Grateful Birth About Us

Serving the Las Vegas and surrounding community

(702) 399-8380

"We have a secret in our culture, and it's not that birth is painful; it's that women are strong." -Laura Stavoe Harm

"Planned home births with certified professional midwives in the United States had similar rates of intrapartum and neonatal mortality to those of low risk hospital births...

...Medical intervention rates for planned home births were lower than for planned low risk hospital births."

(From BMJ, British Medical Journal. “Outcomes of planned home births with certified professional midwives: large prospective study in North America” – Kenneth C. Johnson and Betty-Anne Davis)

About Midwifery...

Midwifery practice, like that of other health professionals in the United States and Canada, is governed at the State or Provincial level. Laws and regulations vary considerably from one State or Province to another. Anyone interested in becoming a midwife should learn about the laws affecting midwifery in the region in which she might practice.

See CfM (Citizens for Midwifery) news updates for a sample of the wide variety of midwifery experiences in the United States. Visit their web site at www.cfmidwifery.org.
LM (Licensed Midwife) This is a Midwife who has processed through a "Board", which is a division of the Licensing Medical board, under "Business and Professions Codes" with evidence of documentation of credited "Midwifery Education Program" or a "Completion Challenge Process Program" and requires continuing education which is regulated and accountable to the State.
CPM (Certified Professional Midwife) NARM, (North American Registry of Midwifery), is an international certification agency which encompasses multiple educational routes of entry. This agency sets standards for Midwifery. A Certified Professional Midwife has met the standards for certification set by NARM. The CPM is the only international credential that requires knowledge about and experience in out-of-hospital settings.
Community Midwife: "Empirical", "Senior", aka "Traditional", "Granny", "Crone", "Direct Entry", "Grand", "Independent", "Community", "Domiciliary". Some pioneer in the home birth movement well known in the community for attending over 2000+ births which represents over 20 years of experience with home births. Her credentials are written on the hearts of her clients (friends). She has trained half the midwives listed in the yellow pages of your phone book. Her services have expanded for three generations. She has attended you, your grandchildren, and her grandchildren. This kind of love and passion you cannot legislate.

Certification such as CPM or LM may not be recognized by your State.

About Kellie...

The only LM, CPM, continuously holding NRP (Neonatal Resuscitation Program) certification
The only LM, CPM, practicing in the Las Vegas area. See above for explanation on Licensed Midwife and Certified Professional Midwife
Education on benefits/risks of routine multiple ultrasounds and alternatives
Documented research on important topics
Education on dangers of Cytotec/Misoprostol and upholding the Midwifery Model of care in opposing those who use these dangerous drugs
Considerations when attempting breech version by any means...benefits/risks/alternatives
High quality/low cost lab tests

I started research into home birth during my first pregnancy in 1980.
In 1985 I was accredited a Leader for La Leche League International, an organization that promotes and supports breast-feeding worldwide. My responsibilities included leading topical meetings, taking phone calls from mothers who had questions about baby care and breast-feeding and keeping a log of calls. I helped with organizational meetings and ran the group library. I had the opportunity to speak firsthand with mothers/families about birth and child-rearing. I had to be familiar with information sheets on nutrition, medical problems, medications, special problems, and other topics written especially for La Leche League by experts in many fields.

• La Leche League International Area Conference May 1987 in La Mirada, California. Speakers included: William Sears, MD, FAAP, Paul Fleiss, MD, MPH, FAAP, Jay Gordon, MD, FAAP, Lendon Smith, MD.
• Pediatrics for Parents workshop. One week with Dr. Wootan at the YMCA, LV October 1984
• Red Cross CPR for infants 4-90
• Ina May Gaskin – all day workshop March 15, 1989
• Association for Childbirth at Home International (ACHI) conference April 1-5, 1989
• Lifeline hotline volunteer with certificate of appreciation 1992
• Lifeline pregnancy education booth at JC State Fair, NV 1990-1991-1992
• Completed first year of two year intensive training from ACHI 1991 and began teaching with the title Certified Childbirth Educator, (CCE).
• In 1989 began as apprentice to local midwife – attending and assisting at prenatals and births.
• Neonatal Resuscitation Program/(NRP) Provider – curriculum of the American Academy of Pediatrics/American Heart Association 7/10/99, 6/28/01, 6/27/03, 9/29/05, 3/17/06, 10/5/08
• Healthcare provider curriculum of the American Heart Association BLS 7/99
Have attended 970 births in the home as primary attendant. Assisted at an additional 621.
Prenatal and birth care services…
We believe in using the least invasive forms to diagnose except where there is clear indication. We emphasize nutrition as the foundation of good care.
We participate in continuing education peer review and current OSHA health guidelines.
March 14, 2003 LM License with Medical Board of California
May 13, 2003 CPM Narm certification