About Elizabeth

About Me:

Elizabeth Schroeder: Photo by James Newman

I became interested in childbirth when my daughter was born in 1994.  I found her birth to be so empowering for me that I wanted to share that empowerment with other women.  My son was born at home in 1997.  His homebirth created a desire in me to help women become aware of the many choices available to them regarding how and where they give birth.

In the ensuing years, amidst gardening, baking bread, cooking vegetarian meals, singing and socializing, I read a great deal about birth and parenting, maintaining an interest in birth while I raised and homeschooled my two children.  Now that they are older (ages 15 and 12) I have time to devote myself to my passion for birth and supporting women. 

In 2008 I began training as a midwifery student at Birthingway College of Midwifery.  I look forward to practicing homebirth midwifery after I graduate.  Being a doula is part of my journey towards helping women to attain the birth they want. I trained and certified as a doula through Birthingway's Labor Doula program.

My Philosophy of Birth:

I believe that women's bodies are made to birth babies.  For millenia, women have been birthing naturally.  I want to help women to achieve the birth they want, allowing them to birth in the way that is best for mother and baby.  If medical help is needed I will continue to offer support and help to navigate our way through to a good birth.  I can aid the mother and her family in communicating with medical staff and offer clarity in confusing circumstances.  I will be a calm presence on your birth team.

I will support each woman in her own journey to motherhood.  I believe strongly in the concept of choice for each woman in her own birth.  Each birth is different and we cannot predict any outcome, and so openness and flexibility is necessary for a good birth.