Merrilynn Artman, CNM, MS

Together with Boulder Women’s Care, I created Boulder Nurse Midwives in 2007 in order to offer women a Nurse-Midwifery option in Boulder County. My education includes Bachelor of Arts degrees from the University of Wisconsin in Political Science and Women’s Studies conferred in 1991. I received my Nursing Degree from Mesa State College in Grand Junction, Colorado in 1995 and then went on to complete my Master of Science in Nurse Midwifery from the University of Colorado, Health Sciences Center in 2001. I practiced for one year on the Western Slope with a private practice and have spent the past five years working for the People’s Clinic in Boulder, Colorado. I can communicate comfortably in Spanish and enjoy traveling to other countries and learning about other cultures. I have a very loving and supportive husband and two beautiful boys who I immensely enjoy mothering. Midwifery is a passion and caring for women is a privilege.

I believe the essence of midwifery is cultivated in our exchange of stories and knowledge with women, building strong trusting relationships with clients and their families through consistency, compassion and deep trust. It is an honor to “do” midwifery, and a particular pleasure to “be”- alongside women in their journey to motherhood. I am so pleased to join Bolder Nurse-Midwives and to work in collaboration with Boulder Women's Care, P.C to offer extraordinary care for childbearing women and families in the Boulder area. My husband and I relocated from Michigan to Albuquerque where I graduated from the University of New Mexico with a Bachelor of Nursing in 2003 and a Master of Science in Nursing, specializing in Nurse-Midwifery, in 2006. I have sought additional study and training in areas including herbal medicine, the medicinal use of essential oils, and Ayurveda. The birth of my son awakened me to a perspective of the birth experience that is palpable, memorable, and informs both my philosophy of care and commitment to mindfulness in work and life. When not in the company of pregnant and birthing women, I enjoy spending time in the mountains with my family, hiking or biking, or practicing yoga.

Hello all, I’m Gina Cardona, Boulder Nurse Midwives newest member. I am very excited to have joined the practice and am loving it already. It is truly a special place to be. Just like the rest of the Boulder Nurse Midwives, I am a midwestern girl. I grew up in Wisconsin and graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2004 with a Nursing and Spanish degree. In 2008 I received my masters from the University of Colorado Denver and officially became a nurse midwife. Through my experience both in and out of hospital birth centers, I have come to see how true patient-centered midwifery care can result in an empowering birth experience for a mother and family. I love traveling and my adventures have taken me to various spanish speaking countries where I've had the opportunity to learn about different birth practices and meet some amazing and inspiring midwives and doctors. It is a blessing and honor to be a part of such an intimate life event and I look forward to getting to know all of our mamas and families to be.

Hello all! I am so proud to be a midwife and honored to work with women and their families - thank you for allowing me to be a part of your journey. Originally from Minnesota, I attended the University of Wisconsin, Madison where my varied interests resulted in a double major in Kinesiology and the History of Medicine as well as a minor in Women's Studies. It was there that I was introduced to midwives and their model of care. After a study abroad program in the Dominican Republic, several jobs and volunteer opportunities, and an internship with a home birth midwife, I felt a strong call to become a midwife myself. I went to the Yale School of Nursing for my formal education in nursing and midwifery, while also working as a nurse in a Community Health Center. As a newcomer to Boulder, I enjoy exploring the area and getting to know this beautiful community on the trails and at the farmers' markets. I feel very fortunate to be a part of the Boulder Nurse Midwives team and look forward to meeting you soon!

Welcome to this wonderful model of care! I am so happy that you are becoming part of the Boulder Nurse-Midwives family. I am happy to be a part of this organization that sees birth as a normal event that should be surrounded by supportive family, friends and practitioners.

My initial career involved almost 15 years of counseling women and children survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence. While I loved that work, over time I had difficulty releasing all of the daily trauma I was hearing. When I became pregnant with my daughter, my wonderful midwife helped me to see that I could start to make a difference earlier in the lives of women and their children. So I began the long path to becoming a midwife through prerequisites, nursing school and midwifery school. My path took me across the country: from Davis, California to Atlanta, Georgia, and culminating in Denver, Colorado. I graduated from U.C. Denver as a midwife in August 2010 and worked at a free-standing birth center for a year.

I have 2 children, Abi and Oli, who were both born into the water and caught by midwives: one at a hospital and one at home. I had 2 doulas for my daughter¿s birth and then became a practicing doula myself for 2 years. I found being pregnant and birthing my children as a very magical time that helped me see how powerful we can be as women. I also have an amazing and supportive husband, Chris, who wears with pride his ¿married to a midwife¿ shirt. He continues to be supportive as I continue to path towards a Ph.D. where I hope to be able to contribute to the research surrounding waterbirth.

I feel honored to be a part of this process with you.

One doesn't choose to be a midwife, rather it is a calling that envelopes one's being.

After the birth of my first son - with the guidance of a wonderful midwife - that calling resonated within. My initial education as a licensed midwife allowed me to train with many extraordinary midwives. During that period, I also had the opportunity to study Chinese medicine and acupuncture. Blending Chinese medicine with midwifery has given me many tools to empower women during their pregnancies, holistically facilitating health and balance. When you heal the mother, the family heals as well.

A decade after my initial training I returned to school to further my education with a masters degree in nursing and midwifery. Whether working with families in Colorado, New Mexico, Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador or Jamaica, this is a magical journey and I am honored to walk the path of conscious pregnancy with you. Much gratitude to my family for all their support over the years. When I am not catching babies you may find me hiking, cycling, practicing yoga, swimming, gardening or knitting.

As a Certified Nurse Midwife and Women's Health Nurse-Practitioner for 8 years, I have been privileged to give full-scope midwifery care in diverse settings from freestanding birth centers to high-risk labor and delivery units, where I have delivered babies from New York to Washington, and Tennessee to Guatemala.  I taught at Vanderbilt Medical School and am nearing my fifth year at Frontier Nursing University where I now teach pharmacology and clinical skills to nurse-midwifery and nurse-practitioner students.  As a graduate of the University of Virginia, and with master's degrees in nursing from Case Western Reserve and Frontier Nursing University, I enjoy helping new midwives prepare for their national certification exams. I also contribute publications and peer reviews for my profession's evidence-based journal. In my free time I swim, cycle, dance, meditate, enjoy my friends and the mountains, and spend time with my family.

At this sacred time in your life, as your pregnancy develops and your baby grows, and you move through labor and birth, we will make new discoveries together - about you and your family, your body, your health, your needs, and the people who are with you at this special time.  You may feel a range of emotions from vulnerability to empowerment, and face challenges that will test and reward you. We will share this with you and give you support as you bring your child into this world.

I consider myself very privileged to be a part of this unique and special practice at Boulder Nurse Midwives, where, as a midwife, I will use my skills, compassion, and knowledge to support you and provide you with care, information, and tools to help give you a safe and deeply satisfying experience.