" A Midwife must possess the Hand of a Lady, the Eyes of a Hawk, and the Heart of a Lion." - 16th Century Proverb
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Louise Self
Licensed Midwife & registered preceptor Becoming a Midwife has been my dream for as long as I can remember. My focus and passion in life has always been for serving women, providing gentle-caring for babies, and supporting families. I believe in the right and need for women to have the individualized care and support that is needed through-out their Pregnancy, birth, and postpartum period. It is the most vulnerable, influential, and should be the most empowering time in our lives. We never forget how we were treated.. It's more then just a quick visit with a check up! I am truly blessed for every birth I have attended, and the relationships I have forged along the way. I was born and raised in the UK until age 11, when my step-father, then in air force, was re-stationed back in the US. I have lived in New Mexico since 1992. Its vast land, high deserts, deep forests, unforgettable sunsets, and amazing access to midwifery care has kept me here. Coming from a family of midwives and nurses, caring for others comes naturally, which often includes a cup of tea! I remember when my mother gave birth in the UK and the midwife came to the home postpartum to see her. Tears, cups of tea and laughter often filled the house whilst she was there, validating the art and basic needs of being present with one another. I chose to take the direct-entry route to my midwifery training, studying along side Barbara Pepper, LM with Rio Grande Midwifery from 2011-2014, along with other amazing midwives in NM. I strongly believe in passing on traditional midwifery skills, knowledge, and the importance of the midwives hands; touch, healing, gentleness, and trusting. I have attended over 275 births combined as Primary Midwife and Apprentice Midwife in the home birth setting, and as a Professional Doula in hospital and birth centre settings in the past 7 years. I dearly love my work! Having experienced both a hospital birth and an empowering, sacred home birth, I knew what my true calling and passion in life was: to continue on my journey in obtaining certification and licensing as a Midwife. Along with my personal experiences, and for the love of being with women and babies, Home Birth has always been close to my heart, and will always remain so. I strongly feel as women, we need to take back our births, with full autonomy and informed decision making! I have been happily married to my wonderful and supportive husband since 2002. I love being a mum to my two beautiful and vibrant boys, aged 8 and 13. |
"Pregnancy and childbirth is truly an intuitive and sacred time in a woman's life, which should be honoured, validated and respected. Birth must preserve a woman's dignity, and must remain a joyous event with the women feeling in command of herself. I trust in our innate wisdom to birth".
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Geri Quisenberry
Senior Student Midwife & Birth Assistant I truly believe in the power of women and in our strength and ability to birth our babies. I believe in the birth process and in a mother’s ability to choose what is right for her and her family. The best gift my mother gave me was to be present at the home births of my younger siblings. The imprint of watching natural and family centered childbirth from a young age helped transform my identity as a Woman, a Mother, and an apprenticing Midwife. After playing a role in my youngest sister’s birth at the age of 6, I knew my calling was to serve women. Through the years I have been blessed to be welcomed into birthing rooms and have always found myself being a part of the birth and feminist community. I also understood that my journey into birth work would truly begin once I experienced childbirth myself. I received a Master’s degree in Political Science, backpacked across Europe, studied Ayurvedic medicine and AyurYoga in Albuquerque, and met the love of my life while in the Peace Corps. Three beautiful home births and three spunky children later, my journey continues. I am a certified birth and postpartum doula through DONA International. I have recently relocated back to my hometown of Albuquerque to attend the National College of Midwifery and study under the amazing Midwives of New Mexico. I feel supporting and empowering women to make mindful choices in their birth process is vital in the journey into motherhood. I am excited and honored to be apprenticing alongside the midwives at High Desert Midwifery. I believe strongly we must continue to pass along the traditional and sacred path of midwifery and attending home births here in our community. I am excited to be coming to an end of my Apprenticeship, and will soon be applying to sit my NARM exam this fall. I will be taking a break from attending clinic and births in the mean time. |
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High Desert Midwifery is excited to welcome two additional students to our practice August 2017; Carolina Nkouaga whom has already completed her first year of apprenticing with other Certified Professional Midwives in our community, she is registered through the state of NM as a Student Midwife and will be integrating into the practice for the remainder of her apprenticeship.
Lara Goldsmith-Vaughn is a first year apprentice, and is registered through the National College of Midwifery in Taos.
At High Desert Midwifery we strongly believe in the Apprenticeship model that New Mexico is well-known for; training community Midwives, passing down the sacred and traditional ways of caring for women.
Pictures and biographies to follow!
Lara Goldsmith-Vaughn is a first year apprentice, and is registered through the National College of Midwifery in Taos.
At High Desert Midwifery we strongly believe in the Apprenticeship model that New Mexico is well-known for; training community Midwives, passing down the sacred and traditional ways of caring for women.
Pictures and biographies to follow!
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Carolina Nkouaga
Student Midwife & Birth Assistant I have dreamt of becoming a midwife since I was fifteen years old. Life took me on another path until now however, through a career in public health and community health improvement. Throughout it all, I never lost my passion for women’s health! I trained as a doula almost two decades ago, and have supported family and friends in their births during that time, and for the last couple of years have been taking midwifery courses and apprenticed with local home-birth midwives to gain experience and skills. The principles of unity and service guide my work, and I am deeply interested in health, community building, women’s studies and issues surrounding rural and under-served populations. I am the proud mama of two daughters, ages 10 and 8, loved deeply by both me and my husband. Both births were attended by wonderful midwives here in Albuquerque, though one (who still enjoys dramatic entrances!) ended up with a quick transfer to the hospital, and the other (who still is just a go-with-the-flow personality) calmly entered this world in a birth pool at home. I enjoy reading, drawing, and a nice long cup of coffee with dear friends. Born and raised in Costa Rica and with family ties to West Africa, salsa dancing and the beat of drums are common in our home! I received my Masters degree in Public Health in 2017 from the University of New Mexico and have worked in the field of community health improvement for most of my adult life. I am so excited to be studying as an apprentice under High Desert Midwifery, after spending time with a great group of midwives in Taos and studying under some awesome local midwives in Albuquerque. I'm honored to be a part of this amazing midwifery practice! |
Lara Goldsmith
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