About The Midwife

   Ireena began teaching childbirth classes in LaGrange county, Indiana in 1991. Her

focus was to educate and change the options offered to women who birthed in the

hospital.  She educated families about their options providing information about

episiotomies, IV's, and other routine procedures that were being performed on them. 

She taught classes for about 10 years, with many of her classes as full as  20-25

couples in a class.  Most of the time, those couples were all Amish. Slowly changes

occurred in the county and as they did, eventually more midwives moved into the

area to practice.

Soon a free standing Amish owned birth center was built and many of the counties 

couples began to birth in this birth center instead of the local hospital. 

    About the same time, she began working at WIC as a Peer breast feeding counselor, and then began working in the local hospital as an assistant to the nurses in OB. (You have to ask her in person what else she went on to get as far as degrees due to the fact that the state of Michigan restricts her in telling you in writing). 

   Ireena began working with the local home birth midwives assisting with home births about the year the free standing birth center opened, and did that for almost 10 years.  During this time, she decided to became a midwife herself and began her training.  After researching the choices of Midwifery paths available to her, she chose to became a CPM.   She now works as a CPM-(Certified Professional Midwife), doing home births and births at a free standing birth center.                         

   She has passed two national exams, (one a written and one a hands on from NARM) receiving the internationally recognized midwifery certification CPM (Certified Professional Midwife) from the North American Registry of Midwifery (NARM). To maintain her CPM certification she is required to do the following:

                 ~Maintain her child/adult CPR certification 

                 ~Maintain her Neonatal Resuscitation certification 

                 ~Have 30 hours of continuing education every 3 years

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   Ireena has her Associates in the Science of Midwifery, graduating with honors and is a life time member of Phi Theta Kappa.  She enrolled in the Bridge Certificate program from NARM, earning her bridge certificate.

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Ireena is currently a licensed Midwife in Indiana, with the credentials CDEM, Certified Direct Entry Midwife and licensed in Michigan with the credentials LM-Licensed Midwife. 

 

She maintains her membership in the following:

IMA, (Indiana Midwives Association)

MMA (Michigan Midwives Association)

NACPM (National Association of Certified Professional Midwives)

ACBP (Association of Christian Birth Professionals).

She serves on the advisory board for ACBP and is one of the founding members. 

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Other Certifications/Workshops/Accomplishments: 

~Associates in the Applied Science of Midwifery from Wisconsin Technical College

~She has served on the board for IMA

~She has served on the board for CMI (Christian Midwives International)

~She has written numerous articles for the Midwifery Journal: Midwifery Today.

~She maintains her Neonatal Resuscitation from the American Heart Association

~She maintains her Basic Life Support (BLS/CPR) from the American Heart Association

~She is S.T.A.B.L.E. certified 

~She has taken the class from Mercy In Action Certificate in Pharmacology for Midwives

~She has taken Gail Tullys Spinning Babies and Shoulder Dystocia workshop

~She takes and successfully completes the Birth Emergency Training Training (B.E.S.T.) taught by Andrea Dixon, CNM-every three years.

~She has had numerous college classes in Health Care (4 years-ask her in person about these & degrees earned)

~Numerous workshops, conferences-attended from California to Georgia! She attends conferences yearly.

~She has taught at numerous conferences for Midwives, almost yearly for the past 15 years.

 

When not working with birthing families, teaching at a midwifery conference, hosting a midwifery conference, or writing for midwifery journals- Ireena enjoys spending time with her family and 8 grandchildren.   In her 'spare time', she enjoys photography, drawing, painting, gardening, sewing, knitting and crocheting. She is an Artist at heart and the photos below are some of her work/paintings.  Ireena is a believer of YHWH GOD-they attend a home fellowship.

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COPY RIGHT: Photos on this web site are  from Wild Rose Photos, and other photographers: Kylie, & TBA

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                                                                                 Professional CV

CREDENTIALS:

 

• CPM-2002 -current

• LM-Michigan ---from the date it first became available-current

• CDEM-Indiana-- from date it first became available-current

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AFFILIATIONS:

 

• MMA-Michigan Midwives Association

• IMA-Indiana Midwives Association

• ACBP-Association of Christian Birth Professionals

• CMI-member from 2006-2015.  This organization is no longer active.

• NACPM -Current

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PUBLICATIONS

 

The Birth Kit

• “Amish Homebirth”  Winter 2006

• “The Bridge” Fall 2007

 

Midwifery Today

• “A Surprise Breech” Issue 83 Autumn 2007

• “What Can You Do To Make Changes With Care Today” Issue 85 Spring 2008

• “The Choices We Make: Building Trust Between Midwife and Client” Issue 95 Autumn 2010

• “Birth With The Amish, A Unique Experience” Issue 97 Spring 2011

 

CMI-Birth Life

• Winter 2009 Vol. 1 Issue 2-Plastic Cord Clamps.

• Article Written for Birth Life-vol I Issue 3, Spring-“Blogging for Midwives

• Article written for Birth Life-vol I-Issue 3, Spring-“When Mommas Bury Their Babies”

 

Birth Kit

• The Birth Kit Fall #55- “The Bridge”

• The Birth Kit, Winter #52  “An Amish Home Birth”

 

2006

• Editor for the Midwives Connection for Indiana Midwives Association

 

SPECIAL Speaking Engagements 

 

• 2012~On the panel for the “One World Birth, Freedom For Birth” Film Screening on September 20, in Kalamazoo Michigan, public library-the Van Deusen Room

 

CONFERENCES ATTENDED 

 

ACBP=Association of Christian Birth Professionals

CMI=Christian Midwives International

IMA=Indiana Midwives Association

MMA=Michigan Midwives Association

MANA=Midwives Alliance of North America 

 

• 2001-MANA- New Mexico

• 2002-MMA-Michigan, 

• 2002-IMA-Indiana 

• 2003-IMA-Indiana

• 2004-IMA -Shipshewana Indiana 

• 2005- IMA-Indiana

• 2006-IMA -Indiana Midwives Association Conference-Turkey Run State park November 17-19th.  Including CPR and NRP  renewal. 

1. Tools of the Trade 

2. Searching for Genetic Clues in the Amish Community-Dr. D. Holmes Morton, MD

3. Metabolic Screening-Marilyn Miller

4. Profiles of Genetic Disorders Found in Amish Populations-Dr. D. Holmes Morton, MD

• 2006-CMI

• 2007-CMI -Indiana; April 30th-May 1st. 

• 2007-April 11th- Bloodborne Pathogens class

• 2007-Water Birth Work shop in Goshen with Dianne Garland –April 26th

• 2007-IMA

• 2008-CMI Indiana at the Gasthof Amish Village April 30-May 3; including NRP and CPR re - certification. 

• 2008-NARM Job Analysis Survey

• 2008-IMA

• 2009-CMI-Tennessee, April 22-25th. 

1. Women's Wellness, Body, Mind and Spirit-Connie Mullen LM, CPM

2. Compassion, Fatigue, and Burnout-Connie Mullen, LM,  CPM

3. Write Right! Professional Charting for Midwives! -Edie Wells CPM, LM

4. Making Visible the Divine (part 1)-Kathy Nesper CCE, CD-DONA, President ATF

5. Experiencing Miracles: Birth Stories-Brandi Wood

6. Professions Path Decisions: What is Right? -Shonda Parker

7. Teaching Others to Take Responsibility for Their Own Healthcare -Shonda Parker

8. The Artistry of Perineal Preservation & Repair -Suturing- Carlotta Crawford CNM

9. Body Systems health:Herbal Intervention Strategies- Shonda Parker CCE, Herbalist

10. Dietary Evaluation and the Impact of Nutrient Deficiencies

• 2009-IMA Conference. 

• 2009-Peer Review: 2/18/2009 w/ IMA; 4/22/2009 With CMI; 6/25/2009 with IMA

• 2010-IMA

• 2010-CMI -Christian Midwives International Conference-Fixed on Him, Forgiven by His Grace, Finished by Him-Myrtle Beach, South Carolina-August 30th-September 2

1. CPR and NRP March 26th. 

2. Devotion and prayer

3. Cultural Issues in Childbirth-Carlotta Crawford MN, MPH, CNM

4. The Birth Environment: How it Impacts Labor and Birth –Connie Mullen LM, CP, ICCE, CPCE, CCCE

5. Forgiveness:   What it is, What it isn’t and Why It Matters-Kathy Nesper CCE, CD-DONA, President ATFM

6. Suturing-Carlotta Crawford MN, MPH, CNM

7. The Makings of a Christian Birth Worker-Barbara Lehr PhD

8. What is a Christian Birth Anyway-Kathy Nesper CCE, CD-DONA, President ATFM

9. Peer Review

10. Supporting the Sisterhood of Birth Attendants: Creating an Environment that Improves One Another and Client Care-Shonda Parker CCE, CWHE< Clinical herbalist

11. Psychosocial Aspects of Birth-Kim Brown MA

12. Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy-Jill Whitfield CNM, MSN

13. Maneuvering Shoulder Dystocia –Jill Whitfield CNM, MSN

14. Lab Work-Carlotta Crawford MN, MPH,CNM

15. The Causes of Miscarriage and Prevention Strategies –Shonda Parker CCE, CWHE, Clinical Herbalist

16. Loss, Grieving and the Midwife-Connie Mullen, LM, CP, ICCE, CPCE, CCCE

 

• 2010-Water Birth International- Doula Network of Ft Wayne Indiana, IPFW-W/ Barbara Harper 4/16/2010 Held in Ft. Wayne Indiana. 

• 2011-CMI Colorado -July 19th-22nd. 

• Classes @ CMI: 

1. Peer Review

2. Well Nourished Marriage-Dr. Pauline Dillard

3. Won't Somebody Please Hear me?- PTSD and Birth  Trauma-Dr. Pauline Dillard

4. Optimal Herbal Therapies- Shonda Parker CCE, CWHE, Clinical Herbalist

5. Risk Assessment -Brandi Wood  CPM

6. Group B Strep:Conventional and Alternative Therapy-Jill Whitfield CNM, MSN

7. Serving Up Health in Your Community -Shonda Parker CCE, CWHE, Clinical Herbalist

8. Technology in Midwifery-Brandi Wood CPM

9. Health Support for Anxiety and Depression-Kristen Benoit LM, CPM

10. New Born Exam-Catching the Curve Ball-Jill Whitfield CNM, MSN

11. HPV and RRV: Controlling the growth of this STD-Kristen Benoit LM-CPM

12. Establishing Protocols for Practice-Lori Luyten LM-CPM

13. Birth Landscapes, finding your Practice style: a Panel Discussion

• 2011-Resolving Shoulder Dystocia-with Gail Tully, Indianapolis Indiana

• 2012-~Birth Emergency Skills Training-Ft Wayne Indiana with Andra Dixon CNM, 9/8/12

• 2012-Bloodborne Pathogens Training-Chino California-10/8/12

• 2012-Body Language, and Communication and Boundaries- Debi Church-Chino California 10/8/12

• 2014~~CMI

• 2015~~CMI

• 2016~Midwifery conference in Indiana--Christian Birth Workers Conference Sept. 2016, South Bend, IN.  “A Heart of Worship”.

1. Herbs-Vs Medicines-

2. Therapeutic Pain Control Without Medications-

3. HUG Your Baby -session 1 and 2-Doreen L

4. The Michigan Midwife hearing Screening

5. Collaboration Project; A-ABR Hearing screening machines are available to

Michigan Midwives-Michigan State Hearing Coalition.  Nan. 

1. Online charting: Open Discussion and examples

with a Panel Discussion

1. Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy: Historical Perspective and Current Knowledge. When to Consult or Transfer Care. -Alicia Huntley

2. The Human Placenta. Why is it Different than Other Mammals and What Does This Mean to Pregnancy and Birth?-

3. BaLabs-Understanding Labs for your Client- a Panel Discussion

4. Balance Midwifery and Your Life. Laurie’s Story.-Laurie Z

5. Miscarriage. 

6. Insurance Billing-Laurie Z. 

 

• 2017~~ACBP-Held in Georgia, -”Taking Root and Growing in Your Professions” 

1. How to be a Cross-Culturally Competent Midwife in any Setting: A Light to the Nations-Vicki Penwell

2. Raising children who honor Birth Work: The Next Generation-Vicki Penwell

3. Fetal Lie: Normal &amp; Variations of Normal-Rebekah Knapp

4. HIPAA and Social Media-Denise Cochran CNM

5. Laboratory evaluation for midwives-Denise Cochran CNM

6. Suturing: Perineal Piecework

7. What’s in a Diet - Nurturing Your Pregnancy-Noel

8. Link Between PPD &amp; Your Diet-Noel L.

9. Burn Out - Fill Up: Self Care 101-Doran richards

10. Ground Zero of Social Media-Doran richards

11. Residual Scars:  Trauma and Perinatal Care-Janelle Ribbe and David Ribbe

12. What Is She Thinking?!?” Cognitive Styles in Perinatal Care-Janelle Ribbe and David Ribbe

13. Introduction to the new Cell Free DNA fetal testing -Denise Cochran

 

• 2019~~ACBP- Held in South Bend Indiana. “Nurturing Our Professions, Nurturing Ourselves”.

1. Emotional release and Essential Oils-Brenda Parrish CPM

2. Using Essential Oils in the Childbearing Season-Brenda Parrish CPM

3. Faith is...Visionaries of Modern Natural ChildBirth Movement-Kathy Nesper CCE

4. Eve, Mary and Beyond: What the Bible Does (and Doesn't) Say About ChildBirth and Why it Still Matters-Kathy Nesper CCE

5. Vit D and Women's Health-Noel Leithart CPM

6. The Importance of Gut Microbiome in Pregnancy-Noel Leithart CPM

7. Birth Control and Christian Ethics-Rev Joseph D. Signore, lll. M. Div

8. Pre-eclampsia: What do I need to know in home birth setting-Terry Lemley CNM

9. Suturing-Jill W.

10. MTHFR and women's health-Dr. Christopher Stroud 

 

• 2020~~ACBP-canceled due to COVID

 

• 2021~~ACBP-Held in Roanoke Virginia   “Serving with Wisdom, Skill and Love”.

1. Dying to be heard: Birth: The heart of the matter, racial equity in birth practice. Cultural & social sensitivity in birth and prenatal care.-Keli

2. The Atmosphere of Birth -Keli

3. MTHFR-Noel

4. Healing the Gut-Noel

5. Domestic Violence: Insights & Strategies for Perinatal Professionals-Martha Addington

6. Healing the Caregiver After a Traumatic Birth-Martha Addington

7. Hemorrhage & Safety Bundles. Pharmacy & Placentas: Latest Information on Both to Prevent & Control PP Hemorrhage-Jill W. 

8. Universal Precautions: Controversies and the latest Research-Pam

9. Round tables-

10. Legal FAQ/Legal Business Stuff-james Creekmore Attorney

 

          2022   ACBP held in Ricon Georgia

            A.  Embryology and Fetal Development- Connie Mullen CPM

            B. Perinatal Mood Disorders-Connie Mullen CPM

           C.  Herbs in Pregnancy.-Debby Sapp

           D. Herbs in Labor & Birth-Debby Sapp

           E. Possible Effect of Prior Sexual & or Physical Abuse on Labor and

                     Delivery.-Marian Marsh PHD

           F. SARS-COV-2 Infection in Pregnancy, Evidence based research-

                 Dr. Karen Baker MD and Dr. Alicia Farris MD

          G. Suturing Techniques for Midwives-Jill Whitfield CNM, Pam Golliet CPM

          H. Round tables discussion-Jill Whitfield CNM, Pam Golliet CPM & 

               Ireena Keeslar CPM

          I. Breastfeeding Assistance and latest information-Helen Pastures

          J. Practice Management in a Smaller out of Hospital Business (I taught)

 

          2023   ACBP Held in Shipshewana Indiana

                     a. Coaching, Listening, and Asking Powerful Questions-Kristin Schuchmann, LM,

                               CPM

                     B. Physiology of Labor Pain and Pain Relief-Kristin Schuchmann, LM, CPM

                     C. Dealing and Healing with Trauma for the Health Care

                        Professional-Bobbie Brown CNM

                   D. WE are the World, We are the Children-Bobbie Brown CNM

                      E. TOTs basics-Lauren Dill

                     F.  Placenta Encapsulation - What are the benefits?-Kirsten lane

                   G. Cannabinoids and Pregnancy-Stephen Griffith

                   H. Suturing Techniques for Midwives (I co-taught)

         I. MTHFR in pregnancy-Dr Chris Stroud

         J. Hypertension in pregnancy-Dr. Chris Stroud

 

          2024   ACBP held in St. Charles, Missouri

1.  The Essential Guide to Waterbirth for Providers:

 40 Years of Clinical Practice and Research-Barbara Harper RN

1.  Keeping the Faith: Remembering God's Presence in the Birth Room -Barbara Harper 

2.  Preventing birth Injury-Rita Ledbetter, CNM

3.  Working with survivors of abuse Part 1 and 2-Susan Wilson RN, CPM

4. Understanding the Vital Importance of Chiropractic Care for the Prenatal, Postpartum and Infant Populations-Dr. Abbe M Keen, DC, CNC, Dr. Cait Davis, DC, MSCP

5. Loss, Grief, & the Midwife-Connie Mullen CPM

6. Knowing when to transport and how to do so safely -Susan Wilson RN, CPM

7. When We Know Better, We Do Better – Staying Up to Date in our Recommendations for Alcohol Consumption in Pregnancy-Kristin Schuchmann, LM, CPM

8. The Gifts of Waterbirth-Barbara Harper RN

9. Hypoactive sexual Disorder-Rita Ledbetter, CNM

CPR & NRP

•  training and renewal from 1990 until Current 

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2024-Breech without borders 2 day class and training with Dr. Stu

2024-B.E.S.T. skills workshop

 

CONFERENCES THAT I PLANNED/HOSTED

 

• 2004-Indiana Midwives Association Conference in Shipshewana Indiana with Ina Mae Gaskin.  I was the conference chair, planning and working the conference.

•  2008-Indiana Midwives Association in Shipshewana Indiana with Shonda Parker Herbalist 

• 2009-Midwives Assistant and Beginning Midwives 3 day conference

• 2011-Midwives Assistant and Beginning Midwives 3 day conference

• ACBP 2017-held in Ricon Georgia

• ACBP-2019-held in South Bend Indiana

• ACBP-2020-cancelled due to COVID

• ACBP-2021- Roanoke Virginia

• ACBP-2022- Ricon Georgia

• ACBP-2023- Shipshewana Indiana

• ACBP-2024- St. Charles, Missouri

 

Other CONFERENCES I ASSISTED WITH PLANNING

 

2009-CMI

2010-CMI

2011-CMI

 

CLASSES I HAVE TAUGHT

 

• 1989-current-Childbirth classes for the Community (esp with the Amish: average size of classes with the Amish were 5-25 couples in each class). 

• 2006- IMA-Class on charting  

• 2006- CMI-2006-Co taught with Wantina Brooks at CMI 

• 2007- CMI- Class on Marriage and working, to avoid trouble with your marriage. 

• 2007: Other classes I taught this year were: 

1. Beginning Midwifery class

2. Estimation of Blood loss

3. Suturing

• 2008 --MANA October, in Michigan-IV therapy and Blood Draws

• 2008-CMI @ Gasthof Amish Village, Montgomery Indiana

1.  Anatomy and Physiology

• 2009-CMI- In Tennessee

1. IV Therapy and Blood Draws

2. Being a Lamb Among Wolves 

3. Walking by Faith Thru the Fire 

• 2009- California-IV Therapy and Blood Draws

• 2009-IMA November 6th-

1. Midwives Assistant Workshop 

• 2010-Chino, California, March 6th

1. IV therapy, phlebotomy 

• 2010-CMI- August 8th, -September 2nd. 

1. Establishing healthy Boundaries in Midwifery Care

• 2011-CMI- Facilitated Peer Review

• 2016-ACBP-

1. So You Want To Be a Midwife?

2. Vitals! Vitals! Vitals! And Urine!

3. Blood Sugar!

4. Chart Right!

5. What Does It Mean To Be A Student?

6. What it’s like to be a community midwife

7. Placentas!

8. Transfers-What Does The Hospital Want?

9. Blood Loss!

10. Setting Up At The Home Birth –Let’s Keep It Sterile?

11. Now What? How Do I Keep Records For NARM? Where Do I Go From Here?

12. B.D.B.S. Basic Disaster Birth Support

• 2017-ACBP-

1. Transfer from the Home Birth to the Hospital

2. Post-dates Assessment and Management

• 2021-ACBP 

1. Communication Skills: Are you Really Listening?

2. Work-Life Balance for the Married  Professional

• 2022-ACBP

1. Practice Management in a Smaller out of Hospital Business

• 2023-ACBP 

1. Suturing for Midwives -

 

COMMUNITY SERVICES:

 

• Worked for WIC: 1990-1991 as breastfeeding peer counselor

• Taught Childbirth Classes in LaGrange County Indiana from 1989-current

            Taught mostly Amish couples, classes were as large as 25 or more couples each class.

• Volunteered at the local elementary school as an assistant to the teachers, and tutored children.  

• Usually involved with our church family.

• Taught classes for Women's church retreats.