Supportive and Personal: Meet Midwife Jen Pia
The midwives at Columbia Birth Center are dedicated professionals and some of the most skilled practitioners in the field. Their expertise shines through in the unique care they provide our clients, as highlighted in our previous feature on Sierra Orr’s journey into midwifery.
This month, we’re sharing an interview with Jen Pia, a licensed midwife here at Columbia Birth Center.
Jen's approach to midwifery is marked by patience, watchfulness, and deep respect for families and babies. With a passion for staying updated on the latest advancements and a heartfelt commitment to creating a nurturing and supportive environment, Jen embodies the essence of compassionate care.
We invited Jen to share her insights into her qualities as a midwife, her methods for staying informed on the latest practices, and what she finds most rewarding about her role. Here’s what she had to say.
Jen, what are some of the most essential qualities you possess as a midwife?
I’m patient and watchful, always attentive to the needs and well-being of families and the baby. I’m also quite geeky, which comes across in my deep love for learning and understanding the science behind midwifery.
I’ll add that respect is another cornerstone of my care as a midwife. I hold the experiences and decisions of families and babies in the highest regard, ensuring they feel valued and supported throughout the process.
You mentioned your love of learning. How do you stay updated on the latest practices and advancements in midwifery and maternal health?
I take every opportunity to learn new things through extensive reading, listening to podcasts, or following expert blogs. These resources provide clinical updates, new studies, and evidence-based recommendations in obstetric care. I also really enjoy being a resource for the most up-to-date, evidence-based information and ensuring that the care I provide is grounded in the latest research and best practices.
What part of your job do you enjoy the most?
I got into midwifery because I love babies. Babies should be treated with tenderness, love, and respect from the moment they are born. It's gratifying to be there to create a nurturing space for families. I think my only shot at changing the world is contributing love, peace, and respect to someone right from the start of their life. Supporting families during such a special and transformative time is a profound honor
How have you seen Columbia Birth Center, as a whole, support and empower families during pregnancy and childbirth?
We share comprehensive information with families, enabling them to make informed decisions throughout their care. We discuss every choice, test, and procedure in detail—why they’re offered? What alternatives exist? Why might someone choose an alternative? Our goal is to support someone’s choice and ensure that no test or procedure is done without complete understanding and consent.
What would you say are the key benefits of choosing a midwife-led birth at Columbia Birth Center?
Our care is family-centered, focusing on each person’s unique journey, values, and vision for birth. Your birth is about you, not about us. We’re not about our rules, procedures, or “what’s normal for us.” Instead, we’re here to explain your choices, provide information, and support you. All our midwives have clinical skills to help if things don’t go as planned, and we’ll be honest if circumstances need more help than we can give. We’re grateful for our collaboration with amazing hospital providers who are there when we need them.
How do you ensure a supportive and personalized birth experience for each family you work with?
First, a supportive and personalized birth experience is not just about the process, it’s about you. We’ll start by getting to know each other and having open conversations. Within the first six weeks of our time together, I want you to feel known, seen, empowered, knowledgeable, able, strong, and loved.
We’ll discuss personal preferences and significant decisions, and I’ll take a lot of notes. So, by the time of birth, there’s no need for a written birth plan—unless you want one—because we already know each other so well. And I always ask before I do anything. I’ll also remind you of the decisions we’ve discussed because I don’t want anyone to forget anything, and you also have a right to change your mind about something.
While there are some things I’ll need to do because of licensing, such as listening to the baby’s heartbeat periodically in labor, so much of the journey is about individual choices. As long as I know you’re properly informed, I can respect and support various choices throughout care.
Final question, Jen. What do you want people to know about the emotional and psychological benefits of working with you throughout pregnancy and birth?
I want you to know I’m on your side, partnering with you throughout your care. There’s no need to come ready to fight for the experience you want or need because we’ll work together through every step. I’m here to walk with you, support you, help you make informed decisions, let you know what I see and think if something needs to happen, and lend my skills to you or your baby.
Come Meet Jen At Columbia Birth Center
If you want to learn more about Columbia Birth Center, give us a call and schedule a tour. We’d love to have an open conversation about your options so you can make an informed decision that is best for you.
At Columbia Birth Center, our midwives are experts in normal birth and combine traditional skills with evidence-based practices. They can help you have a natural birth and may reduce your need for intervention, drugs, and cesarean birth. All the care providers at Columbia Birth Center want you to feel empowered to have the best pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum experience possible. By choosing a midwife-led birth at our center, you'll experience personalized care, a focus on your unique journey, and a supportive environment that respects your choices. We can’t wait to meet you and give you a tour of the center!
At Columbia Birth Center, your safety and the safety of your baby are our top priorities. If we discover you’re having a high-risk pregnancy or birth, we will refer you to high-risk providers and specialists to ensure you receive the proper care. This commitment to safety ensures the highest rates of positive maternal outcomes and gives you peace of mind.