Lindsay Adams, RN, MSN, CNM
I have always had an interest in the sciences and biology. I still remember how fascinated I was in 5th grade when we watched the school films that explained discussed the oncoming age of puberty and menstruation. All through high school whenever I watched a movie or video that depicted childbirth, I would well-up at the beauty and magic that surrounds this moment.
When I was pregnant with my son, I sought midwifery care. At that time, I didn’t really know what midwifery care meant. I was young and was looking through the phone book for providers in my area, and I came across a midwifery group that took my insurance. My mom would later tell me she was hesitant about it in the beginning but was so impressed with the way they took care of me during my labor and birth.
A few years later I become a surrogate for a couple that could not have their own child. Through that process I saw what it was like through someone else’s eyes the struggle of navigating healthcare decisions and dealing with IVF. I felt throughout that not only was I the one being cared for but was part of the team that was able to make this family complete. The care I received by nurses, doctors, and midwives through my pregnancies was exceptional. That is what set the standard for me for what kind of nurse and midwife I wanted to be. Education and choice were always center stage and making me feel comfortable and safe every step of my labor, birth, and recovery was clearly a priority. These experiences combined and I knew where I wanted my journey to continue into nursing.
Once I started nursing school, whenever we would share what kind of nurse specialty we want to go into, I would always say I want to be a midwife. When I finally got my opportunity to be a labor and delivery nurse at Cedars-Sinai, it was a dream come true. Simultaneously, I worked as a birth assistant at Del Mar Birth Center. I got to see all types of births, from home to water, epidural and no epidural. I learned so much about different ways to help support labor and birth, and ways to help promote a vaginal birth while being respectful of the labor process and birth desires.
It was at Cedars-Sinai where I met Naomi and Lilit and learned that while I was in process of applying to Frontier Nursing University, they were about to start clinicals. We got to work together as nurses, peers, and as fellow students. They had such great advice for me as I worked through my midwife program, and I was even completed some clinical days with them where they were officially my teachers.
It has been 10 years since I graduated from nursing school in 2012, full of adventures, learning, and making my path to becoming a midwife. My husband, son, mother, and our fur baby Murphy have been great sources of support every step of the way. It is with great excitement and honor to be starting this wonderful work in 2022 as part of the Los Angeles Midwives team.
