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Bastyr University’s Department of Midwifery now offers a Master of Science in Midwifery!
Seattle Midwifery School has been educating childbirth professionals for more than 30 years. Our well-known, rigorous midwifery training program, founded in 1978, is the oldest direct-entry midwifery program in the country.
In the late 1980's, with the help of experts in the field of childbirth, we began developing a series of premier birth doula, postpartum doula, childbirth educator, lactation education training courses for our Doula and Extension Education Program that draw participants from across North America to our lovely retreat-like campus. In spring of 2008, in honor of childbirth pioneer and faculty member Penny Simkin, we announced the renaming of the Doula and Extension Education Program to the Simkin School for Allied Birth Vocations.
The nation’s first regionally accredited, articulated direct-entry Master of Science degree in Midwifery is now available through Bastyr University’s Department of Midwifery. Click here for details>
The midwifery program has a faculty position available.
Click here for information>
June 19, 2010 was our last graduation on this campus and in the midwifery certificate program. The event was touching and very beautiful, as always. We graduated 8 more midwives to go out into the world and offer the very best maternity care available.
Click here to find out where our grads are headed.
Please visit our "How To Apply" page for information.
In honor of Suzy Myers and Jo Anne Myers-Ciecko, two of the many phenomenal women whose gifts and talents have been the foundation of this school, we are proud to announce the creation of the Myers Midwifery Scholarship Fund. For more information about this scholarship fund click here.
Looking for our Open House date? We are in the process of moving to our new location on the Bastyr campus and will post the next Open House date as soon as it is scheduled.
Please contact our Admissions Specialist. Visit our Midwifery Education pages for lots of information and frequently-asked questions.
Christian Midwives International Annual Conference
August 30-September 2, 2010 - Myrtle Beach, SC. More information>
Bringing Baby Home Certification Training
September 17th-19th, 2010 - Seattle, WA. More information>
2010 AWHONN Convention
September 25-29, 2010 Las Vegas, NV. More information>
Midwifery Today Conference: Birth Is a Human Rights Issue
September 29 - October 3, 2010 Strasberg, France. More information>
50th Anniversary Mega Conference
Lamaze & ICEA Together! Uniting for the Future of Birth
September 30 - October 3, 2010 Milwaukee, WI. More information>
Miles for Midwives: Family Fun Run/Walk to benefit Washington Licensed Midwives and Nurse Midwives
October 9, 2010, Seattle, WA. More information>
The Midwives Alliance of North American 2010 Conference
October 14-17, 2010 Nashville, TN. More information>
La Leche League of Washington Area Conference
October 15-17, 2010 - Redmond, WA. More information>
See the Events Calendar for more events
Seattle Woman Article - "The Doula Business" - Check out this article on doulas by former SMS Executive Director, Cheryl Murfin. Includes an interview with Simkin Center faculty, Penny Simkin. (4/28/10)
"Trends and Characteristics of Home and Other Out-of-Hospital Births in the United States, 1990-2006." The report was published in early March by the CDC and covered throughout the nation including USA Today, NPR's Health Blog, a press release from The Big Push, as well as by dozens of other news outlets who ran the story. It includes demographic characteristics of out-of-hospital-birth populations, data regarding states with the greatest and fewest home births and data demonstrating significantly reduced rates of pre-term and low-birth weight in out-of-hospital-birth populations. Click here to read the full report from the CDC/National Vital Statistics.
Another great home birth study - this time from the Canadian Medical Association Journal - "Women in the planned home-birth group were significantly less likely than those who planned a midwife-attended hospital birth to have obstetric interventions." Click here to read the abstract and access the full-text pdf. (8/31/09)
The MAMA Campaign continues the work of influencing key congressional committee members about the benefits of including Certified Professional Midwives in federal Medicaid law.
2009 study from the Netherlands - the "largest study of its kind has found that for low-risk women, giving birth at home is as safe as doing so in hospital with a midwife." Read an excellent summary of the study by Bastyr faculty member, Wendy Gordon, CPM, LM (4/24/09)
