Patricia’s CV

Patricia Couch, CPM, LM

Certified Professional Midwife
Michigan Licensed Midwife
Practicing Midwife since 2006
Co-Founder, MamaBaby Haiti

Certifications

  • Certified Professional Midwife
    North American Registry of Midwives
    2008 – Current
    Patricia Couch is a PEP-trained and Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) through NARM, having completed the highly respected Portfolio Evaluation Process (PEP). This rigorous certification involves learning directly from experienced midwives, with comprehensive documentation of clinical experience in prenatal, birth, postpartum, and newborn care. Skills are meticulously verified by seasoned preceptors to ensure exceptional competence across all areas of midwifery care. In addition to meeting strict clinical requirements, Patricia successfully passed NARM’s in-depth written exam, securing national recognition as a Certified Professional Midwife dedicated to safe, out-of-hospital birth practices. To maintain NARM certification, Patricia meets ongoing continuing education requirements every three years, ensuring she stays current with best practices and advances in midwifery care.
  • Licensed Direct Entry Midwife
    Oregon 2008-2021
    Licensed through the Oregon Health Licensing Office, Patricia Couch was a Licensed Direct Entry Midwife (LDM) in Oregon from 2008 to 2021. The Oregon Health Licensing Office sets rigorous standards for midwifery licensure, including comprehensive education, clinical experience, and ongoing professional development. This licensure highlights Patricia’s dedication to providing safe, evidence-based care to families seeking out-of-hospital birth options during her years of practice in Oregon.
  • Licensed Midwife
    Michigan 2021-Current
    Licensed through the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Patricia Couch holds the title of Licensed Midwife (LM) in Michigan. LARA’s Bureau of Professional Licensing oversees midwife licensure, ensuring that licensed midwives meet the state’s high standards for education, certification, and professional development. This licensure demonstrates Patricia’s commitment to providing safe, competent, and comprehensive care to families seeking out-of-hospital birth options in Michigan.
  • NARM Midwifery Bridge Certificate (2021) The NARM Bridge Certificate is a pathway created by the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) to help Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) align with federal standards set by the U.S. Maternal and Child Health Bureau. It addresses educational gaps and ensures CPMs are equipped to provide high-quality, evidence-based care. Specifically designed for CPMs trained before certain educational benchmarks were established, the Bridge Certificate requires the completion of 50 accredited continuing education hours (CEUs) in areas such as emergency skills, cultural competence, pregnancy complications, labor, postpartum care, and neonatal health. This certificate not only demonstrates a CPM’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards of midwifery care but also enables greater federal recognition, allowing CPMs to participate in programs that expand access to midwifery services within the healthcare system.
  • Integrative Health Coach
    Institute for Integrative Health
    Hours Completed: 761 hours
    Date Completed: February 2015
  • Holistic Health Coach Certification Course
    Hours Completed: 34 hours
    Date Completed: February 10, 2017
  • Basic Life Support (BLS), Healthcare Provider (CPR and AED)
    Institution: American Heart Association (current)
  • Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP)
    Institution: American Heart Association (current)

Employment History

  • 12/2021 to Current: Midwife, Gentle Mama Holistic Midwifery, Chelsea, Michigan
  • 07/2012 to 12/2021: Midwife, Andaluz Waterbirth Center, Portland, Oregon
  • 08/2008 to 10/2012: Midwife, Bella Vie Gentle Birth Center, Salem, Oregon
  • 08/2006 to 08/2008: Independent Practice, Eugene, Oregon – Midwife & Childbirth Educator, Eugene, Oregon
  • 2007 to 2008: Healthy Pregnancy Educator, Women’s Care, Eugene, Oregon
  • 04/2004 to 07/2006: Front Office Coordinator and Childbirth Educator, McKenzie Midwifery and Women’s Services, Springfield, Oregon
  • 06/2001 to 04/2004: OB Tech, McKenzie Willamette Hospital, Springfield, Oregon

Continuing Education

2025

  • Basic Life Support (CPR and AED) BLS Provide
    American Heart Association, Ann Arbor Heart CPR Training instructor Shawn Marie
    Instructor: Shawn Marie Arent
    Date Completed: February 2025
  • Midwifery Led Resuscitation Training, Neonatal Resuscitation Program® (NRP®) Advanced Provide AABC and Midwives Untethered instructor Julie Moon, Hours Earned:12 hours,, January 2025, Kalamazoo, Michigan
  • Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine: Herbal Immersion Program 1200 hrs
    Student 2024-current
    Date Completed:

2024

  • Breech Pro: Breech Proficiency for Birth Professionals Breech Without Borders’ school, Hours Earned 14.5 hours, September 2024, Online
  • Breech Workshop: simulations, video analysis, & clinical scenarios with Kristine Lauria, CPM, Breech Without Borders, Hours Earned 9 hours, September 14th 2024, Ann Arbor, Michigan
  • Breech and Twins Master Class with Kristine Lauria, CPM, Breech Without Borders, Hours Earned 7 hours, September 15th, 2025, Ann Arbor, Michigan
  • Real Food for Pregnancy
    Instructor: Lily Nichols
    Hours Earned: 35 hours
    Date Completed: March 2024

2023

  • Providing Culturally Sensitive Care for LGBTQ Families
    Hours Earned: 7 hours
    Date Completed: November 2023
  • Cultural Intelligence Center – Implicit Bias in Healthcare
    Hours Earned: 2 hours
    Date Completed: December 2023
  • Addressing Human Trafficking in Healthcare Setting
    Hours Earned: 2 hours
    Date Completed: December 2023
  • Preceptor Training Covering MEAC Benchmark III.B3
    Institution: Midwives College of Utah
    Hours Earned: 3.5 hours
    Date Completed: May 2023
  • Neonatal Resuscitation Program® (NRP®) Advanced Provider (8th edition), American Academy of Pediatrics, 12 hours, January 2023

2022

  • Basic Life Support (CPR and AED) BLS Provide
    American Heart Association, Ann Arbor Heart CPR Training instructor Shawn Marie
    Instructor: Shawn Marie Arent
    Date Completed: November 2022
  • Michigan Newborn Screening 2022
    Institution: Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
    Hours Earned: 5 hours
    Date Completed: May 2022

2021

  • Neonatal Resuscitation Program® (NRP®) Advanced Provider, American Academy of Pediatrics, 12 hours, January 2021

2019

  • Cultural Competency Training: Working with Diverse Populations in Maternal and Child Health
    Instructor: Shaffia Monroe Consolating, Birthing Change
    Hours Earned: 6 hours
    Date Completed: February 2019

2018

  • Essential Care for Every Baby Trainer Course, Institution: LDS Humanitarian Services, Trainer: Barry J Anderton M.D, Location: Port au Prince, Haiti. Date: April 2018
  • Global Midwifery Skills Updated: Maternal and Newborn Survival Best Practices
    Institution: Mercy in Action
    Hours Earned: 8 hours
    Date Completed: May 9, 2018
  • Midwives Responding to Disasters: Protecting Survival of Mothers and Babies in Worst-Case Scenarios
    Institution: Mercy in Action
    Hours Earned: 8 hours
    Date Completed: June 9, 2018
  • Cultural Competency and Respect in the Provision of Maternity Care
    Institution: Mercy in Action
    Hours Earned: 4 hours
    Date Completed: April 15, 2018
  • Association of Midwifery Educators: Preceptors as Educator: Strengthening the CPM Credential
    • Part 1: Preceptors: Providers of Essential Midwifery Education – 1.5 hours
    • Part 2: Creating a Successful Preceptorship: The Essential Elements – 1 hour
    • Part 3: Precepting, Teaching and Meeting Challenges – 1.5 hours
    • Part 4: Ethics and the Preceptor/Student Relationship – 1.5 hours
    • Part 5: Inclusion and Cultural Awareness – 2 hours
      Date Completed: August 2018

2017

  • Birthingway Cultural Competency and Humility Training
    Institution: Birthingway College of Midwifery
    Hours Earned: 2.5 hours
    Date Completed: April 2017
  • Legend Drugs and Devices Renewal
    Institution: Oregon Midwifery Council
    Hours Earned: 8.5 hours
    Date Completed: April 2017

2016

  • Craniosacral for Birth Professionals
    Instructor: Grace Burnham
    Institution: AZ Family Massage
    Hours Earned: 7 hours
    Date Completed: March 2016

2015

  • IV Antibiotics for GBS
    Institution: Oregon Midwifery Council
    Hours Earned: 8 hours
    Date Completed: October 2015,Course: Mamalates Method for Birth Recover,Trainer: Wendy Foster,Location: Portland, Oregon Date: June 2015,Hours Earned: 12

2014

  • American Association of Naturopathic Midwives Conference 2014 (AANM)
    Portland, Oregon
    • Assessing for Critical Heart Disease in Newborns, John Evered, MD (2 hrs OB CE)
    • The Clinical Management of Hypothyroidism in Pregnancy, Jennifer Gibbons, ND (1.5 hrs OB CE)
    • The Ethics of Prenatal Testing, Erica Peirson, ND (2 hrs Ethics CE)
    • Newborn Hearing Screening: The Standard of Care, Shelby Atwill, AuD, Heather Morrow-Almeida, MPH, and Helen Cotton Leiser (1.5 hrs OB CE)
      Date Completed: April 26, 2014
  • Nitrous Oxide Training
    Portland, Oregon
    Date Completed: July 31, 2014

2013

  • Suturing in a Real Midwifery Practice
    • Suturing 1st & 2nd Degree Repair (January 25, 2013)
    • Suturing Part 2: 3rd & 4th Degree Repair and Intrapartum Fetal Assessment for Midwives (January 26, 2013)
      Instructor: Lynn Arnold, CPM
      Location: Casa de Nacimento, Portland, OR
  • Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics
    Institution: UCSD, San Diego, CA
    Hours Earned: 14 credit hours
    Date Completed: July 1-2, 2013
  • EFM Advanced Concepts Review
    Instructor: Lisa Miller, CNM
    Location: Flushing, NY
    Date Completed: September 17-18, 2013
  • Biodynamic Resuscitation of the Newborn (BRN, NRP)
    Date Completed: October 18, 2013
  • Healthcare Provider BLS, CPR & AED
    Institution: Birthingway College of Midwifery, Portland, OR
    Date Completed: October 18, 2013
  • MANA Conference
    Portland, OR
    • Religious and Cultural Considerations When Serving Muslim Families
    • Midwifery Care for Every Body: Integrating Transgender and Genderqueer Inclusive Practices for the Benefit of All Clients
    • Providing Culturally Specific Care to LGBTQ Families
    • The Joyful Repair or Apology: Bringing Grace to Relationships
      Date Completed: October 26-27, 2013

2012

  • Biodynamic Resuscitation of the Newborn (BRN) (NRP)
    Institution: Birthingway College of Midwifery, Portland, Oregon
    Date Completed: 2012
  • Healthcare Provider BLS, CPR & AED
    Institution: American Heart Association
    Location: Birthingway College of Midwifery, Portland, Oregon
    Date Completed: 2012
  • OMC Special Topics in Pregnancy: Ultrasound, Parenteral Therapy, Pelvic Floor, Early Miscarriage
    Hours Earned: 3 hours
    Date Completed: November 10, 2012

2011

  • Midwifery Today Conference
    Eugene, Oregon
    Hours Earned: 16.5 CEUs
    Date Completed: March 30 – April 3, 2011
    • Gentle Birth Is a Human Rights Issue (.15 hours)
    • Working in the Developing World (.15 hours)
    • Mexican Techniques for Postpartum (.15 hours)
    • Human Rights of the Baby (.15 hours)
    • Wisdom and Tenacity in Midwifery (.1 hour)
    • Models that Work (.2 hours)
    • International Issues in Midwifery and Birth (.1 hour)
    • Starting and Running a Birth Center (.15 hours)
    • Adoption and the Midwife (.05 hours)
    • Skilled Midwifery is a Human Rights Issue
  • 21st Century Clinical Nutrition
    Institution: Standard Process, Tigard, Oregon
    Hours Earned: 12 hours
    Date Completed: April 16-17, 2011
  • A Workshop in Breech Birth
    Instructor: Jesica Dolan, CPM, LDM
    Hours Earned: 4.5 hours
    Date Completed: April 29, 2011
  • Midwifery Volunteerism in Developing Countries
    Instructor: Vicki Penwell, Mercy in Action
    Hours Earned: 13.5 CEUs
    Date Completed: August 18-18, 2011
  • 2011 NARM CPM Survey
    Hours Earned: 5 hours
    Date Completed: October 18, 2011
  • Legend Drugs and Devices Renewal
    Institution: Birthingway College of Midwifery, Portland, Oregon
    Hours Earned: 8.5 hours
    Date Completed: October 19, 2011

2010

  • OMC VBAC
    Hours Earned: 3 hours
    Date Completed: April 30, 2010
  • Healthcare Provider BLS, CPR & AED
    Institution: American Heart Association
    Location: Birthingway College of Midwifery, Portland, Oregon
    Date Completed: May 2010
  • Neonatal Resuscitation
    Location: Birthingway College of Midwifery, Portland, Oregon
    Date Completed: May 7, 2010
  • OMC Preeclampsia and Toxemia
    Hours Earned: 3 hours
    Date Completed: May 28, 2010
  • Medscape CME’s
    Date Completed: Various Dates, 2010

2009

  • Midwifery Today Conference
    Eugene, Oregon
    Hours Earned: 34 hours
    Date Completed: March 11-15, 2009
    • Midwifery Skills Development 6.75 hours
    • Massage Techniques for Pregnancy and Birth 7 hours
    • International Issues 1 hour
    • Nurturing a Better Future through Birth 1 hour
    • Protecting Normal Birth .5 hour
    • The First Hour after Birth .5 hour
    • Early Childhood Influences on the Women’s Childbearing 1 hour
    • Birthing Bodywork for the Pelvis 1.5 hours
    • Birth Around the World 1 hour
    • Womb Dance Circle of Life 1 hour
    • Tricks to the Trade 2 hours
    • Offering Hope: Maternal Death 1 hour
    • Issues of Race in Caring Professions 1 hour
    • Midwives Purpose and Power 1 hour
    • Mexican Techniques for Labor and Birth 1 hour
    • Hands, Our Treasured Tools 2 hours
    • Round Tables: Midwives are the Future
  • OMC Sisters Sharing Wisdom: A Midwives Gathering
    Hours Earned: 3 hours
    Date Completed: June 26, 2009
  • OMC Peer Review
    Hours Earned: 3 hours
    Date Completed: December 4, 2009
  • Medscape CME’s
    Date Completed: Various Dates, 2009

2008

  • Legend Drugs and Devices Initial Education
    Institution: Birthingway College of Midwifery, Portland, Oregon
    Hours Earned: 34.5 hours
    Date Completed: August 21-24, 2008

Publications

  • “The Development of Birth Stories in an American Culture”
    Midwifery Today, Issue 80, Winter 2006
  • “A Baby’s Love for Grandmother Placenta”
    The Birth Kit, Issue 53, Spring 2007
  • “Midwives, Mountains, and Memories: MamaBaby Haiti”
    Midwifery Today, Issue 126, 2018

Academic Positions

Current:

  • NARM Approved Midwifery Preceptor
  • Midwives College of Utah Approved Preceptor
  • Student, Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine; Herbal Immersion Program
    Since June 2024

Previous:

  • Bastyr University, Midwifery Preceptor
  • Birth Arts International, Doula Instructor
  • Mercy in Action College of Midwifery, Midwifery Preceptor
  • National Midwifery Institute, Midwifery Preceptor
  • Southwest Wisconsin Technical College, Midwifery Program Preceptor
  • Birthingway College of Midwifery, Midwifery Preceptor

Patricia’s Midwifery Teachers and Preceptor

  • Midwifery Education, C**** L*****, Venita, Oregon
  • Midwifery Education, Joni Dawning, Oregon
  • Preceptor, Anita Rojas, Eugene, Oregon
  • Preceptor, Angelina Martinez Miranda, Morelos, Mexico

Board Membership

  • The Commission for the Accreditation of Birth Centers (CABC)
    Board Director
    March 2018 – February 2020
  • MamaBaby Haiti
    Current Board of Directors Vice-President
    2010 – 2025