About Cathy O’Bryant
Cathy O'Bryant, LDEM, CPM
Certifications and Education
I am a Licensed Direct Entry Midwife (LDEM) as well as a CPM. I have been delivering babies at home in Utah for the past 27 years. I am the mother of ten children, three of which were birthed at home.
I became involved in midwifery in 1982. I took classes from the Utah School of Midwifery (now Midwives College of Utah) and graduated from the school in 1987 as a Certified Midwife. I apprenticed with a senior midwife for approximately two years before assuming any clients of my own. In 1994, I took the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) exam and in 1996, I became certified with NARM as a Certified Professional Midwife. Most recently (2006) I became licensed with the state of Utah as a Licensed Direct Entry Midwife.
In November of 2003, I became a certified Qualified Evaluator (QE) with NARM. This enables me to pass off other midwives certifying to become CPM’s. I am Neonatal Resuscitation (NRP) certified as well as certified in infant and adult CPR. I am also IV certified. My education is ongoing and I feel that one can never know too much in the field of midwifery. I try to attend all local birthing conferences and workshops pertaining to the subject of birthing. In order to maintain my CPM status, I have to earn 12 continuing education units per year through service, attending births and educational conferences. Although unrelated to midwifery, I also hold an associates degree from Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado and an associates degree from the Institute of Medical Technique in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I have worked as a dental assistant and as a veterinarian’s assistant.
Babies Delivered and Experience With Complications
Presently, I have attended over 600 women in childbirth. Seven of those births have ended with C-sections. My transport rate is about 2%. Most of my transports are not a matter of life and death, but rather for pain relief. The women just get so tired that they transport for an epidural. Most complications can be dealt with at home but Cesareans are not available at home and require transport to a hospital. Most complications come with a warning. For example, the fetal heart rate may be an indication that the baby is in trouble and cannot take the stress of labor. Any heavy bleeding during labor is an indication for a transport. A prolapsed cord, septic mother, etc. are all automatic transports. At no time will I ever force a woman to stay home, even if there are no complications. If she thinks that she would be more comfortable in the hospital, then we go.
I have had experience dealing with breech, hemorrhage, baby in respiratory distress, shoulder dystocia, tight nuchal cord, compound presentation, bradycardia, 1st, 2nd, 3rd degree tears, hypertension, woman going in to shock, baby needing CPR, meconium staining, retained placenta, VBAC delivery, prolapsed cord, fetal distress and twins.
Membership and Service Given to the Midwifery Community
I am a member of Midwives Alliance of North America (MANA), the Utah Midwives Association, the International Cesarean Awareness Network, and the National Association of Certified Professional Midwives. I am currently serving with NARM as a Qualified Evaluator (QE). I have served the Utah Midwives Association (UMA) as President, Vice-President, Newsletter Editor, and have chaired our UMA Conference for six consecutive years. I currently serve as the UMA Secretary. I am actively engaged in moving midwifery forward, always trying to educate the public through public forums.
Personal Life
I have been married to Dennis O’Bryant for 40 years. We are the parents of 10 children. The last three were born totally at home and the three before that were born minutes after arriving at the hospital. All of my births were natural childbirth, except for the first one, where I was given general anesthesia.
Some of my hobbies are skiing, canoeing, golfing, gardening, fly fishing, white water rafting trips, searching out hot springs and Anasazi ruins. I like to spend time with my family and if I have a free hour, I pick up a book and read.
