Meet Your Certified Nurse Midwife
Heather Soper
My passion is to provide women and families with positive pregnancy and birth experiences. Birth and motherhood are transformational on many levels that affect the whole woman— mind, body, and spirit. The goal of my work is to support, nourish and give special attention to these aspects of health and wellness by educating, listening, and respecting who you are and what you need.
Let me briefly share a few details of my own birth stories because these experiences have affected how I practice midwifery today.
My first child was born in a hospital. I was induced, hoping for an unmedicated labor and birth but ended up getting an epidural and experienced an episiotomy against my will. I was unprepared for the disregard of my wishes, and it was upsetting and disappointing to say the least. The problem? My provider's practice didn't align with my values and desires for birth.
My second child was born at home, unmedicated, with no episiotomy. It was such a satisfying experience, going just the way I had hoped for, in large part due to a midwife that not only valued the desires I had for my birth, but actively supported them.
A positive pregnancy and birth experience that meet your personal hopes and desires is about 80-90% dependent on your preparation and the provider you choose, and 10-20% out of your control. What I mean is, your birth is heavily determined by your own efforts and choices, with some things out of your control that you can't foresee or plan for. Finding a provider that aligns with your goals and values surrounding pregnancy and birth is absolutely crucial.
I believe pregnancy is a vulnerable time where women and families need support, education, and guidance, yet it is a normal life process that usually needs minimal medical intervention for healthy women.
This means that much of the time we spend together during prenatal visits are focused on getting to know you, addressing your individual needs, and understanding your hopes and desires for your birth and beyond.
I love taking care of women during pregnancy, labor, and birth because it is such a rewarding experience. I enjoy watching my clients reach their goals of a birth experience that is fulfilling. It is a privilege to observe families grow and transform, and I feel blessed to be able to gain the trust of women and families during such a special time.
I couldn’t do this beautiful work of midwifery without my loving and supportive husband and 5 kids who all chip in when I’m called to attend a birth!
Serving Staunton/Waynesboro, Harrisonburg, Lexington, VA and surrounding areas