I am, first and foremost, a wife and a mother.  I love playing, reading, gardening, and traveling with my two boys and my husband. 

I also have a deep passion for birth.  After I graduated from Brigham Young University in 2002 with a degree in English, I trained with DONA International to become a certified doula.  I completed my certification shortly after the birth of my first son, Jonathan.  The knowledge and experience I gained as a doula empowered me to make choices during my pregnancy and birth that resulted in an amazing, beautiful birth experience.  I gave birth to Jonathan in a hospital-based midwifery practice in American Fork, Utah.

In 2004, my husband Robin and I moved to Northwest Arkansas.  After the move, I began training as a Lamaze-Certified Childbirth Educator with Teri Shilling, of Passion for Birth (a Lamaze-accredited training program).  I completed my training in April of 2007.  This was shortly before the birth of my second son, Aaron, who was born at home.


Carie Means, Elizabeth Day, Sara Milford:
co-leaders of BirthNetwork of NW Arkansas
In July 2007, I founded the Northwest Arkansas Chapter of BirthNetwork National.  I have been very  busy working as a birth advocate in the community to raise awareness and promote the availability of mother-friendly maternity care.

I have also published two articles in the Journal of Perinatal Education, the leading peer-reviewed journal specifically for childbirth educators.









I currently serve as a board member for BirthNetwork National as a regional representative.  My work with Birth Networks at the national level also includes a position as the Birth Networks Liaison with the Lamaze Institute for Safe and Healthy Birth.  In October 2010 I presented at the Lamaze International Conference in Orlando, Florida.  The presentation was entitled, "Birth Networking for Mother-Friendly Change in Your Community."

I plan to continue to write about and advocate for normal birth, mother-friendly maternity care, and birth options.  I love to teach and am available for speaking engagements, nursing in-service trainings, and mother's group meetings.

If you are a mother-to-be or have an interest in birth advocacy, please feel free to contact me any time with questions.