Meet The Team

Moriah Ross

Birth doula, birth assistant, placenta specialist

I am the second oldest of seven children and daughter of a nurse-lactation consultant-midwife, so pretty much my whole life has been spent around pregnant and lactating women and babies. I was even born on World Doula Day!

I first became interested in babies and birth when I was very young and visited my mom at work in the hospital. She would take me to look at the babies through the windows. I watched shows like "The Business of Being Born" and "Call the Midwife." I began my career in birth work attending home births with my mom as a home birth assistant in 2019. I later received my doula certification in 2020.

People describe me as calm, level-headed and having a gentle spirit. When I am supporting a new mother in labor, my focus is on her mood and comfort and easing her passage through active labor and transition.

When I am not working with new moms and babies, I am a jazz trombonist. I plan to graduate from UAM this December with a degree in music.

I also love singing in a choir, Marvel, and cats.

Photos © Wandering Oaks Motherhood and Birth

Paula Ross

Registered Nurse,

Certified Professional Midwife,

International Board Certified Lactation Consultant

I've been a Registered Nurse since 1997. During my 20+ years in the hospital, I worked in the CCU, Labor & Delivery, Mother-Baby, NICU, and Lactation. My strong desire to help new families get the best start feeding their babies prompted me to become an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) in 2015.

After my first home birth in 2008, I started feeling "the call." I began assisting midwives at home births and also trained as a doula.

In 2016, I began a midwifery apprenticeship under Deb Phillips (who was and still is "my midwife" even though I am no longer having babies.) I became nationally certified as a Certified Professional Midwife in 2020.

I am a nurse and a midwife but not a nurse-midwife.

(Did you know there are different types of midwives?)
I chose to become a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) rather than a Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) for many reasons, but mainly because I preferred attending home births over hospital births. Spending time getting to know families in the months leading up to the birth...watching labor, birth, and bonding unfold in the family’s own comfortable environment...continuing that relationship after the baby is born...these are rewarding aspects of homebirth midwifery.

I believe in the Midwives Model of Care. I believe our bodies are fearfully and wonderfully made, and I trust in our ability to give birth. I believe that for most healthy mothers and babies, the less we interfere with the process, the better the chances of a good birth outcome. Midwives safeguard "normal."

I am currently not attending births, choosing to focus on my family and my health during this season in my life. I am offering education, coaching, and virtual support for pregnancy, birth, and lactation. In addition, I am offering placenta encapsulation and gender testing. However, I do assist the licensed midwives when I can. I will happily point you to a midwife near you or help you find one who will be a "good fit."

On a personal note...

I am a Christian who believes that my work should be rooted in love for God first and then love and respect for all people.

I will celebrate 25 years of marriage with my love this year and have birthed seven of my own lovely children, both in the hospital and at home.

To ensure that I am giving my best to others, I make a point of regularly carving out time to replenish my mind, body, and soul. Some of the things that keep me feeling peaceful and joyful are daily prayer and Bible study, practicing martial arts, playing guitar and piano, and concocting herbal remedies. When I'm not working, you'll find me out in nature, at a football game, wrestling match, or jazz concert.