Menu
Bridger Birthing
  • Home
  • Our Team
  • Services
    • Homebirth
      • Overview
      • Cost
    • Birth Doula Training
      • Participants' Comments
    • Lactation Counseling
  • Testimonials & Babies
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Our Team
  • Services
    • Homebirth
      • Overview
      • Cost
    • Birth Doula Training
      • Participants' Comments
    • Lactation Counseling
  • Testimonials & Babies
  • Contact
Picture

Marianne

Born and raised in Germany on a small family farm, I was fascinated by the miracle of birth from a very early age. When I first came to Bozeman in 1986 as an exchange student to MSU I did not anticipate that I would return in 2001, now married and raising our two little girls in the beautiful Gallatin Valley.
Picture

 Giving birth to my daughters – one in hospital and one at home -  sparked a powerful journey of self-discovery, and a life long passion to help other moms and families have the best possible pregnancy and birth experiences. I was one of the early certified birth doulas, and later became a certified childbirth educator as well as a lactation counselor.
Picture
My daughter, Karen, and I during her first trip to Germany (1995)
In 2005 none other than Penny Simkin herself, the grande dame of the doula profession, invited me to her home to initiate me and three others on our path to become Birth Doula Trainers with DONA International. 15 years later, I am now retired from this position. However, I continue to share my knowledge of the art of labor support specifically for those who wish to help mothers during natural childbirth in general, and home birth in particular.
Picture
My training with Penny Simkin (2005)

Though I love doula work, my calling to become a homebirth midwife grew stronger with each birth I attended. While raising my daughters I enrolled in and graduated from Ancient Art Midwifery Institute in 2011, making the Honor Roll in every quarter of my studies. My years as midwife apprentice to fulfill Montana licensure requirements were especially blessed because my two primary teachers were both vastly experienced midwives with decades of practice and hundreds of babies delivered. I will always be deeply grateful for their generosity in sharing their knowledge and allowing my to grow as a midwife.
 
​I am a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) which is the only national credential requiring knowledge and experience in out-of-hospital birth. Based on this gold standard of education, I am a Montana midwife specializing in homebirth. My small private practice allows me to tailor my care to your specific needs and preferences. My 20 years of attending births in hospitals, birth centers and at home have shown me that in birth there is no right or wrong way; there is only your way.
 
P.S. Oh yes, hobbies: I am a devoted gardener! My extensive perennial beds and strictly organic vegetable garden keep our family and friends in fresh produce through most of the year.

Picture

Hannah Jennaway
Midwife Apprentice

Hi, my name is Hannah and I have the privilege of studying under Marianne as her apprentice. I come from an allopathic medical background, having worked as a pharmacy technician while attending Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing in Richmond, Virginia. I have been a doula since age 16 and attended my first doula training course instructed by Marianne. Since then, birthwork has clung to me and I am now in the process of obtaining my Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) credential through the National College of Midwifery. It is nothing short of an honor having Marianne as my clinical preceptor; I have witnessed how the compassionate care she bestows and healing hands she practices with not only empower women through motherhood, but have changed my life as well. It is a joy being with Bridger Birthing and I hope to meet you!
Picture

Alakhi McLain
Associated Midwife

Hello! I am Alakhi McLain, LM, CPM
My journey into birthwork began with the birth of my daughter. I was in absolute awe of the mystery of what birth and life was after giving birth to her! I felt a connection with all the mothers before me and after me. I knew I wanted to go deeper into the practical knowledge of all things pregnancy, labor, birth and babies and how to be a support to others at this time in life. In 2007, after moving to Montana, I first attended a labor day informational talk on birth by Marianne and instantly felt such inspiration and a real connection! I felt a deeper reason and a calling to stay in Montana, where my family also resides. I then attended Marianne's DONA doula training and began attending births as a doula. In 2014, wanting to learn and attend births at a greater capacity, I began classes with the Midwives College of Utah, and in 2016 I started my apprenticeship as student midwife attending births with licensed midwives in and around Bozeman. Many of those births were with Marianne. In 2020 I fulfilled all of the requirements to graduate and apply for licensure in Montana and, in 2021, I received my license and began attending births as a licensed midwife. Marianne has always been an inspiration and a mentor since I first met her. She has been and continues to be an amazing support and it is an absolute honor and privilege to continue learning from and attending births with her. My personal goal and mission is to honor each woman and the vulnerability of this sacred time, to empower and support them and to validate their amazing sacrifice and accomplishment of bringing in and giving birth to the future.


Telephone

406-570-4359

Email

bridgerbirthing@gmail.com