The 15 Best Utah Midwives: As Voted by Utah Moms
Discover the top Utah Midwives- Chosen by Local Moms
Through polling various moms groups in Utah, I have compiled a list of the 15 best midwives through central and northern Utah. These midwives have been recognized for their outstanding care, expertise, and dedication to providing exceptional birthing experiences. Whether you’re a new mom-to-be or looking for a change in your prenatal care, this comprehensive list will help you find the perfect midwife for your journey.
Why Use a Midwife?
If you’re already here, chances are that you have decided using a midwife is the direction you’d like to go. For those who aren’t quite sure about the differences between midwives and OBGYNs, here are a few of the main reasons why moms choose to use a midwife:
More Control Over Birth Plan
Moms who choose midwives tend to have a more detailed plan regarding how they would like their pregnancy care and childbirth expereince to go. They usually want less medical intervention and don’t anticipate any difficulty in their pregnancies. Midwives tend to be more open to (and experienced with) using different types of pain management techniques.
Alternative to Hospital Birth
While midwives often may deliver in a hospital setting, if you’re hoping to deliver at home or in a birthing center, you’ll probably be needing a midwife. Midwives are more likely to deliver babies in these settings than OBGYNs.
15 Best Utah Midwives: Voted by Local Moms
I polled several groups, from my past newborn photography and maternity clients to some of the larger local mom’s groups, and out of probably close to a hundred submissions of the best Utah midwives, this is the list of names that kept coming back up! I’m excited to share this list of who YOU ALL consider to be the very best midwives in the Northern Utah, Salt Lake, and Utah County area. Here are their links and a little bit about each one.
Northern Utah Midwives
Chris Miller, Arrivals Birth Services (Ogden)
Chris Miller, CPM has been in practice for more than 40 years as a midwife. She spent the majority of those years delivering babies at home births, and continues to do so. In 2009 she opened a birth center, and currently moms have the option to give birth at home or in the birthing center. Prenatal care appointments occur in the birth center and in mother’s homes. As family is an important part of this stage of life, family members are encouraged to be involved in these prenatal appointments.
My Family Birth Center (Ogden)
Loretta Shupe founded My Family Birth Center (MFBC) in 2017. After having her own seven children, she discovered how to birth naturally. Loretta says about the founding of the birth center, “There were many challenges along the way. I trained with many different midwives to give me a broad background. Women seeking care would tell me stories of their other births where their voice was not heard. When I finished my training, I knew that the best way to bless the community would be to build a birth center where women could have a say in how their birth unfolded. I wanted to make the biggest ‘splash’ I could. … so My Family Birth Center was born.”
My Family Birth Center has now birthed over 500 babies, and counting! They are proud to have two state-of-the-art, licensed and nationally accredited birth centers in Utah, one in Ogden and one in Layton. MFBC is committed to providing the very best care and the information women need to make the period before, during and after childbirth safer, healthier, more affordable, and more comfortable for both her and her baby.
Sweet Moments Birth (Northern Utah)
Amuri and Amanda are both CPM and LDEMs and are trained in and keep current certifications in both Neonatal Resuscitation Protocol (NRP) and BLS-CPR. They love preparing mothers to birth at home and provide the support moms need physically and emotionally as they prepare for childbirth, labor and their postpartum period.
Amanda Mauch, Chava Birth (Northern Utah)
Amanda Mauch is a CPM-LDEM is a believer that how and where we choose to birth matters. Her goal is to inform mothers so that they can make the best birthing decisions for themselves, and to support them through their birth plan. She is passionate not only about prenatal care, but in following up with post-natal care and ensuring that moms receive the support they need to bond and heal following childbirth.
She offers home births (water births available) and does pre and post natal care appointments in your own home. She offers nutritional counseling and breastfeeding support, and four additional postpartum visits following the first 48 hour checkup. She also offers well baby care for the first six weeks of baby’s life.
Salt Lake City Midwives
Wasatch Midwifery (Holladay)
Adrienne Brown is a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) and a Licensed Direct-Entry Midwife (LDEM) who provides modern, comprehensive, and expert care for people as they create and grow their families. Wasatch Midwifery specializes in home births and also provide moms with a luxury experience in their new birthing center with a beautiful view of the Wasatch Mountains. Their birthing center is fully licensed and accredited and is located next to two major hospitals.
Birthing rooms include full mountain views, large, spa-like tubs, hanging yoga slings, and other amenities to make your birthing experience as relaxing as possible. Moms have access to use the kitchen and laundry during their stay.
Amy Olson, Peaceful Birth Midwifery (Bluffdale)
At Peaceful Birth Midwifery, we love inspiring and supporting women in their maternal journey. We empower women (and parents) to achieve the out-of-hospital birth they desire, by recognizing their personal inspiration, and understanding their choices in their natural birth journey. The mother directs her care. Mothers choose where to labor, what to eat, and how to deliver their baby.
As licensed midwives, we offer common pregnancy lab tests and are well-prepared to address challenging situations if they arise. We have great relationships with doctors and Certified Nurse Midwives (CNM) in the area and consult with them as needed. While we prefer holistic remedies and nutrition, we do carry pharmaceutical drugs, IV fluids, and even lidocaine for suturing, all of which are rarely needed. We are also certified and well-trained in resuscitation for both mother and baby. Our transfer rate is less than 5% and only occurs by choice of the mother or for the safety of the mother or baby.
We love the lasting relationships developed during care. We are so lucky to work with amazing mothers and families who take responsibility for their choices and give their bodies the nutritional, mental, and physical attention they need to have a successful out-of-hospital birth!
The Birth Center (Millcreek)
Melissa and Rebecca (CNM, MSN) and Tara (CPM) are the midwives at The Birth Center. They deliver at home births or in their beautiful birth center in Salt Lake City. Their birth center opened in 2010 and was one of the first in the state to become a licensed birth center. They offer water births at the birthing center or provide a tub for moms to labor in if they choose a home birth.
Christine, Olive Branch Midwifery (Salt Lake City)
Christine Larson, CPM, is a Licensed Direct Entry Midwife. Christine is a second generation midwife, trained by her own mother, Cathy. She has been attending births as a doula, birth assistant and midwife since 2011.
She has a deep love and respect for birth. She has worked hard to create a loving, sustainable practice, with a passion for undisturbed birth and autonomy.
Each of her clients’ care is unique and individualized. Her relationships with her clients tend to extend beyond 6 weeks postpartum into lasting friendships. She would describe her style of care as a balance of intuition and intellect, evidence and research, compassion and humility.
Beautiful Mountain Birth Suites (Draper, West Jordan)
The midwives at Beautiful Mountain Birth Suites are CPM-LDEMs and are passionate about helping moms to have the childbirth experience they are hoping for. They believe their patients are like family, and focus on the birthing and childrearing process as natural, beautiful events in a mother’s life.
They offer home births or birthing in their birth suites, and also offer water birthing. Mom’s first two postpartum visits occur in the home, while the subsequent post-natal visits take place at the birth center. They are there for moms who need extra support, and are only a phone call away if mom feels like she needs additional visits.
Utah County Midwives
Utah Birth Suites (Provo)
The midwives at Utah Birth Suites are LDEMs who encourage moms to have healthy pregnancies by preventative care such as physical movement, healthy eating, sunshine and mindfulness- as well as IV therapy, oxygen and medications when necessary. Their philosophy is “Kindness, Safety, and Love for all those who we serve”.
They deliver at their cozy birth center, or in the comfort of your own home.
Valley American Fork Midwife Group (American Fork)
Valley Women’s Health in American Fork has a midwife group of CNMs that many moms recommend.
Diana Lee, Revere Health (Saratoga Springs and Pleasant Grove)
Diana is a Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP) with over 30 years of nursing experience in the Salt Lake area—including more than 15 years in Labor & Delivery and Women’s Health. She received her undergraduate degree from Weber State University and obtained a Master of Science degree in Nursing from Frontier Nursing University in 2014. Diana is board certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board.
Diana is passionate and committed to partnering with women to achieve the birth experience they desire and helping women in all stages of life manage their healthcare needs. She also has a strong desire to help women mothers through infertility awareness, counseling and adoption.
Revere Health Midwife Group (Pleasant Grove)
Many moms have enjoyed their experiences with the group of CNM at Revere Health in Pleasant Grove.
Birthing Your Way (Lehi)
Dr. Ronald Baird, DO and the dedicated midwife, Heather Shelley CPM, RN, are the heads of the birth team at Birthing Your Way. Dr. Baird brings a wealth of experience from his tenure assisting families in hospitals, having delivered hundreds of babies throughout his career. Conversely, Heather has devoted the last few decades to supporting mothers through home births and at the birth center.
With Dr. Baird on staff, families can trust that higher-risk cases are handled with confidence, ensuring each birth receives the utmost expertise and attention. From fertility support, hormonal therapy, birth, postpartum recovery, mental health care, lactation, and beyond, they stand ready to walk alongside your family every step of the way, providing holistic care that extends far beyond the delivery room. So go, meet the awesome team at Birthing Your Way, where warmth, expertise, and a commitment to lifelong wellness await.
Valley Orem Midwife Group (Orem)
Many moms have loved the CNMs at the Valley Orem Midwife Group.
What to Ask When Finding A Midwife
Training/Education
There are three levels of training/education that a midwife may have.
CNM (Certified Nurse Midwives) are registered nurses with a masters or doctorate degree in nursing and an American Midwifery Certification Board certification. Most work in hospitals and have access to and may prescribe medications.
LDEM (Licensed Direct Entry Midwives) may or may not have nursing education, but is licensed by the state as a CPM. These midwives must meet requirements set forth by the NARM (North American Registry of Midwives). They can carry and use certain medications, such as lidocaine, Pitocin, Rhogam, and under a doctors approval they can give IVs and specific antibiotics.
CPM or DEM (Certified Professional Midwives or Direct Entry Midwives) In Utah you don’t need a license to call yourself a midwife. Midwives without licensure can carry oxygen, but aren’t allowed to use or prescribe anything else. Many of these midwives are very skilled and have years of experience.
Practice Setup
Some Midwives work in a group, while others work alone. Working with a midwife group may mean that you see your midwife for every appointment, or that you see a variety of midwives throughout your care. Talk to your midwife and find out how this works. In either type of practice, ask your midwife what will happen if they aren’t available for a checkup or the birth.
Costs
Many midwives are contracted with Insurances, and so your insurance may cover the cost of your care. This may depend on where you are planning on giving birth (many insurances won’t cover home births), and on your insurance provider. Talk to your midwife about the cost of your prenatal, birth and post-natal care so you can know what to expect.
Prenatal Care
Ask your midwife how many prenatal care appointments you will have, and what those appointments will look like. Ask what testing and screenings they offer throughout the pregnancy, what is covered by the estimated costs, and what the pros and cons are of each test.
What Happens if There’s a Complication
Find out what will happen if a pregnancy or childbirth complication arises. It’s possible that if complications arise during your pregnancy, you’ll be transferred to a specialist or to an OBYGN’s care. Find out what that might look like with your midwife- what complications might cause that to happen, if the midwife would continue to be a part of your care team, etc.
Where Do You Deliver
Do you have your heart set on delivering at a specific location? Many midwives (like CNAs) have hospital privileges and can deliver babies in the hospital. Some midwives work or deliver in birthing centers, while some may deliver in your own home. Talk to your midwife about the options available and decide what works best for you.
What Happens During Labor
Find out what a normal labor might look like with your midwife. What pain management options are available, when will your midwife show up, what other things will the midwife do through the labor, birth and postpartum process?
What Does Postpartum Care Look Like
What care does your midwife offer postpartum? How many visits will take place, and what occurs during these visits? Where will these visits take place?
