Our Philosophy
The midwives of Comadres Midwifery Services are committed to establishing midwifery care as the standard of care for pregnancy and birth as well as for all of women's life cycles. Thus we serve families of all kinds, women of all ages and provide comprehensive homebirth services, well-woman care and personalized postpartum care. We believe in client centered healthcare as a basic human right and strive to partner with our clients in making informed healthcare choices.
We believe in the childbearing period as an exciting time that provides an opportunity for transformation on both personal and spiritual planes. We aim to support you as you create the birth experience that is right for you and your family.
Birth at home offers you preventative and individualized care, autonomy, privacy, and the undivided attention of your care providers.
Homebirth is a safe option for low-risk pregnancies.
Who We Are
SHIELA VANDERVEER, CPM, LM
Shiela has a B.A in Women's Studies and came to midwifery through a fifteen year long background of advocating for women's health on political, social and clinical levels. She became a licensed childbirth educator and doula in 1999 and has been attending births ever since.
Shiela believes in midwifery care as an essential part of creating a more peaceful world.
She received her midwifery training through the National College of Midwifery and the Northern New Mexico Midwifery Center in Taos, New Mexico. During her time as an apprentice midwife, Shiela began The Gatekeepers Fund, a small nonprofit dedicated to advancing the midwifery model of care through community outreach and education.
Through the Gatekeepers Fund, She has provided midwifery care in areas of need such as post-Katrina New Orleans and in Anapra; a barrio of Jaurez, Mexico.
Comadres Midwifery Services and the Gatekeepers Fund are located in the Bay Area of California
Shiela works with a variety of community midwives
and as part of her commitment to traditional midwifery training, there will be
apprentices as part of your care.
oooMarinna Hansen, Full Time Apprentice ooooooooEsther Antonelli Schmidt, Apprentice
Lindsey (midwife in Wisconsin), Shiela & Sheri (midwife
in New Mexico)
Photo from our time in New Orleans providing midwifery care to the women and children of post-Katrina New Orleans.
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