Nicole Donovan, CPM, LM

"My passion to be with women who choose an unmedicated childbirth began after the unmedicated birth of my daughter 12 years ago. It was such a dynamically different experience from the medicated birth of my son two years prior. The personal empowerment I experienced after my daughter's birth completely changed the prior conception I had about myself, finding an inner strength I never knew I had.

Five months later, in 1998, I took the birth doula training at Seattle Midwifery School, and began my journey in supporting women during births. In 2001, I took the postpartum doula training at Seattle Midwifery School, and began working with families after their births also. Eventually I came to realize that just being in a supporting role with families was not enough for me, and I realized my overwhelming desire was to become a midwife.

I feel often in our society the sacredness of birth and the journey into parenthood is overlooked and forgotten. I feel blessed to offer experience, guidance and support to your family in honoring this experience, in the way that feels right to you.

I hope to help you navigate your way through the journey of pregnancy, birth and early parenthood. Whether this is your first or tenth pregnancy, each journey is different, and I look forward to being with you through this process!"

Tonya Iverson, CPM, LM
I grew up in a well-educated family, the daughter of an engineer and an anthropologist. My mother was studying the anthropological side of childbirth throughout my childhood including a formative year where she was working in the labor ward of a hospital in Zagreb, Croatia (then Yugoslavia). We always had books related to childbirth in the house, and I was hooked. Through my interest and my propensity for caring for others in a respectful way, I found midwifery to be the perfect fit. I have not known more joy than that I have found since I started walking the midwifery path. One of my favorite parts of caring for women is in supporting them and their families as they develop as empowered women into new mothers and/or mothers of further children.

Along the way to midwifery I trained as an EMT and as a lifeguard. I completed my midwifery training through the rigorous program offered at Seattle Midwifery School. Through this I had the opportunity to precept with some of the areas most renowned midwives, which helped to shape the excellent care I am able to offer today. I currently sit on the Midwives Association of Washington State board as an active member of my professional community. I have attended births all over the King County Metro area as well as an overseas rotation in Bali, Indonesia at the birth center known as Yayasan Bumi Sehat.

Outside of my life in midwifery I am an active member of the Seattle Lithuanian Community including as dancer for Lietutis the folk dance group and as a volunteer for Lankas the children’s summer camp. I lead an active lifestyle that includes snowboarding, hiking, distance running and soccer that keeps me in great shape so I can offer the best care possible to the women I care for.

Midwives Oath:
As a midwife, I uphold the following guiding principles:

To work in partnership with women, respecting the dignity and rights of the women I work with, recognizing that the most important determinant of a healthy pregnancy is the mother herself.

To support women to make informed choices and take responsibility for their own well-being.

To understand that childbearing is primarily a personal and community event; a normal process that involves physical, emotional and spiritual factors.

To facilitate these normal processes utilizing a holistic approach, recognizing that each pregnancy and birth is unique.

I believe that midwifery care represents an important resource for improving the health of mothers, babies and families.

I am dedicated to the development and advancement of the profession in North America.