Midwife in Bend, Oregon...
Tanya Walker Parsons, Certified Professional Midwife
I am the proud mother of 3 children, ages 5, 10 and 15. My personal journey with birth began in 1994 when I gave birth to my eldest son in a hospital, with many interventions that left me visually blind for days--unable to see my baby. I then began exploring the role of midwifery in pregnancy and birth. I was trained by the traditional model of apprenticeship and worked clinically with several different Oregon midwives. I attended many midwifery related workshops, study groups and conferences to facilitate my education. I have extended college education in Herbal Therapy, Women's Studies, Science and Anthropology. I am Certified in both adult and neonatal resuscitation by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Heart Association. My Midwifery Certification is from the North American Registry of Midwives. (NARM) I have been attending births in Central Oregon since 2002. I have been blessed to attend births after prior cesarean (VBAC), and also the birth of twins with a breech at home. I believe strongly in the Apprenticeship model of educaton and I strive to include student midwives whenever appropriate.
"Every birth I attend is another affirmation of why I need to keep going. The gift of witnessing babies being born in such a gentle way, and watching women transform before my eyes into empowered mothers; makes me give thanks everyday that I was called into this path of midwifery."
~Tanya Walker Parsons, CPM
Midwifery is something I do because I have to; an ache in my bones, a fire in my heart. I love witnessing each woman and family’s process, being a gentle affirming presence watching their unfolding. I love and trust the birth process and love greeting those sweet babies.
I have had the pleasure of giving birth three times and have been attending births since 2007. My difficult pregnancies and struggle with postpartum depression motivated me to become a midwife and I want to pass on to other women the same compassionate and personalized care that defines midwifery care. I think pregnant women are sacred vessels and should be treated as such; each holding a beautiful new song and hope for our future. It is an amazing and awe inspiring thing to witness the birth of a child, a miracle I want to be a part of many more times.
I have spent the last three years training to be a midwife through apprenticeships and self-study and am certified in Neonatal Resuscitation. I am currently working on completing my application to take the NARM (a nationally standardized test) to become a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM). My hope as my skills grow and my knowledge increase is that each family feels as blessed by my presence as I am by theirs. I am excited to be a part of the movement back to love-centered birth and look forward to being a part of your birth-family.
Annie Snyder, Apprentice Midwife
