Andrea Henderson, CPM, LM
I have had the desire to assist women giving birth since I was a young child. My parents would ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up and my answer was always “a doctor who delivers babies.” After discovering midwifery, I knew that midwifery was my calling. I hold strong beliefs that birth is a normal and healthy process with great importance placed on each family having a safe and satisfying experience. As an advocate for birth, I have a compelling desire to enhance the confidence in our culture's view of a woman’s body and her natural ability to give birth. I hold a profound respect for people’s different beliefs, customs and values. All women and their families deserve quality health care with the right to choose how and where they want to birth their babies. My goal to serve as a midwife is largely based on a passion towards empowering women and their families.

I attended Central Washington University while working towards a Bachelors of Science degree in Pre-Midwifery. Following Central Washington University, I attended the direct-entry program at Seattle Midwifery School and became a Licensed Midwife. I feel honored to have the opportunity to work with Heike Doyle at the Puget Sound Birth Center where I trained under both Eastside Midwives and Lake Washington Midwives during my time at Seattle Midwifery School. During my training at Puget Sound Birth Center I felt a strong connection between the midwives and myself, a good fit from the beginning.

My husband, John, and I recently gave birth to our own daughter, Luna, at home which uncovered yet another layer of my understanding of the strong emotions of pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period, as well as the empowering experience of working with midwives in an out of hospital setting. I look forward to serving you with the same superb midwifery care that was given to me, which felt like a gift, during that tender time surrounding birth.

Nicole Donovan, LM

My passion to be with women who choose an unmedicated childbirth began after the unmedicated birth of my daughter 12 years ago. It was such a dynamically different experience from the medicated birth of my son two years prior. The personal empowerment I experienced after my daughter's birth completely changed the prior conception I had about myself, finding an inner strength I never knew I had.

Five months later, in 1998, I took the birth doula training at Seattle Midwifery School, and began my journey in supporting women during births. In 2001, I took the postpartum doula training at Seattle Midwifery School, and began working with families after their births also. Eventually I came to realize that just being in a supporting role with families was not enough for me, and I realized my overwhelming desire was to become a midwife.

I feel often in our society the sacredness of birth and the journey into parenthood is overlooked and forgotten. I feel blessed to offer experience, guidance and support to your family in honoring this experience, in the way that feels right to you.

I hope to help you navigate your way through the journey of pregnancy, birth and early parenthood. Whether this is your first or tenth pregnancy, each journey is different, and I look forward to being with you through this process!

Midwives Oath:
As a midwife, I uphold the following guiding principles:

To work in partnership with women, respecting the dignity and rights of the women I work with, recognizing that the most important determinant of a healthy pregnancy is the mother herself.

To support women to make informed choices and take responsibility for their own well-being.

To understand that childbearing is primarily a personal and community event; a normal process that involves physical, emotional and spiritual factors.

To facilitate these normal processes utilizing a holistic approach, recognizing that each pregnancy and birth is unique.

I believe that midwifery care represents an important resource for improving the health of mothers, babies and families.

I am dedicated to the development and advancement of the profession in North America.