Bridget Brown
Bridget has been a Bradley Method instructor since 1999. She has had 3 children all born with the loving assistance of midwives - her first with a hospital-based CNM practice, and the other two with a CPM at home. It was a stroke of luck that led Bridget to choose midwife care for her first birth. Her OB was at a birth and the practice offered her the opportunity to meet with the midwives. She was ecstatic that she had the option, having read just enough to know that midwives fully support natural birth, already a path she had chosen to take.
Bridget wants women to know they have choices in where and with whom they birth, and that the statistics and worldwide safest birth practices support the fact that midwives are the most evidence-based care practitioners. Bridget would love to see a shift to caring for uncomplicated pregnancies and births with the masters of uncomplicated pregnancy and birth - midwives.
Brielle Epstein
Jennifer Doran Shaw
Jennifer joined the board in March 2006, following the homebirth of her first child in May 2005. The care she received from her midwife during the childbirth was exceptional, giving her a strong desire to give back to the midwifery community while educating the masses about the benefits of the Midwives Model of Care. Drawing on her background in legislative and legal fields, she organized TfM-A's Visiting day at the Capitol in 2007 and 2009. In June 2009, she gave birth at home to her second daughter and will be on sabbatical from the board for the remainder of 2009.
Nadia Feltes
Nadia comes to this work with a deep commitment to the advancement of women's health options and empowering women's birth choices. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin and works as a manager for the National Domestic Violence Hotline. Nadia is currently back in school part time working on pre-requisites for a nursing degree and she plans to specialize in women's health.
Nadia was born at home 31 years ago under the care of a midwife and a doctor in Ndjamena, Chad. She is grateful for her mother's wisdom in choosing a homebirth to bring her into the world.
Christy Tashjian-Midwife Advisor to the Board
Christy graduated from The University of Texas School of Nursing in May 1994. She immediately began studying midwifery and started a homebirth apprenticeship. While apprenticing, Christy worked as a nurse in the mother/baby realm of healthcare. She started attending births as a primary homebirth midwife in November 2002. Since then, Christy’s practice has grown as she continues to support women in becoming the mothers they wish to be. Currently, Christy serves as the second Vice President on the Midwives Alliance of North America Board of Directors and is working on her Women's Health Nurse Practitioner Degree.
Elizabeth Thomas
Elizabeth became passionate about midwives and midwifery a
fter the amazing experience she had with a Certified Professional Midwife during her second pregnancy and birth. Not only was having a baby at home empowering emotionally, the level of care she received from her midwife exceeded all her expectations. It opened her eyes to the difference the Midwifery Model of Care makes to the overall health and well-being of mothers and babies -- all women deserve access to this level of care.
Her professional roles as a doula, childbirth educator, and La Leche League leader have reinforced Elizabeth's high regard for midwives, as well as keeping her busy with wonderfully fulfilling work. She is also the proud mother of two little boys who inspire her to live more naturally and mindfully. When not playing Legos or Tickle Monster, Elizabeth loves to read, listen to music, watch movies, and plot travel adventures.
