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, Dexter and Jackson, Michigan (previously 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

Equity in Midwifery Education
Sex and Midwifery, Oh My! Creating a Gender Affirming Community
HIVE CE
Instructor: Indra Wood Lusero, Esq
Hours Earned: 1.5 CEUs
Date Completed: December 28, 2025

Foundational Pharmacology
HIVE CE
Instructor: Holly Scholles, MA, CPM
Hours Earned: 2 CEUs
Date Completed: December 28, 2025

Michigan Midwife Newborn Screening Conference
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
Location: Lansing, Michigan
Hours Earned: 5.24 CEUs
Date Completed: September 30, 2025

Basic Life Support (CPR and AED)
American Heart Association
Training Provider: Ann Arbor Heart CPR Training
Instructor: Shawn Marie Arent
Date Completed: February 2025

Midwifery Led Resuscitation Training
Neonatal Resuscitation Program NRP Advanced Provider
AABC and Midwives Untethered
Instructor: Julie Moon
Hours Earned: 12 hours
Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan
Date Completed: January 2025

Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine Herbal Immersion Program
Total Program Hours: 1200 hours
Status: Student
Dates: 2024 to present

2024

Breech Pro
Breech Proficiency for Birth Professionals
Breech Without Borders School
Hours Earned: 14.5 hours
Date Completed: September 2024
Format: Online

Breech Workshop
Simulations, Video Analysis, and Clinical Scenarios
Instructor: Kristine Lauria, CPM
Breech Without Borders
Hours Earned: 9 hours
Date Completed: September 14, 2024
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan

Breech and Twins Master Class
Instructor: Kristine Lauria, CPM
Breech Without Borders
Hours Earned: 7 hours
Date Completed: September 15, 2025
Location: 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

Implicit Bias in Healthcare
Cultural Intelligence Center
Hours Earned: 2 hours
Date Completed: December 2023

Addressing Human Trafficking in Healthcare Settings
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
Hours Earned: 12 hours
Date Completed: January 2023

2022

Basic Life Support CPR and AED BLS Provider
American Heart Association
Training Provider: Ann Arbor Heart CPR Training
Instructor: Shawn Marie Arent
Date Completed: November 2022

Michigan Newborn Screening
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
Hours Earned: 12 hours
Date Completed: 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, MD
Location: Port au Prince, Haiti
Date Completed: 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

Preceptors as Educators Strengthening the CPM Credential
Association of Midwifery Educators

Part 1 Preceptors as Providers of Essential Midwifery Education
Hours Earned: 1.5 hours

Part 2 Creating a Successful Preceptorship The Essential Elements
Hours Earned: 1 hour

Part 3 Precepting Teaching and Meeting Challenges
Hours Earned: 1.5 hours

Part 4 Ethics and the Preceptor Student Relationship
Hours Earned: 1.5 hours

Part 5 Inclusion and Cultural Awareness
Hours Earned: 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

Mamalates Method for Birth Recovery
Trainer: Wendy Foster
Location: Portland, Oregon
Hours Earned: 12 hours
Date Completed: June 2015

2014

American Association of Naturopathic Midwives Conference
AANM
Location: Portland, Oregon
Date Completed: April 26, 2014

Assessing for Critical Heart Disease in Newborns
Instructor: John Evered, MD
Hours Earned: 2 hours OB CE

The Clinical Management of Hypothyroidism in Pregnancy
Instructor: Jennifer Gibbons, ND
Hours Earned: 1.5 hours OB CE

The Ethics of Prenatal Testing
Instructor: Erica Peirson, ND
Hours Earned: 2 hours Ethics CE

Newborn Hearing Screening The Standard of Care
Instructors: Shelby Atwill, AuD, Heather Morrow Almeida, MPH, and Helen Cotton Leiser
Hours Earned: 1.5 hours OB CE

Nitrous Oxide Training
Location: Portland, Oregon
Date Completed: July 31, 2014

2013

Suturing in a Real Midwifery Practice

Suturing First and Second Degree Repair
Date Completed: January 25, 2013

Suturing Part Two
Third and Fourth Degree Repair and Intrapartum Fetal Assessment for Midwives
Date Completed: January 26, 2013

Instructor: Lynn Arnold, CPM
Location: Casa de Nacimento, Portland, Oregon

Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics
Institution: University of California San Diego
Location: San Diego, California
Hours Earned: 14 credit hours
Date Completed: July 1 and 2, 2013

EFM Advanced Concepts Review
Instructor: Lisa Miller, CNM
Location: Flushing, New York
Date Completed: September 17 and 18, 2013

Biodynamic Resuscitation of the Newborn
BRN and NRP
Date Completed: October 18, 2013

Healthcare Provider BLS CPR and AED
Institution: Birthingway College of Midwifery
Location: Portland, Oregon
Date Completed: October 18, 2013

Midwives Alliance of North America Conference
Location: Portland, Oregon

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 and 27, 2013

2012

Biodynamic Resuscitation of the Newborn BRN NRP
Institution: Birthingway College of Midwifery
Location: Portland, Oregon
Date Completed: 2012

Healthcare Provider BLS CPR and 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, and Early Miscarriage
Hours Earned: 3 hours
Date Completed: November 10, 2012

2011

Midwifery Today Conference
Location: Eugene, Oregon
Hours Earned: 16.5 CEUs
Date Completed: March 30 to April 3, 2011

Conference Sessions Included

Gentle Birth Is a Human Rights Issue
Hours Earned: 0.15

Working in the Developing World
Hours Earned: 0.15

Mexican Techniques for Postpartum
Hours Earned: 0.15

Human Rights of the Baby
Hours Earned: 0.15

Wisdom and Tenacity in Midwifery
Hours Earned: 0.1

Models That Work
Hours Earned: 0.2

International Issues in Midwifery and Birth
Hours Earned: 0.1

Starting and Running a Birth Center
Hours Earned: 0.15

Adoption and the Midwife
Hours Earned: 0.05

Skilled Midwifery Is a Human Rights Issue

21st Century Clinical Nutrition
Institution: Standard Process
Location: Tigard, Oregon
Hours Earned: 12 hours
Date Completed: April 16 and 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, 2011

2011 NARM CPM Survey
Hours Earned: 5 hours
Date Completed: October 18, 2011

Legend Drugs and Devices Renewal
Institution: Birthingway College of Midwifery
Location: Portland, Oregon
Hours Earned: 8.5 hours
Date Completed: October 19, 2011

2010

VBAC
Organization: Oregon Midwifery Council
Hours Earned: 3 hours
Date Completed: April 30, 2010

Healthcare Provider BLS CPR and AED
Institution: American Heart Association
Location: Birthingway College of Midwifery
Location: Portland, Oregon
Date Completed: May 2010

Neonatal Resuscitation
Location: Birthingway College of Midwifery
Location: Portland, Oregon
Date Completed: May 7, 2010

Preeclampsia and Toxemia
Organization: Oregon Midwifery Council
Hours Earned: 3 hours
Date Completed: May 28, 2010

Medscape CMEs
Date Completed: Various dates in 2010

2009

Midwifery Today Conference
Location: Eugene, Oregon
Hours Earned: 34 hours
Date Completed: March 11 to 15, 2009

Conference Sessions Included

Midwifery Skills Development
Hours Earned: 6.75 hours

Massage Techniques for Pregnancy and Birth
Hours Earned: 7 hours

International Issues
Hours Earned: 1 hour

Nurturing a Better Future Through Birth
Hours Earned: 1 hour

Protecting Normal Birth
Hours Earned: 0.5 hour

The First Hour After Birth
Hours Earned: 0.5 hour

Early Childhood Influences on Women’s Childbearing
Hours Earned: 1 hour

Birthing Bodywork for the Pelvis
Hours Earned: 1.5 hours

Birth Around the World
Hours Earned: 1 hour

Womb Dance Circle of Life
Hours Earned: 1 hour

Tricks to the Trade
Hours Earned: 2 hours

Offering Hope Maternal Death
Hours Earned: 1 hour

Issues of Race in Caring Professions
Hours Earned: 1 hour

Midwives Purpose and Power
Hours Earned: 1 hour

Mexican Techniques for Labor and Birth
Hours Earned: 1 hour

Hands Our Treasured Tools
Hours Earned: 2 hours

Round Tables Midwives Are the Future

Sisters Sharing Wisdom A Midwives Gathering
Organization: Oregon Midwifery Council
Hours Earned: 3 hours
Date Completed: June 26, 2009

Peer Review
Organization: Oregon Midwifery Council
Hours Earned: 3 hours
Date Completed: December 4, 2009

Medscape CMEs
Date Completed: Various dates in 2009

2008

Legend Drugs and Devices Initial Education
Institution: Birthingway College of Midwifery
Location: Portland, Oregon
Hours Earned: 34.5 hours
Date Completed: August 21 to 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