Meet Paula Ross, RN, LLM, CPM, IBCLC

Hi, y'all! I'm Paula, and I look forward to walking alongside your family on this journey!

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I've been a registered nurse since 1997.  During my 20+ years in the hospital, I worked in intensive care, labor & delivery, mother-baby, and NICU. My strong desire to help new families get the best start feeding their babies prompted me to become an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). 

After my first home birth in 2008, I started feeling "the call." I began assisting midwives at home births and also trained as a doula.

In 2016, I began a midwifery apprenticeship under Deb Phillips (who was and still is "my midwife" even though I am no longer having babies.) I became licensed in Arkansas and nationally certified in 2020.

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I am a nurse and a midwife but not a nurse-midwife.

 

(Did you know there are different types of midwives?) 
I chose to become a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) rather than a Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) for a variety of reasons, but mainly because I prefer attending home births over hospital births. Spending time getting to know families in the months leading up to the birth...watching labor, birth, and bonding unfold in the family’s own comfortable environment...continuing that relationship after the baby is born...these are rewarding aspects of homebirth midwifery.

 

I believe in the Midwives Model of Care. I believe our bodies are fearfully and wonderfully made, and I trust in our ability to give birth. I believe that for most healthy mothers and babies, the less we interfere with the process, the better the chances of a good birth outcome. I am a safeguard of "normal."

If things deviate from normal, I provide or direct you to evidence-based care. All licensed home birth midwives are certified in CPR and neonatal resuscitation, complete continuing education, and regularly attend training and practice in birth emergency skills. We collaborate with other healthcare professionals when referrals are needed. 

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On a personal note...

I am a Christian who believes that my work should be rooted in love and respect for all people. 

I have been married for 23 years and have birthed seven of my own lovely children, both in the hospital and at home.

To ensure that I am giving my best to others, I make a point of regularly carving out time to replenish my mind, body, and soul. Some of the things that keep me feeling peaceful and joyful are my faith, practicing martial arts, playing guitar and piano, concocting herbal remedies, and enthusiastically cheering at my kids' activities.

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