Rachel Slade, CPM, LM, CMT

Midwifery is the most timeless profession I can imagine and I feel honored every time I am granted the pleasure of witnessing a person give birth. I strongly believe in pregnancy, labor, birth and postpartum as a transformational experience that ideally empowers a person to take ownership of their body and their healthcare. I help guide this experience by offering thorough informed choice regarding procedures and topics in pregnancy, birth and postpartum. I encourage my clients to catch their own babies and make choices that are right for them and their families. I am ever present and available, yet provide space for my clients and their families to move at their own speed, with me as their witness and care provider. 

It is my belief that the foundation of midwifery care relies on trust. Having a mutual trusting relationship between clients and care providers creates a safe environment for relationship building and growth to occur. Whether this is your first pregnancy, or your fifth, each experience is unique. Trust creates a safe space to explore how this pregnancy may be affecting your health physically, emotionally, and spiritually. The model of midwifery care fosters a relationship of trust by offering hour-long prenatal visits, and postpartum care in your home.

I have always felt drawn to pregnant women and babies. As a young girl I said to myself, "And someday, I'll be a midwife". This held true as a calling throughout my adolescence and yet after high school I felt intimidated by the emotional and spiritual work of midwifery. I pursued a degree in Early Childhood Education and enjoyed getting to know families on the other side of birth. This held my attention for a few years and then midwifery came calling again. I completed a workshop with Elizabeth Davis in 2012 and knew that I had to dive in deeper. I applied to Birthingway College of Midwifery in Portland, Oregon and began my education in Spring 2013. 

Birthingway is a rigorous 3-year, MEAC-accredited, residential midwifery college and I received a remarkable education. I apprenticed with a small home birth practice in Portland, Oregon called Rosehip Midwifery, as well as the busy birth center Thrive Center for Birth and Family Wellness in Santa Rosa, California. I graduated with a Certificate in Midwifery in July 2017, and received my CPM and CA licensure in early Fall 2017.

As a Santa Cruz native, I found it hard to stay away from our sparkling ocean and vibrant community, and moved back to start a practice at the beginning of 2018. I feel grateful to call Santa Cruz county my home. In my time away from midwifery I love gardening, making hand beaded jewelry, dancing lots and spending as much time by the ocean as possible. 

I am a Licensed Midwife in the state of California and a Certified Professional Midwife through the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM). In addition to my practice, I am also assisting various midwives in the Santa Cruz and San Jose areas. I am current in Adult/Child/Infant CPR, as well as Neonatal Resuscitation (NRP). Please reach out if you have any questions and would like to get in touch!