Elise Gerard

Elise Gerard

CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL MIDWIFE, CHILDBIRTH EDUCATOR, LABOR DOULA & POSTPARTUM DOULA

Credentials: Certified Professional Midwife, NRP certified (2016, 2018, 2020) AHA-CPR certified (2021), Certified Labor Doula, Certified Childbirth Educator, Trained Postpartum Doula.

I began pursuing an education in Maternal health in 2008. I’ve always had a desire to care for people in their times of need and knew I wanted to learn more about childbirth after witnessing the health disparity of pregnant women in my travels to Latin America. My studies began slowly through reading books and becoming aware of the maternal health disparities in the US as well. Though I began my formal training in 2009 to become a Certified Childbirth Educator, I knew from the start that I wanted to become a midwife. I had the privilege of working with a trained traditional midwife in El Salvador for 3 months in 2011. I officially began apprenticing as a midwife in 2012, and while I had the great honor of attending and assisting many skilled midwives in the greater Nashville area, I was primarily trained by MaryAnne Richardson and Heather Muñoz. I was able to sit for the NARM exam in the Spring of 2019 and finally became a Certified Professional Midwife.

Seeing new life come into the world is a gift! The moment a baby is born brings so much joy, but the mothers journey to that moment, the bonds that take place afterwards and the growth of a family are all joyous moments to behold. The late Marsden Wagner said it well when he wrote, “...Respecting the woman as an important and valuable human being and making certain that the woman's experience while giving birth is fulfilling and empowering is not just a nice extra, it is absolutely essential as it makes the woman strong and therefore makes society strong.” I believe women are innately strong, and being able to support them as they realize that strength is one of my favorite aspects of being a midwife. When I am not busy being a midwife, I am happy taking care of my three beautiful children, spending time with friends, making people laugh, and enjoying life to the fullest.

Continued Education and Training: Midwifery in Developing Countries Seminar with Vicky Penwell (2011), Neonatal Resuscitation Certified (2014, 2016, 2018, 2020), Happiest Baby on the Block Workshop (2012), Stand on Your Rights Nashville: Demystifying Legal Rights in Childbirth and How to Use Them (2014), Hypnobirthing Certification (in process), Birth Emergency Skills Training(2015), Beautiful Midwifery Conference (2018, 2019)