Hi, I’m Melissa. I first felt awe and appreciation of the natural birth process when I observed my best friend’s birth in the late 90’s ( not counting my pet cat’s birth of seven kittens!). I knew I wanted to be a midwife after watching my friend have a natural and safe birth by instinctively following her body’s rhythms. However, at that time there was not an option to be a homebirth midwife in Wisconsin, so I opted instead for an career in alternative health. I specialized in massage therapy and bodywork for many years, and had some other fun healthcare adventures along the way.

When I became pregnant in 2014 and had my first child in the traditional hospital system, my midwifery calling became re-ignited. I personally experienced what many do in industrialized birth: a lack of real education for pregnant mothers and families during their visits, lack of autonomy in the mother’s experience, a lack of allowing by hospitals for true physiologic birth, and women being de-centered from their own birth experience. I knew it didn’t have to be this way; I knew that birthing with dignity was possible and that women and families can thrive with the proper education and support. My experience became the catalyst to answer my calling to birthwork.