Julie Mercier is a Christian Certified Professional Midwife (CPM), Licensed Midwife (LM), childbirth educator, professional birth assistant, registered nurse and mother of four children: Catherine, Noah, Luke and Aaron.

She has completed a labor and delivery internship at Lutheran Hospital - Lacrosse and has apprenticed with local midwives. 

A message from Julie
"As a midwife I believe pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding are a normal part of life for a healthy woman.  For some women these events are managed best in their own home.  Keeping a woman in her environment without unnecessary intervention decreases stress and thus decreases the need for medial intervention.

As a caregiver I will use my education and past experiences to assist in informed decision-making.  The relationship with a midwife is a partner of shared responsibility.  Excellent nutrition, exercise, and a tobacco, alcohol, and chemical-free lifestyle are the cornerstones of a complication free pregnancy and birth." 

Education:

Northern Michigan University, Marquette, Michigan; Bachelor of Science in Nursing Certified Childbirth Educator through A.L.A.C.E. Certified in neonatal, pediatric, and adult CPR Completed Breastfeeding Initiator Program meeting UNICEF and World Health Organization standards - 1997 Apprenticed with local midwives - 1996 - 2002 Works as home health nurse for psycho and/or social high-risk clientele, pregnancy through 1 year old - 1993 Attended childbirth conference - Marquette General Hospital, Marquette, MI - 1993 Completed labor and delivery nurse internship at Lutheran Hospital, LaCrosse, WI - 1991 Every three years Julie participates in thirty continuing education contact hours, which includes five hours of peer review.

Experience in Birth

Julie has been attending births since 1989.  She started her midwifery training in May 1996 and practiced as a Primary Midwife Under Supervision starting in January 1999.  In November of 2002 she began her practice as a primary midwife.

"My husband, Michael, and I have had Julie as our midwife for the last five of our eight births.  We are expecting our ninth in February and plan on having her assist then as well. We have had positive experiences with Julie every time.  She is very calming and peaceful; the perfect midwife personality, I think.  She is open to talking on the phone if I need to and answering any questions  I have.  She is very accessible, which I find very reassuring, and if she has to be out of town, she lets us know and leaves the appropriate phone numbers for her and other midwives to be reach if necessary. During the birth, Julie is ready to assist in any way; open to what I want and need at the moment.  I have found her to be very competent and professional.  After the birth, in which we have a moment of prayer together, she is very sweet and congratulatory.  I appreciate that she and her assistant do a very thorough job of cleaning everything up, so my husband or I don't have to worry about that aspect at all. I also enjoy her gentle care of my baby and myself afterwards.  And it's always a pleasure to see her a couple of days after the birth to care for the baby and talk about various things concerning the birth.  I would highly recommend Julie Mercier as a midwife to anyone in good health.  In fact, I have talked about her to friends and family.  She is a wonderful midwife and I hope and pray we have her assistance for all our future births." Rebecca and Michael Stonebraker