Meet the Midwife

Seventeen years ago, Melissa J. Cook discovered her passion for supporting women and families through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum recovery. She became a certified birth doula through DONA International, which deepened her connection to childbirth. To further support breastfeeding mothers, she earned her Lactation Counselor certification through The Lactation Policy and Practice Healthy Children’s Project. Her dedication to education also led her to become a certified Lamaze Childbirth Educator, empowering families with the knowledge and tools they need to approach birth with confidence.

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Melissa’s path to midwifery began in 2015 when a respected midwife encouraged her to pursue formal training. In 2018, she began her midwifery studies and later apprenticed with experienced homebirth midwives, gaining hands-on experience in supporting physiologic birth. She continued her education at the Midwives College of Utah, where she further refined her knowledge and skillset before choosing to shape her midwifery journey in a way that more closely aligns with her values and vision.

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Melissa is also a co-founder of the National Fellowship of Direct Entry Midwives (NFDEM), a credentialing body based on Judeo-Christian principles that works to advance and standardize direct-entry midwifery care by providing certification for qualified midwives. She is deeply committed to advancing the profession, preserving traditional values, advocating for evidence-based practices, and fostering a strong, supportive community for both families and birth professionals.