About the Midwife

About Donna: Personal: Mother of 9 children all born at home from 1983 to 1998. I was trained as a doula in 1992 but did not want to work in a hospital protecting women from Drs so I pursued the Midwifery path. My goal is to help each woman birth as they intuitively need and want to. I think birth empowers a woman to do many things with her life and the first step is confidence in her body. I have been working as a primary midwife since 1997 and attending seminars, conferences, and training classes in different areas. Vision Statement My ultimate goal is to have midwifery as a standard of care for all healthy women as well as midwives supporting each other in maintaining and improving the care given to birthing women and their families. To encourage the recognition of midwifery care as a safe and valid choice for women of childbearing years. Mission Statement: To provide midwifery care according to the Midwifery Model of Care with respect to all women with the right to self determination, complete information, and to be an active participant in the health care decisions. We base our profession Midwifery Model of Care as well as:

• Recognizing that pregnancy and birth are fundamentally healthy and that childbearing is a lived experience for each woman
• Defends a woman's right to self-determination
• Each woman is unique and her care should be tailored to her individual needs as well as deserving of honest communication about her individual health choices
• Acknowledges that attendance to the emotional and spiritual components of childbearing are as important as the physical needs during the childbearing cycle
• Midwives should be trained by other midwives as well as support each other in maintaining and improving the quality of care provided to birthing women Midwives should maintain a professional attitude and promote equal relationships with other caregivers
• Understands the relationship between midwives and a client is collaborative and the clients is able to self determine
• Is a health resource for her community
• Identifying and preserving safe and traditional methods of birthing and healthcare, and enhancing those systems with evidence-based aspects of biomedicineEducation Certifications:  I am a CPM (Certified Professional Midwife) which is from the national agency called NARM (North American Registry of Midwives). Member of NACPM (National Association of Certified Professional Midwives Member of MANA Midwives of North America Certified in International Maternal and Newborn Health care BEST Qualified (Birth Emergency Skills Training) from Aviva Institute Women's Health Care Provider Aviva Institute from 2007-2010 for a BS in Midwifery-transferred to Utah college for Midwives and will finish the BS. Neonatal Resuscitation and Adult/Infant CPR Certified Certified CLC (Lactation Counselor Certificate) in 2011 Aromatherapist (Stonebridge University London England)Training: The Tennessee Birth Place 1999 Uchee Pines in Alabama 2002 The Farm- advanced midwifery course with the farm midwives and Ina Mae Gaskin 2004 Trained with Hospital Midwives in Jamaica 2000 Neonatal Resuscitation, Adult CPR (every 2 years)w/Karen Strange Stonebridge University in England Mercy In Action (International Maternal and Newborn Health/Disaster Preparedness) 2010 Personal Education: B.Msc (in metaphysical science) Minister Spiritual Life Coach The administrator of DaySpring Academy since 1996 I have assistants who are all Neo-Natal Resuscitation/Adult-Infant CPR Qualified. I have a midwife partner who works with me in the Birmingham area. They are also doulas/monitrice who can offer emotional and physical support during labor. I also have info in obtaining a midwife in southern Alabama as well as the Montgomery area. We serve Birmingham to the Huntsville area. Email me for a free consult  We offer: Nutritional counseling Prenatal Care Birth and Labor support including doula support. Including Waterbirth, VBACs, and monitrice monitoring. Postpartum Care and Newborn Education. We can do initial blood work, Pap smears as well as testing for STDs if needed. We have knowledge of herbs, homeopathic, aromatherapy, and can help find resources in your area.