Meet Christina

I knew I was ready for labor once I completed the ceremony where I became simultaneously “bear” and “cave”. The ceremony took place in the center of my home, in front of the woodstove with the support of an elder midwife and a nature-based guide. I was covered in clay, charcoal-drawn blessings, and autumn leaves, and I had found and become the safe den I needed to deliver my baby. I gave birth days later in the dark, peaceful environment of my home, and the simplicity of that labor and birth was immensely beautiful and healing for me and my family.
 
I came out of my second birthing experience longing to support women to give birth in wild places, autonomous and unassisted, held in the generous and loving arms of the world, and this longing still centers me when difficult decisions need to be made during the course of midwifery care in pregnancy and birth. I am relentlessly committed to supporting the fierce and loving choices my clients make for themselves, and strive to reserve recommendations for an alternative course of care for situations in which I truly believe that the safety and well-being of my clients is at stake. There is a lot of fear surrounding natural birth, and I take it as a worthy challenge to continually base my clinical judgment in a foundation of love and primal trust, while calling on natural and medical solutions as needed.
 
When I transitioned into my second apprenticeship, I was initiated with a ceremony where I saw an image of myself serving “at the gates”. As I understood it at the time, and still understand it now, the gates swing both ways, as souls pass into this world and also out of it—it is the same gates for birth and death, and both are always present there with us. I felt the immensity of the responsibility that comes with knowing this, and serving women, babies, and families at the threshold between worlds. Life is precious, and every passage through the gates is significant and full of life-giving energy, even when it involves loss and grief.
 
I feel it is my work to serve families both in greeting new, vigorous little beings and also in helping people as they experience the territory of loss. Whether through miscarriage, stillbirth, or chosen termination, the experience of loss is complex and emotional, whether or not the process requires medical care. Indeed, I have participated in the care of a variety of losses and stillbirths, and in each instance, it is an honor to walk alongside families at this tender time and offer what support I can on every level.
 
As I continued my education through attending births as the primary midwife under supervision, I experienced many beautiful, spontaneous out-of-hospital births, several of which were for clients who had been turned away by other providers. As a licensed midwife and guardian of natural birth and client autonomy, I am dedicated to maintaining the spectrum of normal pregnancy and birth, a range of what is considered normal that honors variation among healthy women. In Washington state, for example, caring for VBAC clients, twin pregnancies and breech babies, is within the scope of practice of licensed midwives. I am committed to carefully assessing each situation on an individual, case-by-case basis, and helping pregnant people find the most appropriate care for their unique circumstances.
 
Although homebirth is most often beautifully simple, occasionally there are unexpected complications. Throughout my journey of attending births, I have handled a variety of issues and complications that have arisen, some extremely urgent. I maintain my readiness to deal with these situations through a variety of regular practices, classes, and trainings so that difficulties can be managed with grace and the normal, natural process can be restored as seamlessly as possible.
 
My family moved to the Methow Valley in 2013, and as I was completing my clinical residency, I heard from so many community members that a local homebirth midwife was sorely needed in Twisp and Winthrop, as well as in Okanogan county in general. As an active midwife in the community now, I am humbled to be able to serve local families who I can watch grow!