“When I think of the care you gave me over the last few months, it is marked in my mind by your clear gaze. I noticed it from the moment I met you and it immediately put me at ease because I could see that you were extremely confident and serious, that you knew what you were doing,and by the same token, you had a compassion and warmth that went far beyond a good ‘bedside manner'.” –Dakota, mother of Joseph, born at home

It is my passion and life's purpose to serve and empower women and their families, especially in the childbearing year.

I heard my calling toward midwifery in 2002 just after completing my massage certification through the Atlanta School of Massage . Amazed by this noble and vital profession, I began immediately on the long, difficult, and tremendously rewarding path to becoming a midwife . Throughout my midwifery training with the Seattle Midwifery School I always maintained my massage practice, specializing of course in (you guessed it!) prenatal massage . I enjoy many other bodywork modalities as well, including deep tissue and shiatsu.

Another big part of my life and perhaps the most fun thing I do is teaching prenatal yoga . I completed the Whole Birth Yoga teacher training in the summer of 2006 with Robin Sale and a second training with Jane Austin in March 2008. I also enjoy my own personal yoga practice to maintain balance in my busy life.

To add to the fun I recently picked up traveling! In the fall of 2007 I visited the lovely country of Vanuatu in the South Pacific to be a volunteer midwife in their small, and much in need hospital. It turned out to be a highlight of my life thus far and inspired me to pursue aiding in international midwifery in anyway I can. I plan to continue to travel as my life permits, but also continue to do all that I can to serve women and families all over the world from my home in Sonoma, California.

Brandi Lauher, LM, CPM

I attended my first birth in 1998 at the Northern New Mexico Birth Center in Taos. That beautiful, powerful and life changing experience was undoubtedly the start of my midwifery journey....   

For many years I read every birth related book I could get my hands on and worked as a birth doula, asking a million questions at each birth I was blessed to attend.

After the birth of my second daughter in 2003, I was able to start my formal training in midwifery with the National Midwifery Institute and began an apprenticeship with a local homebirth midwife and my midwife, Fawn Gilbride, which continued on for four years.  

Being a Midwife has taught me how incredibly strong women are and how truly amazing our bodies are. I believe strongly in choice and that as women it is our birth right to choose where and with whom we will give birth.  It is truly a blessing to be able to witness a new life emerge into this world, and I always feel honored to be able to support a new family through such a sacred moment.

In addition to licensure, both Kate and Brandi are Certified Professional Midwives (CPM's) a nationally recognized certification uniting midwives throughout the country, as well as active members of the California Association of Midwives (CAM) and the Midwives Alliance of North America (MANA).