A look in to my journey as a student at Midwives College of Utah.

My Practice Philosophy.

As a student midwife, I believe that every birthing person deserves to be supported in their decisions and needs during their pregnancy, birth, and postpartum journey. My philosophy focuses on true autonomy of care, where the individual is empowered to make informed decisions that align with their values, preferences, and goals.

At the core of my practice, I prioritize trust and respect within the birth space. I recognize the importance of creating an environment where the individual feels safe and heard, and where their unique needs and experiences are acknowledged and validated. This requires active listening, open communication, and a deep understanding of their cultural background, beliefs, and experiences.

In addition to promoting autonomy and trust, I also prioritize evidence-based practice and continuous learning. As a student midwife, it is my responsibility to stay up-to-date with the latest research and provide the individual with accurate, unbiased information to support their decision-making process.

I am committed to providing holistic and personalized care that addresses the individual's physical, mental, and emotional well-being. This includes creating a care plan that aligns with their values and preferences, providing education and resources that empower them to make informed decisions, and supporting their emotional needs before, during, and after birth.

Overall, my philosophy prioritizes the individual's autonomy, trust, respect, evidence-based practice, continuous learning, and holistic care. I believe that by promoting these values, I can help create a positive and empowering birth experience for every individual and their family.

Meet Lauren.

I’m a student midwife at Midwives College of Utah, with plans to complete my coursework in December 2026. Before beginning my journey into midwifery, I worked as a doula and birth photographer, experiences that deepened my love for supporting families through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.

Throughout my time at MCU, I have been working under Encompass Midwifery, a home birth practice located in Rock Island, IL. I have learned not only clinical skills, but also relational and professional skills as well to prepare me for opening my own practice.

Learn more about Lauren
See Lauren's Resumé
 

I live in Granville, IL and will be serving the surrounding areas when I open Sonder Midwifery.

The Illinois Valley area is in a health care desert with only one hospital with maternity care services and no community birth midwives in approximately an hour radius. I am hopeful to help serve many in our area that is in desperate need of care.

What People Are Saying

Lauren was a fantastic midwife at my birth. She encouraged me to breathe down my baby, to feel his head slowly coming out. She kept me calm and focused after birthing my baby, allowing me to receive the active management with tinctures and Pitocin that I needed. When my big kids woke up to meet their new brother, she was patient and explained all 8 million answers to their 8 million questions. Lauren has been patient, kind, and thoughtful as my midwife and I would happily have another baby with her if I became pregnant again. Nothing went wrong, but I did feel that if things got scary, my birth team would have it under control. I felt safe, and truly, what more could a laboring mother ask for? -M.P.

Photo Credit: Liz Walsh Photography
Shared with client permission

I’m about halfway through my pregnancy and Lauren has been a great midwife for me. She listens, she is truly attentive and informative. She goes above and beyond to make sure pregnancy is enjoyable and safe for me and baby. She helps with personalized care based on my unique case and advises me on caring for my body from a wholistic perspective. She is patient with questions and does not rush appointments. She has been all around great so far and I’m excited for her to attend my birth! -L.C.

Photo Credit: Liz Walsh Photography
Photo not depicting client from review

Coursework
Phase 1
Phase 2
Phase 3
Practice Guidelines
Practice Documents

  • Goal #1:‍ ‍A midwife of technical expertise

    The undergraduate program aims to prepare graduates to practice at the full scope of the Certified Professional Midwife credential through the demonstration of broad, integrative, and specialized knowledge.

    Goal #2:‍ A midwife of professional excellence

    The undergraduate program aims to advance equity and access in midwifery, as well as to prepare graduates to serve in diverse communities in culturally safe, ethical, and collaborative ways.

    Goal #3: A midwife of personal greatness

    The undergraduate program aims to prepare graduates for reflective practice and a perpetual commitment to advancing quality and professional direct-entry midwifery.

    See the full description of MCU’s Institutional and Program Goals here.

  • 1. Be more present with my family

    One of my personal goals is to be more intentional about separating school and work from family time. Balancing school, clinicals, work, and family has been challenging, and I want to make sure I am still fully present for the people who are most important to me. I have made progress by becoming more aware of when I need to set boundaries and step away from work.

    2. Make more time for myself

    I want to become better at making time for things that I enjoy and that help me recharge, rather than always focusing on what needs to be accomplished next. This has been difficult during a busy season of school, clinical training, and 3 kids, but I am becoming more intentional about recognizing my own needs and creating space for them.

    3. Become more confident in myself

    A personal goal throughout school has been developing greater confidence in myself and my abilities. I have made significant progress as I have taken on more responsibility and accomplished things that once felt intimidating. I want to continue trusting myself and recognizing how much I have grown.

  • 1. Successfully complete my midwifery program

    My primary academic goal is, of course, to complete my remaining coursework and clinical requirements and graduate prepared for independent practice. I have made substantial progress and am now applying knowledge from courses such as the complications classes, pharmacology, and experiences in my clinical placement.

    2. Strengthen my research and evidence-evaluation skills

    I want to continue improving my ability to find, evaluate, and apply research to clinical care. My research coursework and preeclampsia project for the Independent Studies courses have helped me make significant progress by requiring me to evaluate studies and translate evidence into practical clinical information.

    3. Continue connecting academic knowledge to clinical practice

    My goal is to move beyond memorizing information and become more confident applying what I have learned to real situations. Phase 3 has helped me integrate knowledge from multiple courses when assessing clients, developing plans, and making recommendations.

  • 1. Successfully establish my own midwifery practice

    My primary professional goal is to transition into independent practice after completing school and obtaining licensure. I have already made progress by developing my practice structure, policies, resources, and systems and have clients I am beginning to see prenatally under my preceptor’s supervision who will give birth in my practice.

    2. Become a confident independent clinical decision-maker

    I want to be able to assess situations, develop treatment plans, and make recommendations based on my own clinical knowledge rather than first wondering what another provider would do. My clinical training and coursework in complications, pharmacology, and clinical skills have helped me become increasingly independent in this area.

    3. Contribute to the midwifery profession

    Long-term, I would like to contribute to midwifery beyond caring for my own clients through education, research, and resource development. My preeclampsia project has been an important first step by allowing me to identify a clinical need and work toward creating a practical resource for other providers. I also want to get back to hosting workshops, classes, and other events for both professionals and the community as I did this frequently before school.