Meet Alyssa Johns | Midwife & Director at Aurora Midwifery

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

Hi Alyssa, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
So many things contributed, partially a wish to be able to be fully aligned with my own core values and partially out of necessity. My husband was in a long battle with leukemia and my kids were young and I needed to have more control over my workload.
As a student midwife I remember saying that I didn’t want to start my own business and I never saw myself off on my own. Looking back that is pretty funny since now I have a business with 10 team members!

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I founded and direct a home birth practice based out of Mesa, Arizona. We currently have a team of four midwives, four students, and our office manager that work together to serve families in Phoenix and the east valley that make the choice to have their babies at home.

Operating as a group practice vs a solo practice is something that sets us apart from many. Sustainability in midwifery is something that I care deeply about, as this profession is extremely challenging mentally, physically and emotionally. We can only serve well if we are each individually well. Operating as a group instead of in solo practice allows our clients to receive the strengths and care from multiple people who are supported and able to benefit from time off call. Each person on the team brings so much to the table and we can provide so much more to our clients than I could when I started out as a solo practice. I also have a team that truly pours their hearts into our clients and legitimately cares about them. Within the medical system, we often hear that people feel like numbers and are not given adequate time and attention, their needs are not heard or supported. Our clients are often choosing home birth because of this and I am so grateful that we consistently receive the feedback that our clients felt seen, heard, cared about and loved during their time with our team. We feel deeply that our clients are capable decision makers and should always hold the power to choose what they feel is best for their bodies and babies. We are here to provide information, give support and guidance when needed and watch over their pregnancy, birth and postpartum for any signs that their body or baby may need higher level support than we can give at home.

Growing this business has felt organic and easy overall, as I have chosen not to ever push hard for growth in any direction but instead to just allow growth and follow the path that presents itself. Anytime I have found myself trying to force growth in one direction or another, it has not been successful. I have definitely learned it’s best if I just toss out a lot of seeds then watch for where little sprouts are popping up and head in that direction. There are of course challenges always. We have a set of core values that are the foundation for everything we do, and holding tightly in alignment with those has helped us stay true to our vision of what matters most. Our team focuses hard on transparency, direct communication and respectful feedback with each other so that we can overcome any challenges that face us.

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.
I love the variety in nature that Arizona has to offer! I would be taking them paddle boarding on Saguaro lake, hiking in the Superstition Mountains, and would probably head up north for a little hike or to camp in the woods as well.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The biggest shoutout is to my husband who passed, Sean. He supported me as a student midwife, encouraged me, had my back, jumped in to help me when births happened at the most inconvenient times without complaint, brought me food and coffee for long births, and then believed in me without question when I chose to start my own business and grow it. I wouldn’t be here without his belief in me and support of me and I still know he is cheering me on and watching over me and this business.
I would also shout out my current partner, Levi, who is my sounding board and always cheers me on in the same way Sean did. My business bestie, Alyssa Leon who talks through all the hard things in running a business, and all the members of my team who are amazing humans and each offer so much to the world.

Website: https://www.auroramidwife.com

Instagram: @auroramidwives

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@auroramidwifery

Image Credits
Carey Lauren
Levi Mannon
Melissa Anderson
Tejanita Bush