Nicole Havelka, CPM, Practice Manager
I began my journey into birth work after the home birth of my youngest child. I didn’t want to walk away from this incredible community that I had found, I wanted to be a part of the community and help other families feel as supported as I had in my last pregnancy. With the guidance of my midwife I enrolled in my first doula training, and my six week old baby and I were off!
In the following 10 years I learned and navigated the roles of birth and postpartum doula, breastfeeding peer counselor, community advocate, home birth assistant, placenta encapsulation specialist and student midwife. As a student midwife I completed a clinical apprenticeship and nationally accredited and internationally approved academic course of study at National Midwifery Institute to become eligible to sit for the credentialing exam to become a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM). I sat for and passed the CPM credentialing exam on July 19, 2021, earning the title Certified Professional Midwife from the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM).
As a CPM I utilize my midwifery training and expertise in low risk, normal pregnancy and birth to support all clients. My philosophy of midwifery care encompasses holistic, individualized, hands-on care before, during, and after birth. Midwives are healthcare professionals specializing in the childbearing years who develop deep and trusting relationships with their clients. Midwives provide comprehensive well person and perinatal care and education, guide labor and birth, address complications, and care for newborns. High-touch, low tech midwifery care has been proven to reduce the incidence of birth injury, trauma, and cesarean section for birthing individuals and their support people. Well person care with community midwives has been reported as much more comfortable than when received in medical gynecological settings.
After three years of independent practice providing perinatal consultation and support to families in Southeast North Carolina, I am beyond excited to join the Bear Root Midwifery Family as practice manager and support staff. Belinda and I share similar practice values around continuity of care, active listening, supporting clients where they are are encouraging them to dig deeper to meet their goals, safety, and integrity, making us an exciting team of midwives with skill sets and areas of expertise that compliment each other. Our clients will benefit from a practice focused on the client as the individual, as well as on building a community of support with families in Southeast NC.
