Board Members 2007

 

Jenny Black, RN.

 

Amy Chamberlain.  I have two daughters, Ellie (born in 1998) and Jane (born in 2001).  Both were wonderful births with the Women Partners in Health Midwives at Seton Medical Center.  I was so scared of childbirth before my first one that I’m almost certain I wouldn’t have attempted an out-of-hospital birth at that time.  Knowing what I know now, I would jump at the chance, but don’t plan on another pregnancy.  I joined Texans for Midwifery-Austin at the request of Mary Barnett during a chance encounter at the Taco Shack in 2002.  She was my midwife with Jane’s birth, and what WOULDN’T I do for someone who helped me have the birth we wanted?!!

 

Mikisha Hooper. I was drawn to the mission of Texans for Midwifery-Austin in 2004 because of my deep committment to empowering women's health choices. I have been very enriched by the community of midwives and midwifery consumers and supporters in the Austin area. In 2005, my daughter's birth was attended by two midwives that I have worked closely with through TFM. The experience opened my eyes even more to the benefits of the Midwives Model of Care. In addition, I was wonderfully supported throughout my pregnancy, labor, and post-partum period by some of the exceptional service providers I met through organizing Austin Birth Fair.

Libba Letton. I am one more success story of how the Midwifery Model of Care really works! I had my first child, a son, in February 2005. We received wonderful, professional pre- and postnatal care from a midwife here in Austin. But when I developed a dangerous, preeclampsia-related syndrome in my last weeks of pregnancy, my midwife transferred my care to an obstetrician and I gave birth in a hospital. This was as it should be -- I was no longer the healthy, low-risk pregnant woman that midwifery care targets. I hope my next pregnancy goes differently, and until it shows otherwise, I'll begin the next process with my midwife…in the meantime, I firmly believe in and support The Midwives Model of Care©, and would like to see it expanded, especially here in central Texas. I joined this group when it started in 2002 because I hated to see that the midwifery option in Austin was becoming so limited. I'm a part-time birth doula, and by necessity am also a full-time public relations professional. Join our group and help us expand midwifery options for all women!

 

Dawn Martin.  I am the mother of four amazing children.  My three biological children were born in 1992, 1994, 1999 and one adopted child born in 2002.  All three of my biological children were beautiful natural deliveries into the loving hands of a midwife.  The first in a hospital and the next two at home.  I am an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) and also a Certified Doula through Doulas of North America.  Before my current career path I worked as a substance abuse counselor specializing in women's issues.  My personal experiences and conversations with other women have led me to a passion for protecting the choices of families during pregnancy, labor and postpartum. 

 

Jennifer Shaw. I am blessed to have had a wise mother who emphasized that a holistic lifestyle, including consuming organic and natural foods, leaving a small eco-footprint, and seeking alternatives to conventional Western medicine whenever possible (and practical), makes for a healthier person.  So, true to my nature and my upbringing, before I became pregnant in 2004, I learned as much as I could about natural pregnancy and childbirth, listened to wise friends tell their birth stories, and researched the different birth options in Austin.  My husband and I agreed we wanted a home birth with a licensed midwife so we could experience childbirth as nature intended.  Our midwife’s care exceeded our expectations in every way.  Her calm nature, knowledge, and reassurance during my labor and long pushing stage helped us focus and take everything in stride.  Our beautiful, peaceful birth resulted in a healthy and alert baby girl born in our bed.  I left my job in the legal profession when our daughter was born in 2005, and I joined the board of TfM-A in 2006 because I strongly believe in the Midwives Model of Care®.  My wish is for more women to learn about the enormous benefits of midwife-assisted prenatal care and childbirth, to protect our right to birth with a midwife outside of a hospital setting, and to reinstate midwife-assisted births in hospital settings. 

 

Tricia Yost.  I am blessed with a wonderful family – including my two-year-old child, my husband, and my two Labrador Retrievers.  Both my husband and I enjoy professions as Certified Public Accountants.  Pretty status quo so far – what is not as stats quo (although rapidly becoming so) is that we believe in the benefits of living holistically.  What this means that we try to only eat organic foods that have not been altered, do our best to make environmentally conscious decisions, and honor our bodies with the most natural form of medicinal treatments that are the least evasive, yet effective and safe. When planning for the first child we were extremely thankful to find the midwives who were then at Women Partners in Health.  They allowed us to approach giving birth in a holistic manner and our experience was natural, effective, safe and sacred.  I think all families should be given the opportunity to enjoy birth as we did and I am discouraged by the attempts to limit the availability of midwives, who were integral in accomplishing our birthing experience.

 

Licensed Midwife Advisor (ex officio)

Meredit Klein, LM, CPM.

Nurse Midwife Advisor (ex officio)

Nancy Loomis, CNM. I have been a Certified Nurse Midwife since 1980. My midwifery practices were all located in hospitals, in West Virginia, the Washington, DC area and then Texas, including the Women Partners in Health Practice from 1996-2002. I have stayed on at that practice doing Well Woman/Gyn Care, so feel free to come see me there. My daughter Rebecca was born in 1999, with the loving support of midwife Mary Barnett, although complications required transfer to medical care. I had the benefit of that option that our practice used to give moms in Austin and that we are striving to return to the mothers of our community. After 22 1/2 nonstop years of catching babies, I am appreciating the increased family time and sleep that an office-only practice gives me - better late than never. I love getting updates or seeing my moms and babies.