Lucinda Chiszar, LM, CPMLucinda is a California Licensed Midwife (LM) and a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM). She started going to births at home as an apprentice midwife in 1995 and also did a short internship at a birth center in 1997. Simultaneously, she spent three years studying herbal medicine. After completing her apprenticeship, she successfully challenged Seattle Midwifery School's three year accredited midwifery program and passed the California Midwifery License Exam. She obtained her license in 1998 and continued practicing in the Bay Area for many years before moving to Modesto, CA in 2006. Her continuing education includes completion of UC San Diego Extension's Certified Lactation Educator Counselor program.
Lucinda came to Modesto intending to put her midwifery career on hold while her children were still very young. At the time, the area was badly in need of a home birth midwife and on seeing our need she was persuaded to open a practice here as Big Valley Midwives. Since then she has been providing care for mothers and has attended more than 350 births in the San Joaquin Valley. She still spends the majority of her time caring for her three children and is their active supporter in their academics and activities. She is often found with them at basketball courts, community events, and neighborhood pools and parks. Lucinda is a member of US Masters Swimming and she enjoys swimming four mornings a week and playing outside every chance she gets. Lucinda participated in an interview with our local Modesto Bee! Read the article. |
Brooke Myung, LM, CPMBrooke is a California Licensed Midwife (LM) and a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM).
On the receiving end of maternity care in our community she learned of the serious need for informed, evidence-based, and compassionate care and was drawn to work as an advocate for childbearing families. In 2001 she trained as a doula and began attending births in area hospitals to provide labor support. She was a founding member of the Birth Alliance of Central California in 2001 and worked on the Board of Directors in several different positions over the years. She was a constant presence at Modesto’s La Leche League meetings for many years while her children were young and until she began homeschooling. She homeschooled her three children for their early years of education, even homeschooling two while working part time, until they transitioned into public schools. When Lucinda moved to Modesto, Brooke was one of the most excited people to meet her. Brooke has been an essential part of Big Valley Midwives since it opened in 2006. She did on-call childcare, administrative support and insurance billing for years on her way to becoming a midwifery student. In 2012, Brooke began attending births and midwifery care visits for clinical training as an apprentice midwife completing the National College of Midwifery ASM program. After completing the program and passing the licensing exam, Brooke was granted a Midwifery License by the California Medical Board in June of 2017. She also completed a course as a Certified Lactation Educator in August of 2017. |
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