Native Midwifery
Tabitha Townley
Licensed Midwife
About Me.
I am an introverted book lover, birth nerd, thrifter, and gardener of NATIVE flowers. My rebellious side hates arbitrary rules, especially when it comes to women's bodies and reproductive health. Being told to push on my back, no food or drink in labor, and needing to give shots to a minutes old newborn baby never set right with me. The pipeline went like this: I questioned the system--- researched---quit the hospital---hired a midwife---gave birth at home (twice)---realized there was a need for home birth options--- and became a midwife to fill the gap.
My husband and I live on a hobby farm and have 5 kids ranging from 6-15 years old. We have goats, chickens, cats, dogs, and a koi fish pond.
I merged all of these little things about myself into a career. I can actively raise my kids, work from home, share about native plants, take care of women, see my patients in my home library (or on my porch) and help empower women who want to give birth at home.
The name Native Midwifery came about because of my love for native plants and because I believe giving birth at home is a native (natural, normal) way to give birth.
Education
2020-2023
Association of Texas Midwives Midwifery Training Program
The ATMMTP is an nine-part comprehensive midwifery education program utilizing direct assessment of student learning. The curriculum is based on the Midwives Alliance of North America standards for practice and the most current "Core Competencies for Basic Midwifery Practice." All NARM educational and clinical requirements are met during the program. Requirements are met through a variety of methods, including flexible but structured home and internet-based coursework, required reading, research, and community projects. Each of the 9 parts, or modules, ends with mandatory workshops where review, application, integration, and examination occur. The program's expected completion period is approximately 36 months, including the required clinical component.
Students must complete a minimum of 24 months and 1350 contact hours of clinical training with one or more approved ATMMTP preceptors. While under the supervision of the preceptor(s), students will learn and demonstrate mastery of a minimum set of skills and document completion of all ATMMTP clinical requirements. During the clinical training period, the student will begin to develop her intuitive skills and sense of touch, as important to midwifery care as the knowledge, risk assessment and problem identification skills learned through the academic portions of the program.
Clinical training was completed at the Wichita Falls Birth and Wellness Center in Wichita Falls, Texas. Certified Nurse Midwife, Lenora Nepper, was my preceptor.
Fun Fact: Lenora was my midwife for my home birth in 2017!