Silvia Esparza, CNM, Texas

Dana has been a midwife for over 30 years and has many words of wisdom to offer while sharing her story. It's always so insightful to learn and hear the stories of "seasoned" midwives! Dana also wanted to share in the podcast that her friend and colleague from Windy Hill Midwifery, located in North Central Wisconsin, near Wasau is looking for experienced midwives, student midwives, and semi-retired midwives who are passionate about providing high-quality care and making a positive impact on our community. She can be reached at [email protected]  You can also check on Dana's very own podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/31eQBV6lUHwW9qZRHIYWKn?si=8f1143b9b9064c0c

Guest host Jamie Guertin from A Midwife Nation talks with James Austen, CNM. As a new grad CNM, Austin stumbled upon the gold mine of midwifery residencies at El Rio Health in Tucson, AZ. Listen to her valuable experiences to see if a midwife residency after graduation may be the right step for you.

Carol is another wonderful trailblazing midwife that has spent her career in the North Eastern part of the United States. She has not only done birth work, but blazed the trail for midwives to practice legally in her area. She has also participated in birth internationally and has written 2 books! She is enjoying retired life in the woods of Maine now, but all midwives today are thankful for women like Carol who have pathed the way for those of us practicing today. An American Midwife in Moscow (you tube link) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3GA5bsrMEk Books: Lady's Hands, Lion's Heart: A Midwife's Saga  Bad Beaver Tales: Love and Life in Downeast Maine

Haley is not our typical guest on Journey to Midwifery, but she an amazing and wonderful perspective on having OT's (occupational therapists) as part of the prenatal/postpartum practice model for midwives. Hayley currently works with midwives at Tree of Life Midwifery for some fantastic collaborative care for their clients. Check this episode out...guest hosted by Jamie from A Midwife Nation (thank you Jamie) and listen to this wonderful, passionate discussion about how to continue to support pregnancy and postpartum care.

Jamie from A Midwife Nation is the guest podcast host again, interviewing Jamie Peleaz CNM who works at a birth center in TN (linked below) AND is faculty and the midwifery program at Loyola University (linked below). Jamie has lots of wisdom that she offered along the way and she has worked in quite a few places in the past 5 years. Jamie's sister Samantha Lawson was on in 2019-here is her podcast link as well https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/nF5jfGhiNGb Streams of Life Birth Center https://www.streamsoflifebirthandwellness.com/ Loyola University Midwifery Program https://www.loyno.edu/academics/colleges/college-nursing-health/master-science-nursing-nurse-midwifery

Megan Frank, who is a very recent graduate and a SOON to be Certified Nurse Midwife shares her very tumultuous journey as a midwife student. I encourage ANY one looking into midwifery to listen to this episode to understand the realities of what happens during the graduate program. Megan is happy to be done and excited to start working as a CNM, but it was a hard road for her to get there. Thank you to Megan for sharing her VERY real story

Jamie from A Midwife Nation is a guest host again with Diane Thomas, retired CNM. Diane is a prior collage of both Jamie and I and had LOTS of mentorship to offer when Jamie and I came through, she as a brand new midwife, and I was a student. Diane shares her journey and long-time career of about 30 years before retiring. Be prepared to CRY as Diane shares two of her most memorable birth stories!!

Kelli shares her journey to midwifery and starting in a practice with no other midwives, the challenges, and growth of that practice and what it is today. She offers some great advice for midwives that may be the first in a practice with only doctors, for midwives starting in a busy practice and for student's.

Enjoy this fabulous interview, with Cynthia Jaffe, who is now retired after a long and rewarding career. This interview is done by guest host Jamie Guertin, founder of A Midwife Nation. Thanks to both for a another fantastic podcast episode.

Silvia Esparza, CNM runs a solo out of hospital birth practice in Texas. She shares her journey to midwifery from active duty Navy corpsman to full scope practicing midwife today!