Jamie L Hatcher, CNM
I am a Certified Nurse Midwife with a broad range of experience in hospital, birth center and home birth settings. Originally from Montana, I earned my first baccalaureate degree in Health & Human Development from Montana State University. After serving as health volunteer in the Peace Corps, I went on to earn a second baccalaureate degree in nursing from Johns Hopkins University, and then completed a collaborative Masters program in Nurse Midwifery from Johns Hopkins and Shenandoah Universities.
My journey to midwifery was a bit of a winding path, but it most likely started when I found Frederick LeBoyer’s Birth Without Violence at a yard sale. I read the book cover to cover and started telling people how babies should be born! Growing up in Montana in the 90’s, I had limited exposure to the field of midwifery and wasn’t sure I wanted to pursue a medical degree. So I meandered through college learning bits and pieces about birth, but never quite connecting the dots.
After graduating I joined the Peace Corps where I served in Madagascar for 2 years teaching women in a rural village about health & family planning. Seeing how even simple knowledge empowered the women of my village had a powerful impact on me, and I knew I wanted to continue to serve women directly. This desire eventually led me to nursing school where I also joined a volunteer doula program. During the doula training we watched The Business of Being Born which led to my “aha!” moment & decision to become a midwife.
I completed my nurse midwifery training in 2014. While I have worked in many settings, I always felt that my “midwife home” is outside the hospital setting, where women are allowed to trust their bodies and listen to their instincts. I believe in respect, evidence-based care and informed decision-making.
I currently live in a cute little apartment in Montrose, California with my four (!!) cats: sweet & feisty Luna, Ollie & Roo, and Bean. The moon has always held special meaning for me throughout the phases of my life. Whenever I see the moon in the sky I feel connected to the universe. The moon often represents wisdom and powerful feminine energy, and thus…
Moonrise Midwifery was born.