What is a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) ?

A Certified Professional Midwife is a knowledgeable, skilled and professional independent midwifery practitioner who has met the standards for certification set by the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) and is qualified to provide the midwifery model of care. The CPM is the only international credential that requires knowledge about and experience in out-of-hospital settings.  Click for a chart that explains the difference between Certified Professional Midwives and Certified Nurse Midwives

Brenda Surabian CPM

Midwifery called me in 1982 with the birth of my daughter.  A year later I assisted a close friend in her home with the birth of her second child.  Women’s choice in childbirth was very limited at that time because there were very few midwives in southwest Colorado. This fact was to play a part in my development as a midwife. 

In 1986 my son was born on “The Farm”.  Experiencing first hand the skill and competence of these midwives set me on the path of apprentice-trained midwifery.  I completed a three-year apprenticeship in Maine and attended an intensive midwifery program at a school and clinic in El Paso Texas.  I trained extensively with midwives in Jamaica and have worked there and in Senegal, West Africa as a preceptor for midwifery students from the U.S.  I sat for the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM ) exam in 1995. 

I am a member of the National Association of Certified Professional Midwives (NACPM), the Midwives Alliance of North America (MANA), Midwives of Maine (MOM), Maine Association of Certified Professional Midwives (MACPM) and the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood      (WRA). 

Lindsay Bushnell CPM

My experience with childbirth began while attending Haverford College where I received a BA in  anthropology.  I researched and wrote my senior thesis on the philosophy of midwifery care. Through that process I fell in love with midwifery and began on the path towards becoming a homebirth midwife.  In 2004 I completed my academic training in midwifery at Birthwise Midwifery School in Bridgton, Maine, a MEAC accredited Certified Professional Midwifery school. 

While in school I apprenticed with four homebirth practices.  I then traveled to the Philippines to work in an incredibly busy birth center. Upon returning from the Philippines I completed my training with a busy practice in southwestern New Hampshire. 

After graduating I sat for the North American Registry of Midwives exam.  I am a member of the Maine Midwifery Associations, Midwives Alliance of North America and the National Association of Certified Professional Midwives. 

Maureen Smith CPM

Maureen is a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) who graduated from Birthwise Midwifery School in Bridgton, Maine in 2001. In addition to being a CPM, Maureen is certified to practice as a New Hampshire Certified Midwife (NHCM).   She is a member of the Maine Association of Certified Professional Midwives and New Hampshire Midwives Association (NHMA).  Maureen enjoys teaching and is a faculty member at Birthwise Midwifery School.  Maureen lives in Hiram, Maine with her husband Michael and they have homeschooled their three children. 

~ The Midwives ~

Brenda

Lindsay

Maureen

Feb 9th

  Potluck

Sacopee Valley Birthing Services

Providing the homebirth option to families  in southern Maine and eastern New Hampshire for over 15 years