACNM now owns the additional titles of DEM (Direct Entry Midwife) and CM (Certified Midwife) but this is an area of confusion since many traditional midwives refer to themselves as DEM or CM. Because CNM’s must work under the direction, license, and/or supervision of a board certified and licensed physician they do not (in Southern Nevada) deliver babies at home. Many CNM’s in other areas of the USA are also CPM’s.
• CPM (Certified Professional Midwife) - a board certified independent care provider with advanced training and education to deliver babies and care for pregnant women. CPM’s may also provide well-woman care, well-baby care, counseling and other services throughout life. They have additional training and certification in nutrition, naturopathy, and emergency care. The governing organization, which certifies and registers these midwives, is NARM (North America Registry of Midwives). Because CPM’s are not required to work under the direction, license, and/or supervision of a physician they do not ordinarily (in Southern Nevada) deliver babies in the hospital. Many CPM’s in other areas of the USA are also CNM’s.
• Other Midwives - There are only two midwifery Board Certifying organizations that are recognized nationally; the ACNM and NARM, so by default Other Midwives are not officially sanctioned, certified or otherwise registered in Nevada. Since there are no laws controlling who may or may not deliver babies or call themselves a midwife in Nevada it is important that you question these midwives carefully to determine skill and experience.

Is midwifery & homebirth legal in Nevada?
There are not any procedures outlined in the law for registration, certification or licensure of midwives. Therefore, midwives are not licensed or regulated by the State of Nevada. The Clark County Health District has taken on the informal task of keeping track of homebirths and midwives. I encourage women to answer any of the Health District's questions truthfully, as the results will help keep home birth an option in Nevada.

What role does a midwife play in my homebirth?
I believe that every person is the owner of his/her own health and accepts the responsibility for that ownership. Your choice of a birth attendant should always mean that you trust that person. Your trust also means that you are confident in utilizing the birth attendant's competence, judgment and advice. You should consider all of these aspects in making your own decisions about your pregnancy and your child's birth. I should not be held ultimately responsible for your well being. As your midwife/birth attendant, I should be viewed as a resource and friend who will share your experience of pregnancy and birth with you. The word "midwife" literally means "with woman" and her role is to provide you with support and information so that you can make choices about your own health.

For more information please take a look at my philosophy of care or contact me.