Celeste Kersey, LDM, CPM is the primary midwife at Full
Moon Midwifery.
She is a Licensed Midwife (LDM) in
the
State of
Oregon and a Certified
Professional Midwife (CPM) through the
North American Registry of Midwives.
Celeste is currently on the faculty of
Birthingway
College of Midwifery.
Celeste is assisted by a variety of
experienced, dependable midwives in the area. She believes in the
apprenticeship model of learning and will often include an apprentice
(student midwife) in the birth team.
Celeste began attending births in
1993 while living in Detroit, Michigan. Her interest in midwifery began
after her own homebirth there. Her experience, while incredibly empowering,
was emotionally and physically difficult. She attributes her success at
having a homebirth to her determination, her midwives' patience and trust in
birth, and the grace of God. This birth roused in her the deep calling to
serve women in birth through traditional midwifery. When her daughter was 2
she began attending women in birth.
Celeste moved to Oregon in 1994 and
began an apprenticeship. In 1995 she enrolled in
Birthingway
College of Midwifery and graduated after completing the
curriculum and birth requirements. She has been a primary midwife since 1999.
Celeste, her husband, Jim, and their 4 children live
outside of Portland. Jim is a farmer committed to organic, sustainable
agriculture. He raises organic food for local stores and restaurants. Their
4 children, born in 1991, 1994, 1995 and 2000 were all born at home. Isaac,
the youngest, was born into Celeste's hands in a warm tub of water.
Celeste strives
to balance her family's needs and her calling to pregnant and birthing
women. She believes that this balance enhances her work as a mom and as a
midwife. Celeste's strength in finding this balance lies in her commitment
to integrity and compassion and conscious living.
