Hello! I’m Monica.

I am a Certified Professional Midwife and childbirth educator.

My journey into birth work began with the home birth of my son in 1994. I was fortunate to receive excellent care from a skilled and sensitive midwife, whose gentle and respectful guidance allowed me to fully experience birth as a sacred and transformative event. It has been my goal to carry this attitude into my work as a doula, midwife, childbirth educator, and mentor.

I believe birth can be both safe and sacred.

I am a Reiki Master-Teacher, Licensed Massage Therapist, and Craniosacral Therapist.

I have extensive training and experience in craniosacral therapy for infants, and I am a dedicated practitioner of yoga and mindfulness meditation. I have also been studying herbalism and working with plants for roughly 30 years.

I believe that people are for loving, not for fixing. I encourage self-acceptance as the foundation for growth and healing, rather than self-improvement.

I hold a PhD in Gender, Women’s and Sexuality Studies from the University of Iowa, where I continue to teach.

As an interdisciplinary scholar, my areas of interest include: the anthropology of childbirth, reproductive justice and health activism, postcolonialism and antiracism, and the history of medicine. My 2012 doctoral dissertation, Reproductive Justice and Childbirth Reform: Doulas as Agents of Social Change, examines the roles of doulas as advocates for reproductive and social justice.

I am a visual artist.

Drawing on my ongoing herbal studies and lifelong connection with plants, my current art practice focuses mainly on botanical illustrations as meditations on the simple magic of nature. 

Relevant trainings & certifications

Current Certifications in Neonatal Resuscitation and CPR/BLS

2022 - Integrative Reflexology
2021 - Certified in Embodied Trauma-Conscious Reproductive Health (Trauma-Conscious Yoga Institute)
2020 - North American Registry of Midwives - Bridge Certificate
2019 - Approved Preceptor, Midwives College of Utah
2019 - Due Dates and Advanced Maternal Age (Evidence-Based Birth)
2019 - PROM, GBS, and Newborn Procedures (Evidence-Based Birth)
2018 - Certified Vaginal Steam Facilitator (Peristeam Hydrotherapy Institute)
2016 - Advanced Practice Midwifery (Wise Woman Education)
2016 - Birth Emergency Skills Training
2016 - Perinatal Mood Disorders
2015 - Certified in Prenatal and Postpartum Massage
2015 - Certified Prenatal Yoga Teacher, Sweet Feet Yoga
2015 - Cultural Competency & Respect in the Provision of Maternity Care
2014 - Craniosacral Therapy for Pregnancy, Birth, and Postpartum (Carol Gray, Portland, OR)
2014 - Infant Oral Anatomy: How it Affects Breastfeeding
2014 - Rebozo Techniques for Pregnancy and Birth
2014 - STRAIT Method Scar Tissue Release Massage
2014 - Postpartum Belly Binding (Sacred Pregnancy)
2014 - Reiki Master Teacher
2014 - Licensed Massage Therapist, Carlson College graduate
2014 - Yoga Nidra Meditation for Pregnancy and Postpartum (Karen Brody)
2013 - Processing Perinatal Grief (Angelique Chelton)
2012 - Certified Professional Midwife, NARM
2012 - Subtle Hands-On Skills and Craniosacral Therapy for Infants (Carol Gray, Portland, OR)
2012 - Board of Directors, BirthWorks International
2011 - Childbirth Education Trainee Reviewer, BirthWorks International
2010 - Managing Shoulder Dystocia and Breech Birth (Gail Tully)
2010 - Home Birth After Cesarean (ICAN)
2010 - Birth Emergency Skills Training (Aviva Institute)
2009 - Birth Art Process 101 (Pam England and Virginia Bobro)
2009 - Homeopathy for Midwives
2009 - Continuing Doula Training (DONA)
2008 - Supporting Women Through Perinatal Loss
2007 - Midwifery Ethics, Charting, How to Become a CPM
2007 - NARM Legislative Workshop
2005 - Working with Childbearing Women at Psychosocial Risk
2004 - Spinning Babies (Gail Tully, Iowa City, IA)
2000 - Certified Childbirth Educator, BirthWorks
1999 - Doula Certification, DONA
1997 - Doula Training, DONA
1995 - Certified Childbirth Educator, Bradley Method
1995 - Reiki I