" A Midwife must possess the Hand of a Lady, the Eyes of a Hawk, and the Heart of a Lion." - 16th Century Proverb
"
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 475 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 10 years. I dearly love my work!
Having experienced both a hospital birth and an empowering, deeply spiritual, 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 12 and 17."

Find more information about High Desert Midwifery on DaoCloud.
"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".

Student midwives

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.
Apprenticeships typically take students 3-5 yrs to complete- I currently have a waiting list of students.
I typically have two apprentices at a time.
Students alternate clinic days, rotating monthly so they get to meet each client and you'll get to know them as well. Both apprentices attend births with me, one apprentice is in the background, focusing on charting and time keeping, the other is more involved and assisting; listening to your baby with the doppler, supporting you as needed etc., Learning the necessary foundational skills in becoming a competent midwife themselves.
Before students are allowed to attend clinic and births they must be trained and certified in: CPR, IV  and neonatal resuscitation.
Lara Goldsmith
5th yr Student Midwife & Birth Assistant
Lara is in her fifth and final year of her apprenticeship with High Desert Midwifery!
"My fascination with pregnancy and birth began at a very young age after watching a video about the process. In my early 20’s, I came across the book Birth Reborn by Michel Odent, a french OB, and immediately recognized the truth of what birth could be - natural, untouched by unnecessary intervention, safe and empowering. From that moment on, I knew I had to be involved with the birthing process. Being ambitious about wanting to give access to the midwifery model of care to as many birthing people as possible, I considered careers in nurse-midwifery and allopathic medicine. Neither of those pathways worked for me because there was not enough freedom to find a balance between the medical and midwifery models. I believe the highest quality maternity care comes from knowing when to leave the birth process to run its course naturally and when to intervene in order to ensure the safety of mother and baby. Maternity care should be a spectrum of options within a system that is designed to work together seamlessly. That is my fantasy, anyway, and I hope to contribute to making that dream become reality. Social justice is always a major motivation in anything I do. It is part of the reason I am drawn to midwifery - protecting the rights of mothers, babies and families to birth peacefully and safely. I am always looking to educate myself better, in order to effectively stand up for those who feel marginalized and discriminated against. My husband of 21 years and I have a 9 yr old daughter, born with a doula and a homebirth-friendly OB (in the hospital because she came early). She is excited to start Kindergarten this year and I am excited to have the time to study, now that she is in school. We recently moved to Albuquerque for my husband’s job. I enjoy growing things and am figuring out how to do that with the intense sunshine and heat here.
In my spare time I enjoy singing with the New Mexico Peace Choir, knitting and reading. My life circumstances have now opened up to allow me to follow my dream of becoming a midwife. I am excited for the privilege and opportunity to study with Louise Self and to be one step closer to providing women the option of safe, empowering birth experiences. I am enrolled with the National College of Midwifery."
Morgan Snarr
1st yr Student Midwife

I grew up in San Francisco and moved to New Mexico when I was 18 years old to start a new chapter in my life. It was then that found the book “Spiritual Midwifery” by Ina May Gaskin. I learned through it’s birth stories that women could not only birth their own babies in the comfort and security of home, but have a positive and transformative experience. I read more birth stories, captivated by each varying experience. In 2012 I became pregnant with my first son, Ari. I was introduced to “Birthing from Within” by Pam England from two doula friends. Louise was apprenticing with the wonderful elder midwife, Barb Pepper, during my pregnancy so I’ve known her for almost 10 years and was happy to have her on my birth team. I had a beautiful water birth as the sun was rising and my friends singing. After my birth, I felt some latent power and curiosity awake and I became obsessed with reading about birth and watching videos of births. I figured I should do something with this obsession and enrolled in Birthing from Within’s doula course as well as Cappa’s doula training. I began practicing as a doula in 2016. I have been considering entering midwifery for several years as I believe home to be a safe and valid option for birth. In 2019 I had my second son, Jakey, so fast my midwife almost didn’t make it. I felt just fine being there about to deliver my baby without any medical assistance. It was then I realized I was ready to midwife other women. My other pursuits include dance, crafts, music, gardening, cooking and traveling with my husband, Kenny and two sons. My doula business includes providing deeply nutritious postpartum meals, elixirs and lactation treats. I greatly enjoy cooking for others. I believe in the power of women’s body’s and in home birth. I am so looking forward to joining High Desert Midwifery and helping to provide quality care to women, babies and families.


Carolina Nkouaga
Licensed Midwife & Birth Assistant
Carolina is currently supporting and covering High Desert Midwifery's practice (along with other midwives) as back-up Midwife. She is not regularly in clinic or regularly attending births with Louise.

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 14 and12, 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 share I am now a qualified, Licensed Midwife!  My vision is to collaborate and support Home Birth Midwives in our community.