Meet Jana Bowditch | Certified Nurse-Midwife & Holistic Health Practitioner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jana Bowditch and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jana, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
Many women and families really want out-of-hospital options for their pregnancy and birth experiences. Our medical system isn’t great at supporting these choices, so it’s really important that other providers step into that void and support pregnant people in that way. I started my homebirth and holistic health business, as one of the few CNMs who do homebirth, after the Flagstaff Birth Center closed which left a huge gap in the Flagstaff community. Homebirth is not for everyone, but for the women and families who do want that experience and kind of care, it’s imperative that those options exist and that it remains safe and accessible to everyone who wants it. The midwifery model of care is all about shared decision making and true informed consent, and I take that part of my job seriously. Our appointment times are much longer than the average ob/gyn appointment, and I really take time to get to know my clients, their families, their birth wishes, their fears, as well as to share information on evidence-based care, and ultimately their right to choose any particular course of action. Homebirth can be intense, primal, beautiful, transformative, and deeply empowering. Holding that space for birthing people is so deeply humbling to me; getting to share in that most intimate and vulnerable experience of a lifetime with families is a great honor. I know for them, the services I provide help them and the greater community profoundly, and then, one gentle birth at a time, we change the world.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I am one of only a handful of CNMs who provide homebirth services in the country! There are no others in northern Arizona. I also have 8 years of NICU experience as an RN, which provides skills and a comfort level that come in handy sometimes at a homebirth. I have also completed Aviva Romm’s Women’s Functional and Integrative Medicine Professional Training Program and am excited about implementing these holistic health protocols into my practice. I think a lot of people don’t realize that midwives, and CNMs in particular, do a lot more than just birth! I love the women’s health side of my practice – annual exams, Paps, STI testing, lab work, birth control, IUDs, and more. I love addressing women’s health challenges from a whole-person, whole-body/mind/spirit perspective, and using natural modalities first to help the body heal.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Oh, there’s so much cool, fun, beautiful stuff to do in Flagstaff! Walking and just being in the woods is a must and I try to do it as much as possible. Very necessary for my mental health. I love the Japanese term “shinrin-yoku” – forest bathing. There are a ton of amazing hikes around town and on the San Francisco Peaks, but I love the Mount Elden hiking trails for the ease of access, making it easy to fit in a quick hike even on a busy day. For a longer, full-day hike, you can’t really beat the Bear Jaw/Abineau Trail. Fuel up for your hike with a breakfast burrito in the courtyard at Tourist Home, along with a spicy homemade chai with espresso and oat milk. If it’s winter and you’re a skier, we could hit up Snowbowl for some fun on the slopes, before heading out to any number of awesome downtown spots for happy hour and dinner! Brix has to be my fave for their amazing cheese board, wine selection, crafty cocktails, and stellar menu and service. New spots that I’m really looking forward to exploring: Shift, Atria, and Teatro (RIP Criollo). Best budget happy hour: Salsa Brava! Great margaritas, and their house salsas are delish.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d love to shout out my colleagues at the Flagstaff Birth Collective! We started that space when the birth center closed, and we didn’t want to lose the momentum, collaboration, and resources of our collective practices under one roof. Our team has been so supportive of me and my transition to homebirth practice and starting my own business. They are all amazing health practitioners in their own right, and together we provide such an amazing array of services to the families of Flagstaff.

Website: www.aspenmidwifery.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aspenmidwifery/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aspenmidwifery/

Other: aspenmidwifery@gmail.com