I grew up surrounded by birth. My mother was a labor and delivery nurse with a dream to become a midwife. I never considered it for myself though, until I spent 2 months in the Philippines working in a maternity clinic. During my time there I started to feel the pull to become a midwife myself.
Midwifery encompassed so much that I am passionate about. Many people assume you become a midwife because you love babies and while I do love babies I became a midwife to help women tap into their incredible strength, to help be a guide to their incredible power, to watch and hold space for them.
It felt natural that this was what I was called to do.
I have been working in the birth world since 2009: 2 months in the Philippines working with dedicated Filipino midwives and 3 months in Mexico as a birth assistant with an incredibly talented traditional midwife and years in the US working as a doula and student midwife. I have also spent 6 months in Alaska with GoMidwife working on academics and building my skills, 13 months working with Karen Webster at WomanWise Midwifery and 2 months in a very busy birthing house in Pennsylvania. I hold an Associates in Midwifery through South West Technical College.
I was even honored to help welcome 2 of my younger siblings as well as 3 of my nephews.
I have attended over a 150 births... and counting!
I am currently licensed in Maryland & Delaware and am based out of my home office in Berlin, Maryland. I am also on the board of the Delaware CPM Association and the Delaware Midwifery Advisory Committee and am a part of AIMM: Association of Independent Midwives of Maryland.
I regularly participate in peer review and believe in the importance of building community among other midwives, birthworkers and hospitals.
I have attended countless hours of conferences, classes and workshops including:
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.
Want to Meet the Midwife?
Schedule a call
If you have any questions please reach out!
443-373-3115
monika@altheamidwifery.com
You can also find me on:
instagram- @altheamidwifery
Facebook- Althea Midwifery