Lincoln- Megan Jenkins
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_117221431635234
Megan Jenkins has a son, Vin, who is 3 years old. He was born at St. Elizabeth's hospital at 5.6 pounds, 35 weeks, perfectly healthy. Megan first notion of midwifery was reading A Midwife's Tale by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich in a Women's History course at UNL. When she got pregnant she did not know that midwifery care could be possible in modern day Nebraska. Although Megan's birth was pretty standard and not awful, she felt the actual experience and relationship she formed with her doctor left something to be desired. After attending La Leche League meetings and learning stories from other really cool moms in Lincoln, Megan got the urge to learn more about midwifery in Nebraska and more about Nebraska Friends of Midwives. She believes that expanding birth rights for women in Nebraksa is a big step for expanding quality of life for women in Nebraska and their children. Her interest in the future of health care and the mind body connection feed her interest in midwifery. She has a degree in Psychology and is currently studying to be a Practical Nurse.
Megan Jenkins has a son, Vin, who is 3 years old. He was born at St. Elizabeth's hospital at 5.6 pounds, 35 weeks, perfectly healthy. Megan first notion of midwifery was reading A Midwife's Tale by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich in a Women's History course at UNL. When she got pregnant she did not know that midwifery care could be possible in modern day Nebraska. Although Megan's birth was pretty standard and not awful, she felt the actual experience and relationship she formed with her doctor left something to be desired. After attending La Leche League meetings and learning stories from other really cool moms in Lincoln, Megan got the urge to learn more about midwifery in Nebraska and more about Nebraska Friends of Midwives. She believes that expanding birth rights for women in Nebraksa is a big step for expanding quality of life for women in Nebraska and their children. Her interest in the future of health care and the mind body connection feed her interest in midwifery. She has a degree in Psychology and is currently studying to be a Practical Nurse.
North Central Nebraska- this position is currently open
Click here for information about volunteering for this position.
Northeastern Nebraska- Lisa Wiles Leseberg
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nebraska-Friends-of-Midwives-Northeasten-NE-Chapter/225008217516534?sk=wall
Lisa Leseberg is a new to NFOM and is thrilled to have found a local organization that champions a cause she believes in deeply. She looks forward to the day that the word ‘cause‘ won’t have to be used in conjunction with midwifery care, that someday the fact that there are alternative birthing options will be both common and accepted knowledge. Lisa is a birth doula trained through DONA (Doulas of North America) and a Licensed Massage Therapist. She was first inspired to learn more about midwifery following the birth of her first child, who was delivered by a medical doctor. To say the least, she felt let down by the lack of support for her choice not to be medicated, as well as by several unnecessary interventions during the birthing process. After visiting with a midwife when she became pregnant with her second child, Lisa never looked back. Her second, third and fourth children were all born under the care of a wonderful midwife in a supportive, comfortable setting. Lisa wants every woman to have the opportunity to birth when, where and with whom they so choose and she feels lucky to have the chance to be part of the miracle of birth, especially when it can be carried out in the least stressful, most natural way.
Lisa Leseberg is a new to NFOM and is thrilled to have found a local organization that champions a cause she believes in deeply. She looks forward to the day that the word ‘cause‘ won’t have to be used in conjunction with midwifery care, that someday the fact that there are alternative birthing options will be both common and accepted knowledge. Lisa is a birth doula trained through DONA (Doulas of North America) and a Licensed Massage Therapist. She was first inspired to learn more about midwifery following the birth of her first child, who was delivered by a medical doctor. To say the least, she felt let down by the lack of support for her choice not to be medicated, as well as by several unnecessary interventions during the birthing process. After visiting with a midwife when she became pregnant with her second child, Lisa never looked back. Her second, third and fourth children were all born under the care of a wonderful midwife in a supportive, comfortable setting. Lisa wants every woman to have the opportunity to birth when, where and with whom they so choose and she feels lucky to have the chance to be part of the miracle of birth, especially when it can be carried out in the least stressful, most natural way.
Omaha Area- this position currently open
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nebraska-Friends-of-Midwives-Omaha-Chapter/152382731461808
Click here for information about volunteering for this position.
Click here for information about volunteering for this position.
Panhandle- Laura Leggott
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nebraska-Friends-of-Midwives-Panhandle-Chapter/151998368180046
Laura Leggott has been a member of NFOM since 2005 and has served on the board in previous years. Trained as a birth doula through the DONA program, she also home-schools her four children, all of whom were born at home with the care of a midwife. Born in Western Nebraska, Laura was raised in Lancaster County Pennsylvania where a significant percentage of the babies are born at home with a midwife in attendance. Laura's vision of similar opportunities for rural Nebraskans is based on her experiences in Pennsylvania.
Laura Leggott has been a member of NFOM since 2005 and has served on the board in previous years. Trained as a birth doula through the DONA program, she also home-schools her four children, all of whom were born at home with the care of a midwife. Born in Western Nebraska, Laura was raised in Lancaster County Pennsylvania where a significant percentage of the babies are born at home with a midwife in attendance. Laura's vision of similar opportunities for rural Nebraskans is based on her experiences in Pennsylvania.
Southwestern Nebraska- this position is currently open
Click here for information about applying for this position.
Tri-City- Vanessa Pruitt and Ashely Lanouette-Miller
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nebraska-Friends-Of-Midwives-Tri-City-Chapter/161625180525427?ref=ts
Vanessa Pruitt discovered NFOM in 2009. After two medicated hospital births, she was looking for more options. Thanks to the support of her doula and other amazing women she met through NFOM, she went on to have her third son at home unassisted (a surprise breech!). Vanessa would have loved to give birth at home with a midwife had she had access to more options. Her goal is to raise local awareness of the lack of childbirth choices in Nebraska and its impact on our families and communities. Vanessa is also a doula and a writer. She writes at http://naturalfamilytoday.com/ and http://pregnancy.bellaonline.com/
Vanessa Pruitt discovered NFOM in 2009. After two medicated hospital births, she was looking for more options. Thanks to the support of her doula and other amazing women she met through NFOM, she went on to have her third son at home unassisted (a surprise breech!). Vanessa would have loved to give birth at home with a midwife had she had access to more options. Her goal is to raise local awareness of the lack of childbirth choices in Nebraska and its impact on our families and communities. Vanessa is also a doula and a writer. She writes at http://naturalfamilytoday.com/ and http://pregnancy.bellaonline.com/
Ashely Lanouette-Miller has been involved in birth work and the birth community since 2008. She is a certified, self-identified radical and full spectrum doula trained through Birth Arts International, and working with women who are often marginalized by society due to race, age, sexual orientation, marital status, or other socio-cultural labels. Ashely is working toward BirthWorks International childbirth education certification as well as International Board Certified Lactation Consultant status. Simultaneously, she attends the Midwives College of Utah via the distance education program with the goal of attending home births with unique variations on normal. Passionate about home and free birthing, she enjoys actively researching the most up-to-date statistics and information regarding the bodily autonomy of women. In addition to her occupational efforts, Ashley enjoys her role as first-time mama to her four-month-old daughter (for whom was planned a home birth). Ashley's own experience in birthing reinforced her desire to make birth work and the birth community her niche in life.
