Midwives

The people behind the Carolina Community Maternity Center are midwives who have long realized the need for a facility to bring midwifery care to the greater Charlotte area. Frustrated with the lack of choices for pregnant women in our area, we have joined forces with the community to make this birth center available.

Damaris Pittman, LM, CPM: I have been involved in midwifery for 20 years, since the birth of my second son at home. My husband Terry and I have 2 sons, Christian and Elias, both born with midwives. We live in Charlotte, NC, just a few minutes from the NC/SC border.

I attended Maternidad La Luz midwifery school in El Paso, TX and in 1993 obtained my license to practice in South Carolina. In 1998 I received the credential of Certified Professional Midwife through the North American Registry of Midwives.

I believe that the innate ability to give birth naturally is in all women. Birth works best when women’s instincts and knowledge are respected, and when mothers are in a comfortable, supportive environment where confidence in the natural process is present. Mutual trust and respect between a mother and her attendant further facilitates a safe and happy birth.

I am grateful to be allowed to share the transformative processes of pregnancy, birth, parenting and personal growth with the families I serve.

Damaris keeps her regular prenatal day on Tuesday.

Lisa Johnson, LM: My journey as a midwife began with the birth of my third child under the care and guidance of a midwife in Florida, 13 years ago. Compared to the birth of my first two children which were fear based, extremely cold and medically managed, this was the most supernatural, empowering experience in my life! It completely changed my perception of the child-bearing process and how women should give birth.

Soon after my third birth, I responded to an inspired leading and calling to become a midwife and impart that same gift I had experienced to other women and their families. My husband completely supported me through my three year training and in August 2000 I obtained my license to practice midwifery in Florida, and I began my private practice.

In 2004 our family to the Charlotte area, which was a completely different legal climate than what I was accustomed to in Florida. But through prayer and determination, we felt the need to move to the Fort Mill area where we currently reside, and where midwifery is legal.

Early in my career as a midwife, I had a vision to open a birth center to serve the women in my community who desired an alternative to hospital birth. I am honored and blessed that this vision is becoming a reality with the opening of the Carolina Community Maternity Center.

Lisa keeps her regular prenatal day on Monday.

Christine Strothers, LM, RN, IBCLC: My journey to midwifery training has taken 12 years. It began with working as a labor and delivery R.N. and then to being a certified doula (DONA), certified childbirth educator, and IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant). I have learned so many amazing truths about women and their babies over those 12 years. I continue to be enlightened by each birth. My husband, Todd, and I live with our three children (Michael, Lauren, and Leah) in South Charlotte. We are originally from Ohio and we have loved living in North Carolina since 1993. Birth amazes me. I am humbled by its power and beauty, and have incredible respect for birthing women and their families. It is an honor for me to assist expectant families in birthing their babies their way. I believe that women’s bodies are perfectly capable of growing, bearing, and nourishing children. I feel that my role is to give support and encouragement during the intense physical and emotional transitions of birth and early parenthood.

Christine keeps her regular prenatal day on Thursday.

Leigh Fransen, LM: I grew up in Charlotte, NC and have also lived in Texas, California, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Florida. In 2003 I gave birth to my first daughter in a hospital with the help of my husband, two doulas, a family practice doctor, and (to my shock!) no drugs or epidural. I was elated with my experience. I had grown up full of fear of natural birth. Once I found out the truth, that natural birth can be a beautiful and empowering experience, and that it is healthier for the mother and her baby, I wanted to share it with as many women as possible.

I attended the International School of Midwifery in Miami, Florida. I was trained in one of the nation’s busiest midwife-run birth centers, the Miami Maternity Center. I have been married for ten years to Eric and we have two little girls, the second born in the water at the birth center in Miami. Our family relocated to Fort Mill, South Carolina in 2008 and I became a South Carolina Licensed Midwife. I want the women of Charlotte to have every opportunity to experience a healthy, natural birth in a supportive and loving environment.

Leigh keeps her regular prenatal day on Wednesday.