Meet The Midwives!

Amy Tonkin Smith, CPM

The birth of my first daughter began with a disempowering hospital labor and, after many interventions, ended in a cesarean section. After that experience I suspected that there had to be more options than what I had been presented with. Although I was disappointed at the time, I see the experience as invaluable. I had no idea there were options available to me and as I explored the world of alternative birth, I found my passion. I was very supportive of choices and options regarding women’s healthcare and birth. All of this revealed to me my calling as a midwife, to support and assist women and their families during the most vulnerable and yet most empowering time of a woman’s life.

I began my academic studies at Birthwise Midwifery School in Bridgton, Maine in September 2004. During my education, I had the privilege of working with the Amish and Mennonite communities of rural Ohio. I also worked with a diverse population of South Florida at The Hollywood Birth Center, which is a busy birth center/ home birth practice. I completed my academic training in May 2007 and graduated that October. I’ve been a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) since February 2008 and have attended over 90 births to date. I am currently certified in neonatal resuscitation and infant and adult CPR. I currently practice as a voluntarily unlicensed midwife. I am a member of the Midwives Alliance of North America (MANA) and the Oregon Midwifery Council (OMC).

In March 2009, just two days from my due date, our lives were blessed by welcoming a baby girl into our arms, born at home– a VBAC success.

I feel honored by the families that share with me their journey toward becoming mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers. I strongly believe in a woman’s right to decide what will best suit her family’s individual needs. I also believe that intuition has a part to play in the decision making process, as well as informed choice and individual considerations. Pregnancy and birth are natural processes in which a woman has the opportunity to experience tremendous power, growth and achievement. As a midwife it is my job to inform women and their families about the choices available to them, providing them with as much information as possible, and by guiding them to additional resources. In this way, I can honor both a woman’s individual needs and choices relating to her pregnancy and birth.

Ondra Watson, CPM, LDM

Little did I know that when I “grew up” I would become a midwife. When I was young there were two things that drove my curiosity and I wanted to learn most about; how the human mind worked and how the human body worked. If primary school revolved around these two subject matters I probably would have been a very happy student.

My first experience with pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, was when I was sixteen. A friend of mine became pregnant and she asked me to be her support person. I was able to watch her grow and listen to her experiences during her pregnancy. I was amazed with the process of pregnancy and, without realizing it, I was learning some very important life lessons. When she was in labor I was able to be with her, to hold her hand and give her encouragement. I was very curious as to all that was happening with her, yet I also felt calm and relaxed. I remember watching this unique process unfold in its own way and I remember how normal and natural it felt to be there with her.

I was privileged to repeat this experience several times later in my late teens and early twenties with other friends and one family member. However, I still did not realize that these experiences would eventually lead me on to the path of midwifery.

In 1998 I attended Oregon State University and started my studies in Psychology. In 2000 I transferred to Portland State University and in 2002 I graduated with a BS in Psychology and Sociology. I was interested in understanding people as individuals, people as a group or society, and ultimately understanding individuals within societies. Although I thought I was destined to become a clinical therapist, I found myself wanting to work in a different specialized health care field. Right before I graduated Portland State, I knew my next educational adventure was going to be in midwifery.

In 2003 I started my midwifery training at Birthingway College of Midwifery, located in Portland, Or. I received my hands on training/apprenticeship with the midwives of Andaluz in Tualatin, Or. By the time I graduated from Birthingway and became a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) in 2007, I had attended up to 80 births. I am currently practicing as a Licensed Direct-Entry Midwife (LDM). I am certified in neonatal resuscitation, as well as infant, child, and adult CPR. I am also a member of the Oregon Midwifery Council.

I have learned far more than I ever would have imagined about the human mind, body, and spirit since I started walking on my path in midwifery. I realize how much there is yet to learn. I am in awe of how incredible our bodies truly are and I am amazed by the instinctual knowledge we all possess. 

There are so many different theories based on what is the “right” way to birth and parent. Some theories register deeply with in the soul while other theories are rejected without further thought. However, there is no definite answer as to what is “right” because each one of us are unique and different in our own ways. I believe that we all possess innate knowledge as to what is best for us, as to what is “right” for us. As a woman, as a partner, and as a parent, what I have come to value most is the freedom of choice. In doing midwifery, my desire is to help others know their options available to them so that they may choose what is best for them and their families.

Motherseed Midwifery, LLC

My daughter and I at the International Midwives Day rally in Salem on May 4, 2011