Janette Gyesky, CPM, LDM

I started my path to midwifery in the early 90’s when I apprenticed with a lay midwife in California.  From there I was hooked.  Watching women go through the childbirth process in a healthy, educated and empowering way has since become my life’s passion.

After California, I apprenticed with a midwife in New Zealand, a country where midwives attend over 70% of the births.  I returned to the states after a year and became a certified birth and postpartum doula and worked as a counselor for a teen pregnancy program in south Seattle.  My passion grew as I worked more with women.  It was during this time that I desired a more formal education and practical skills in midwifery. 

In 2001, I enrolled in Seattle Midwifery School (SMS).  SMS is a rigorous, three-year academic and clinical midwifery education program that meets or exceeds all requirements in the states of Oregon and Washington.  Students are required to attend 100 births in hospital, home and birth center settings in order to graduate. While at SMS, I apprenticed with four busy Seattle practices and worked in a hospital on the South Pacific island of Vanuatu, where I delivered over 50 babies. 

In 2004, I graduated from Seattle Midwifery School and passed the NARM (North American Registry of Midwives) Exam and the Washington State Exam. Over the past two years I have worked as an independent licensed midwife and enjoyed every minute of it.  I am a member of the Midwives’ Association of Washington State, the Midwives Alliance of North America and, in the past year, I have taught student midwives at the Seattle Midwifery School.

My husband and I moved here after we fell in love with the community and surrounding nature of Bend. I am excited to work with and provide opportunities to women in this community. Every day, I feel fortunate that the journey of my passion is also the journey of my vocation as a midwife.