Studied natural birth for 2 months in the Philippines and 3 months in Mexico as a birth assistant and years in the US working as a doula. I have also spent 6 months in Alaska with GoMidwife working on academics and building my skills as a midwife, 13 months working with Karen Webster at WomanWise Midwifery and 2 months in a busy birthing house in PA. I also attended SWTC's midwifery program. I have been working in the birth world for 11 years and am excited to continue for many more! I am currently licensed in Maryland and Delaware and am based out of Berlin, Maryland. When I’m not busy with my own little family or researching and working with Mommas and babies I am working in fiber art, playing music, creating, latin or ballroom dancing, teaching fitness or music and many other things. I love working with my hands and creating beautiful things for everyday life. Althea Midwifery came from both my and my daughter’s middle name. Althea means Beautiful, Wholesome and Healing. Those words perfectly describe the desires I have for each birth I am involved with.

Each appointment with Althea Midwifery often lasts for an hour giving one plenty of time to ask questions and discuss any concerns you may have. We check your baby’s growth and continue to monitor your health to ensure you continue to be a candidate for a homebirth. After the initial visit prenatal appointments are scheduled: ·Every 4 weeks until 28-30 weeks ·Every 2 or 3 weeks until 36 weeks ·Every week from 36 weeks until birth After birth we return several times for postpartum appointments: · 24 hour visit in home · 1 week visit in home · 2 week visit in home · 6 week in office Of course we are available for any additional appointments if needed both for prenatal and postpartum. My Passion I believe that birth is normal; That women & their bodies really do work and they are amazing. I believe that birth is just as much a spiritual event as it is a physical event and my job as a midwife is to help prepare them for that. I believe that my role as your midwife is much more than catching babies. It is about being with you, before, during, and after pregnancy. Midwives are the guardians and watchwomen of birth but you are the decision-maker. I will be there to support and hold space for you. I believe a skilled midwife trusts birth enough to watch and keep their hands off while they are not needed but are skilled enough to confidently, competently and swiftly take care of emergency situations. I work as non-interventive and hands off as possible while maintaining a watching and guarding eye on the well-being of both Mother and Baby. I believe that your postpartum healing period is just as important as the preparation you make during pregnancy and all the hard work during labor and birth. After preparing for months for the arrival of your little one and after all the hard work your body does to bring new life into the world, the 4th trimester is your time to heal, rest and adjust. I believe in the Midwifery Model of Care and it is what I model my practice after. Midwifery Model of Care The Midwives Model of Care™ is a fundamentally different approach to pregnancy and childbirth than contemporary obstetrics. Midwifery care is uniquely nurturing, hands-on care before, during, and after birth. Midwives are health-care professionals specializing in pregnancy and childbirth who develop a trusting relationship with their clients, which results in confident, supported labor and birth. While there are different types of midwives practicing in various settings, all midwives are trained to provide comprehensive prenatal care and education, guide labor and birth, address complications, and care for newborns. The Midwives Model of Care™ is based on the fact that pregnancy and birth are normal life events. The Midwives Model of Care includes: Monitoring the physical, psychological and social well-being of the mother throughout the childbearing cycle, providing the mother with individualized education, counseling, and prenatal care, continuous hands-on assistance during labor and delivery, and postpartum support, minimizing technological interventions and identifying and referring women who require obstetrical attention. The application of this model has been proven to reduce to incidence of birth injury, trauma, and cesarean section.