The birth team always consists of at least two people - at least one of
whom is always a licensed midwife. We work as a team is to provide you with
the best care possible, remembering that once baby is born there are two people
who may need care and attention, so a minimum of two people would be necessary
to ensure that this care can be provided.
Although there will always be two people at your birth, who those two are
is up to you! If you bond with one person more than the other, you can always
request that she be at your birth.
STUDENT MIDWIVES
We believe strongly in the apprenticeship model of training future midwives
and believe that book-learning is only the very beginning of what it takes to
be a good midwife.
Students always act under the direct supervision of a licensed midwife.
As students get close to licensure their skills increase and the amount of
responsibility they may assume increase as well. We do our best to ensure
that you are comfortable with the care you are being provided - and welcome
feedback (positive and negative) regarding your care. If there is a student
you do not bond with, she will not be at your birth. Likewise, if there is a
student you feel very close and comfortable with, we can ensure that she will
be at your birth.
Once a student has reached a certain level of training, she may even be
prepared to provide the majority of your care (under the supervision of a
licensed midwife, of course). If there is a senior student that you would
like to provide the majority of your care, simply speak to the licensed
midwife to arrange this - often there are financial discounts for such an
arrangement. Keep in mind that all care provided by Nurturing Hearts Birth
Services is under a midwife's supervision and she is ultimately responsible
for all aspects of your care!
MIDWIVES
Stephanie Soderblom, LM
Stephanie is a licensed midwife, wife and mother of five (the last 3 of
whom were born at home). She is a certified doula, certified childbirth
educator, and certified breastfeeding counselor who has been attending births
since 1995.
Born and raised in Arizona, she is a 5th generation Arizonian who is
proud to be assisting families through the most important time of their
lives.
"It is an honor every time I'm asked to care for a family through this
most intimate time in their lives. I will always do my best to respect this
sacred time and work with families to provide the best care I can in all
capacities - medically as well as emotionally."
STUDENT MIDWIVES
Jennifer Bass
Jennifer is a wife, mother of three (one born at a midwife-run birth
center, the other two at home), and holds a Master of Public Health
degree. She was born and raised in Alaska, educated in Vermont and
Iowa, and moved to Mesa in November of 2006.
BACKUP MIDWIVES
Wendi Cleckner, LM
Sarah Blum-Sheller, LM
