Tarrin Fletcher, CPM, LDM
Midwifery is my passion. I believe that birth is inherently safe. I am willing to be there in whatever capacity the woman needs me to be, whether that means little to no intervention or being a main support person throughout labor. I believe women can successfully birth breech babies, twins, and have vaginal births after cesarean (VBAC).
My Path to Midwifery:
I started my college career hoping to become an obstetrician. However, the more I learned about the program and the career path, the more I began to disagree with some of the ethics.The program itself depicted an impersonal doctor/patient relationship and the patient was seen as an 'it' rather than a human. As a result, I searched for a different educational path and was disappointed that I was having to change my career path. I moved to the anthropology department and became a biological anthropology major. While taking various classes, I discovered that one of my professors was a midwife. I was intrigued, so I did research on the profession, and asked her questions about her experience working as a midwife. I was thrilled to have found a way to have the career that aligned with my ethical values. Midwifery renewed and solidified my interest in natural birth.
I started my studies to become a midwife by taking any courses I could find that related to midwifery at Oregon State University while completing my bachelor’s degree. I was able to take classes such as human anatomy and physiology, biology, chemistry, microbiology, interpersonal communication, nutrition, human reproduction and many others. I also completed a series of midwifery courses from the Midwifery Access Project in Eugene.
When I completed my bachelor’s degree, I continued to study midwifery text books and anything related I could find, and I started my midwifery apprenticeship shortly afterwards. My clinical skills were developed through hands on experience during my apprenticeship, which lasted almost two years. I am very thankful to all of the midwives who not only helped to further my studies, but also opened their hearts to me and taught me what it is to be a loving and skillful midwife. During my time as an apprentice and a midwife, I have attended over 100 births.
I have a bachelors degree in Anthropology from Oregon State University. I am a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) and a Licensed Direct Entry Midwife (LDM) in the state of Oregon.
My husband and I had our first baby in January 2010 at home. It was amazing to experience everything I have witnessed so many other women go through. It definitely reinforced my awe in the strength that women have to birth their babies!
My Path to Midwifery:
I started my college career hoping to become an obstetrician. However, the more I learned about the program and the career path, the more I began to disagree with some of the ethics.
I started my studies to become a midwife by taking any courses I could find that related to midwifery at Oregon State University while completing my bachelor’s degree. I was able to take classes such as human anatomy and physiology, biology, chemistry, microbiology, interpersonal communication, nutrition, human reproduction and many others. I also completed a series of midwifery courses from the Midwifery Access Project in Eugene.
When I completed my bachelor’s degree, I continued to study midwifery text books and anything related I could find, and I started my midwifery apprenticeship shortly afterwards. My clinical skills were developed through hands on experience during my apprenticeship, which lasted almost two years. I am very thankful to all of the midwives who not only helped to further my studies, but also opened their hearts to me and taught me what it is to be a loving and skillful midwife. During my time as an apprentice and a midwife, I have attended over 100 births.
I have a bachelors degree in Anthropology from Oregon State University. I am a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) and a Licensed Direct Entry Midwife (LDM) in the state of Oregon.
My husband and I had our first baby in January 2010 at home. It was amazing to experience everything I have witnessed so many other women go through. It definitely reinforced my awe in the strength that women have to birth their babies!
Nichol Miller, Apprentice Midwife
I believe in the safety of birth and the right of women to choose for themselves the type of care they would like for themselves and their baby. I believe strongly in the midwifery model of care to deliver just the right amount of support for each birthing woman. And I believe that supporting women as a midwife is my life's calling.
My Journey:
I knew after my 1st son was born in a hospital in Texas with many interventions that there had to be a better way to bring a baby into the world. Even though I had a doula, who was amazing, I still felt I had lost some of my power in that hospital room.
With my 2nd son, I sought out a home birth midwife in Austin, TX. I found out that this way of looking at birth, as a natural, safe, and empowering event rather than a medical crisis, made a lot more sense to me. Sadly, my husband was laid off from his job when I was in my 7th month of that pregnancy and because Medicaid (state health insurance) doesn't cover midwives I had to go back to OB care. But I was so much more informed that I was determined to have my birth my way no matter what the location may be. With that I surrounded myself with support and chose a care provider that was much more supportive of my choices than my previous OB. My 2nd son was born in the hospital with no interventions.
When our family moved here to Oregon and I found we were expecting little one #3, I knew that no matter what I would birth with a midwife in attendance. I searched, interviewed, and researched for a couple of months before finally choosing a local birth center and two amazing midwives who cared for me in a way I'd never been cared for before. My whole person was of value to them and not only did they help me have the birth I had envisioned, but they helped me work through all of the challenges that came my way during that pregnancy and birth.
After that experience I knew that I wanted to spend my life giving back to other women what my doulas and midwives had given me. I started my path by becoming a doula in the spring of 2010 and have spent the time since then supporting women in all birthing situations. Being in the hospital with women as support opened my eyes further to the differences between the hospital's view of birth and the midwifery model of care. I became even more convinced that women should have access to compassionate, competent, and consistent care from trained midwives who allow them the freedom to trust their bodies, own their care, and birth in the way they most desire.
Since then I have been taking community offered courses, following an independent study course, and learning from as many practicing midwives as I can. I have also been meeting with other aspiring midwives to share our knowledge. I am also well trained in breastfeeding support for the immediate postpartum period, an area I feel has been seriously lacking in many settings. Joining Happy Belly Midwifery as an apprentice is a dream come true. I am thrilled to learn even more and hone my clinical skills under Tarrin's tutelage.
I look forward to being a part of your birth support team and being there for you in whatever way you desire. Blessings to you and yours ~~ Nichol
My Journey:
I knew after my 1st son was born in a hospital in Texas with many interventions that there had to be a better way to bring a baby into the world. Even though I had a doula, who was amazing, I still felt I had lost some of my power in that hospital room.
With my 2nd son, I sought out a home birth midwife in Austin, TX. I found out that this way of looking at birth, as a natural, safe, and empowering event rather than a medical crisis, made a lot more sense to me. Sadly, my husband was laid off from his job when I was in my 7th month of that pregnancy and because Medicaid (state health insurance) doesn't cover midwives I had to go back to OB care. But I was so much more informed that I was determined to have my birth my way no matter what the location may be. With that I surrounded myself with support and chose a care provider that was much more supportive of my choices than my previous OB. My 2nd son was born in the hospital with no interventions.
When our family moved here to Oregon and I found we were expecting little one #3, I knew that no matter what I would birth with a midwife in attendance. I searched, interviewed, and researched for a couple of months before finally choosing a local birth center and two amazing midwives who cared for me in a way I'd never been cared for before. My whole person was of value to them and not only did they help me have the birth I had envisioned, but they helped me work through all of the challenges that came my way during that pregnancy and birth.
After that experience I knew that I wanted to spend my life giving back to other women what my doulas and midwives had given me. I started my path by becoming a doula in the spring of 2010 and have spent the time since then supporting women in all birthing situations. Being in the hospital with women as support opened my eyes further to the differences between the hospital's view of birth and the midwifery model of care. I became even more convinced that women should have access to compassionate, competent, and consistent care from trained midwives who allow them the freedom to trust their bodies, own their care, and birth in the way they most desire.
Since then I have been taking community offered courses, following an independent study course, and learning from as many practicing midwives as I can. I have also been meeting with other aspiring midwives to share our knowledge. I am also well trained in breastfeeding support for the immediate postpartum period, an area I feel has been seriously lacking in many settings. Joining Happy Belly Midwifery as an apprentice is a dream come true. I am thrilled to learn even more and hone my clinical skills under Tarrin's tutelage.
I look forward to being a part of your birth support team and being there for you in whatever way you desire. Blessings to you and yours ~~ Nichol
Ashley Parnham, Apprentice Midwife
Ashley Parnham grew up in the Pacific Northwest, her first exposure to midwifery was in
1992 when her mother gave birth to her youngest sibling in the family bathtub. Sixteen
years later she had her own baby with a group of midwives at a Portland birth center.
After completing Elizabeth Davis’ Hearts and Hands midwifery intensive in 2009 Ashley
started her journey as a Doula serving low-income clients in Northern California. While
living in California Ashley became pregnant with her second child and, lacking
accessible home midwifery care, gave birth unassisted. Throughout the following year,
Ashley struggled with how to best serve women who only had access to state medical
insurance while pursuing her dream of becoming a homebirth midwife. In 2011 Ashley
returned to Portland with her family to pursue a degree in Public Health.
