Birth Wisddom: Faculty

Sherri Alden RN, BSN, PHN, Certified Perinatal Support Specialist (CPSS). Looking back, my “career” as a labor support professional really began before I even graduated from nursing school. I had already completed my labor and delivery training in a high-risk, non-progressive OB department. It was there I began to develop a healthy respect for necessary intervention in complicated pregnancy courses. But, it was also in that highly technical, intimidating and non-nurturing environment that a passion for the emotional journey of a safe delivery took root.

Then, in 1982 during my fifth year of nurses training at Biola University in southern California, I had the unique opportunity to intern with a homebirth Certified Nurse Midwifery practice. I experienced the total spectrum of providing well woman obstetrical and gynecological care, as well as assisted in preparing and guiding women through the birth process and into the parenthood role. I will forever be indebted to those midwives who actively and passively trained me to see the childbearing experience as a normal and empowering milestone in a woman’s life. The course of my career life would change after completing my first birth in a support role. Following 29 hours of exhausting but immensely rewarding work, the midwife pulled me aside, simply smiled and said, “You definitely have ‘it’.” Nothing could have been more encouraging than to have her affirm my passion and that inborn gift of connecting and enabling women to face the challenge of labor with knowledge, security and confidence.

In 1983 I graduated, received my RN license and PHN certificate, and continued to gain experience as a labor and delivery nurse within both high and low risk hospital settings. With ‘it’ tucked in my heart, I would do my best to provide individualized, informed and constant care, attempting to bring the best of the home mindset into the hospital. This is always quite a challenge given the patient load, and tremendous amount of documentation and clinical responsibility given to nurses.

In 1986, at the request of friends and then friends of friends, I began privately supporting women through the childbearing year and my passion started to bloom. I continued working as an L&D nurse in the hospital setting as well, but private support produced significantly more satisfaction for both the clients and myself (and interestingly enough, also for most doctors and staff nurses involved in the deliveries). Over these many years (I don’t feel this old!) I have also taught various class series on childbearing related topics such as: pre-conception, early pregnancy, prepared childbirth, breastfeeding, infant care and sibling adjustment ; contributed to the writing of The Birth Book by Dr. William Sears; and occasionally have encountered requests to present information regarding labor support in public forums including professional panels, speaking engagements, newspaper features and radio talk shows.

In 1995 I left hospital nursing to focus on my private clientele and my own growing family of (now) three children , home schooling and a wonderful husband. I am still, and always, humbly learning through each birth I am privileged to be a part of. The miracle of each baby, the struggle and joy of the process, the empowering of individuals and relationships that takes place is always fresh to me.