SHARON POTTEIGER, LM, CPM

As a small child, both my grandmothers were Ob nurses … and I have amazing memories of them drinking tea and discussing birth while I played with my dolls at their feet. Little did I realize the impact they were having on me.

I found my life’s calling after attending my first home birth in Santa Cruz when I was 18 years old. In the years that followed, I attended births in whatever capacity was needed. First, I provided childcare and served as a doula. Soon after, I found myself “catching babies.” (Including one in a Grateful Dead show parking lot!)

I have been licensed by the California medical board since 2009, and have a thriving midwifery practice. I draw on my many years of practice and study of midwifery, herbs, homeopathy, aromatherapy acupressure, massage and — last but not least — motherhood.

KARA O’LOUGHLIN, LM, CPM

I began my midwifery training in Ireland in 2006, working in Trinity College Dublin and the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital. My work at Coombe was especially demanding, as it is the busiest maternity hospital in Europe … delivering more than 10,000 babies a year.

Through this rigorous and fast-paced working environment, I gained experience attending a diverse population of women. My passion for midwifery remained firmly in the ethos of home birth.

After graduation as a Registered Midwife in 2012, I immigrated to the US, where I gained the out of hospital experience necessary to qualify as a California Licensed Midwife. I have attended over 90 out of hospital births as the primary midwife and over 200 as a midwife on the labor ward.

Through my previous qualification and experience as an acupuncturist I combine my knowledge of Chinese medicine with my midwifery training to provide an integrative approach to the health and wellbeing of my clients.

I am accredited by the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) and California Medical Board.

MARIA RAMOS, CNM

Growing up I never imagined I could or would be a midwife. It wasn’t until I met a local homebirth midwife during my undergraduate studies at UCSC that I learned it was possible to become a midwife. I felt at home being around midwives, birth, and families. Yet I did not embark upon this midwifery journey until my daughter Naiya was a toddler.

My hospital birthing experience informed my decision to pursue nursing midwifery. I realized that to be a better advocate for this sacred time in women’s lives, I needed to be available in all settings. I recently graduated from the UCSF Certified Nurse Midwifery and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner Program.

With my background in social work and social justice and my traditional birthing knowledge, my vision is to provide culturally relevant empowered care.