Heather LeMaster, L.M., C.P.M.

Heather LeMaster is a Licensed Midwife and Certified Professional Midwife. She has received special training in Birth Emergency Skills Training for Out-of-Hospital Providers (B.E.S.T.) and Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics (ALSO).  She is also a VBAC Facts^® Professional, Peanut Ball Trainer, and Spinning Babies^® Aware Practitioner (SpBAP). She incorporates this knowledge into her midwifery practice where she provides evidence-based, informed care to all her clients.

She began her birthwork in supporting pregnant families as a DONA certified doula in 2003. She also provided postpartum doula services. She worked closely with families, listening to their choices, providing information and community resources unique to their postpartum period. She provided emotional support, physical comfort and open communication to ensure that each family could make informed decisions during labor. Her goal was assisting all families to have a smooth transition into parenthood.

Heather began her Midwifery education in a hands-on apprenticeship in 2006, joined Nizhoni Institute of Midwifery in San Diego in 2007. After graduating in 2010, she continued to build her experience working part-time at a local birth center until her own practice was well established.  She later joined her mother Gerri Ryan, LM, to form the San Diego County Midwives practice.  Gerri now serves as a consulting midwife, and Heather practices solo at San Diego County Midwives with one or two fellow midwives assisting at births.

She developed and administered the clinical Skills & Drills^© program for students at Nizhoni Institute of Midwifery from 2011 – 2017. While serving as Clinical Education Leader, she created opportunities for student midwives to obtain their clinical experience on a monthly basis. This crucial component of midwifery education enabled student midwives to develop and perfect the skills necessary to work with midwives in their communities. These skills were then enhanced throughout their educational process. She spent approximately 3000 hours with over 50 students. She continues to be an approved Preceptor with NARM and MEAC.

Heather adheres to the Black Midwives Care Model, which respects racial identity and incorporates cultural elements with the goal of better serving the birthing community.

Mission

“I’ll be honest and say that at first I had no intention of becoming a midwife. I was a single mother and as a birth and postpartum Doula, I just could not envision my life as a midwife. But, as a doula, I got tired of seeing and hearing the inaccuracies families were being told in the normal institutional setting. After my own amazing water birth at home with true midwives, I knew that this was my calling.

The care I received was impartial and completely personalized, which was NOT what I experienced from my care in a large institutional care setting even with midwives. I truly appreciated the personalized care that addressed my background growing up being of mixed race.

The gift of life never ceases to amaze me. I believe that parents are empowered when they come into care with a midwife because she views them as a unique family. Families choosing home birth often feel they are going against the norm. They have to build their confidence in their own body, their goals and desires, and the knowledge that they are the true manager of their care—after all, women know their bodies better than any care provider ever will.

My goal is to encourage and support that empowerment. Every family deserves to have great care. I truly believe that birth is sacred, natural and one of the most special times in life.”

Memberships and Certifications

Peanut Ball Trainer

Spinning Babies^® Aware Practitioner

VBAC Facts^® Professional

Sista Midwife: BLACK Midwives and Doulas Directory (profile)