(meet the midwife
Noel Fernandez, CPM, NHCM, WI LM
Hi there! If you are here you are likely expecting a new babe, or
thinking about growing your family...this is a sweet, exciting,
sacred time and I am honored you are taking a moment to "meet"
me here. I grew up and lived most my life in Madison, WI. It's where my
home birth practice was born and thrived for 5 sweet years. In 2022 I closed
my practice and moved to Belgium while my partner, James, grew his own career. I am
thrilled to be back in the states and to have found our new home in Westford, MA. I am so excited to connect to this new community and grow my practice here, to get back to my hearts work-walking with families as they grow, bearing witness to the incredible strength women and birthing people hold.
​
Who I am: Mama to the loveliest humans
I know, home birth midwife, doula, hiker, book nerd,
aspiring herbalist, farmer market shopper, lake lover...
​​
Why birth work?: I came to birth work through my own pregnancies and early parenting years. The midwives that cared for me as a young teen parent opened my eyes and heart to new and gentler ways of being with myself, my babies, and the world. Midwifery care was the first time I experienced healthcare in a way that felt empowering and honoring of who I was as a human, my heart and spirit as well as my body. I felt a deep pull to this work and knew in my bones I was meant to do it. I love getting to walk alongside people and families as they grow and expand in so many ways!
Training: I feel I have taken the best parts of formal education and the traditional apprenticeship model to get to where I am today as a Licensed, Certified Professional Midwife. I spent years completing nationally recognized classes and workshops alongside my apprenticeships, learning at the sides of 5 midwives across 4 states! I feel so incredibly lucky to have had the opportunity to work in various settings across the midwest which set me up to be able to walk into a large city hospital room or an Amish family's home and feel at ease, to be able to adapt to the desires and needs of each family, no matter the setting. The families, women, birthing people, and babies I have had the privilege to care for have been my greatest teachers. I am constantly humbled by the profound wisdom each person holds within themselves, and it is an honor beyond words to be invited to witness their unique journeys. This deep sense of respect and gratitude shapes every aspect of my work. I am committed to ongoing growth and understanding, continually seeking deeper knowledge through workshops, conferences, and education.
​​
My philosophy:
At the heart of my practice is a simple belief: each individual knows what is best for themselves. I believe that we make the best decisions when we are fully informed and supported. My role is to provide that information—offering a clear understanding of all the options available, the research behind them, and then, with deep respect, supporting each person as they lead their own journey toward a safe and healthy birth.
Education, safety, love, and support—these powerful principles, in their simplicity, have the ability to transform how we navigate the world. I am committed to living and working with these values at the forefront of my practice. My deep reverence for the sacred work of growing and bringing new life into the world is what guides me every day.
​
​​
Current Certifications and Memberships include:
North American Registry of Midwives
American Red Cross CPR for Providers
Neonatal Resuscitation Program
National Association of Certified Professional Midwives
Breastfeeding Coalition of South Central WI
Out of Hospital Madison Area Midwives Association
​​
​​
​
