Dr. Janneli F. Miller started attending births at home in the late 1970's after the birth of her own daughter at home. "I had such a wonderful experience, I thought that every woman should be able to have the choice to give birth at home," says Dr. Miller. She trained with Dr. Gilbert Fulton at the Northwest School of Practical Midwifery in Portland OR, and received her certification in 1978. Janneli moved out to NE Oregon in 1980 and started a home birth practice in the Grande Ronde Valley, where she lived and worked for the next 10 years. In 1989 Janneli and her family moved to Flagstaff AZ, where she joined WomanCare Midwifery, and then practiced on her own before moving to Mexico.
Janneli's curiosity and intellect took her to Tucson AZ and the Sierra Madre of N. Mexico, where she completed research for a PhD in Anthropology by working and living among the Tarahumara Indians. Her dissertation from the University of Arizona is titled "Birthing Practices of the Rarámuri of Northern Mexico" and examines the practice of solitary birth among this hardy indigenous group. Janneli fell in love with the Rarámuri and lived among them in a small rancho in the highlands of the Batopilas canyon for several years. Tarahumara (Rarámuri) women traditionally gave birth alone outside, or with the company of a child or female relative, often upright or kneeling as they caught their babies themselves. Miller's research documented this practice and the shift from wilderness birth to home birth, and most recently to clinic birth, as government sponsored medical personnel encourage young women to deliver in clinics. Since the Sierra is being increasingly overrun by loggers, narcos (drug traffickers) and tourists, the forests are no longer quiet and safe places to give birth, so women started birthing at home. The practice of solitary birth has often been maligned by medical professionals, and Janneli's passion is to demonstrate how the practice among the Tarahumara is efficacious and culturally relevant.
She has published some of her research in the following edited volumes:
Miller, Janneli F. (In Press) Solitary And Kin Assisted Rarámuri Birth: Ideals And Realities. In Birth Models On The Edge: Finding Solutions To Global Controversies. Volume II Of Birth Models That Work, 2009. Eds. Robbie Davis-Floyd, Lesley Barclay, Betty-Anne Daviss, and Jan Tritten. Berkeley And London: University Of California Press.
Miller, Janneli F. (2009) Husband Assisted Birth Among the Rarámuri of Northern Mexico. In The Second Sex: Men, Sexuality and Masculinity, Marcia Inhorn, Maruska la Cour Mosegaard, Helen Goldberg and Tine Tjørnhøj-Thomsen, Eds. Berghan Books.
Miller considers herself a "community midwife," and although she is retired from her midwifery practice, she may be available in special circumstances to help support pregnant women. She currently offers several birth related services, as seen below.
Janneli's curiosity and intellect took her to Tucson AZ and the Sierra Madre of N. Mexico, where she completed research for a PhD in Anthropology by working and living among the Tarahumara Indians. Her dissertation from the University of Arizona is titled "Birthing Practices of the Rarámuri of Northern Mexico" and examines the practice of solitary birth among this hardy indigenous group. Janneli fell in love with the Rarámuri and lived among them in a small rancho in the highlands of the Batopilas canyon for several years. Tarahumara (Rarámuri) women traditionally gave birth alone outside, or with the company of a child or female relative, often upright or kneeling as they caught their babies themselves. Miller's research documented this practice and the shift from wilderness birth to home birth, and most recently to clinic birth, as government sponsored medical personnel encourage young women to deliver in clinics. Since the Sierra is being increasingly overrun by loggers, narcos (drug traffickers) and tourists, the forests are no longer quiet and safe places to give birth, so women started birthing at home. The practice of solitary birth has often been maligned by medical professionals, and Janneli's passion is to demonstrate how the practice among the Tarahumara is efficacious and culturally relevant.
She has published some of her research in the following edited volumes:
Miller, Janneli F. (In Press) Solitary And Kin Assisted Rarámuri Birth: Ideals And Realities. In Birth Models On The Edge: Finding Solutions To Global Controversies. Volume II Of Birth Models That Work, 2009. Eds. Robbie Davis-Floyd, Lesley Barclay, Betty-Anne Daviss, and Jan Tritten. Berkeley And London: University Of California Press.
Miller, Janneli F. (2009) Husband Assisted Birth Among the Rarámuri of Northern Mexico. In The Second Sex: Men, Sexuality and Masculinity, Marcia Inhorn, Maruska la Cour Mosegaard, Helen Goldberg and Tine Tjørnhøj-Thomsen, Eds. Berghan Books.
Miller considers herself a "community midwife," and although she is retired from her midwifery practice, she may be available in special circumstances to help support pregnant women. She currently offers several birth related services, as seen below.
Blessing (Birth Ritual) $250
Janneli has been providing women with pre-birth blessing gatherings since the 1980's. A Blessing is a special Ceremonial event that takes places 2-3 weeks before a pregnant woman's due date. The intimate gathering usually consists of the pregnant women's closest friends and family members, who join together to share special poems, songs, inspirations, gifts and ceremonies. The pregnant woman is honored in her role of bringing new life to the world, and is blessed before the birth experience. Call for more information.
Placenta Encapsulation $100
Janneli learned the traditional Chinese method of preparing a placenta for use as medicine for the mother and baby from Raven Lang. She has been making this medicine for her home birth clients since the 1980's and would be happy to share this resource with you. Please call if you are interested.
Doula services Prices negotiable
Janneli is available to accompany you to the hospital and act as a labor support advocate for you. She is knowledgeable about birth and understands how important it is to have emotional support during the birth experience. For more information please do not hesitate to call.
Janneli has been providing women with pre-birth blessing gatherings since the 1980's. A Blessing is a special Ceremonial event that takes places 2-3 weeks before a pregnant woman's due date. The intimate gathering usually consists of the pregnant women's closest friends and family members, who join together to share special poems, songs, inspirations, gifts and ceremonies. The pregnant woman is honored in her role of bringing new life to the world, and is blessed before the birth experience. Call for more information.
Placenta Encapsulation $100
Janneli learned the traditional Chinese method of preparing a placenta for use as medicine for the mother and baby from Raven Lang. She has been making this medicine for her home birth clients since the 1980's and would be happy to share this resource with you. Please call if you are interested.
Doula services Prices negotiable
Janneli is available to accompany you to the hospital and act as a labor support advocate for you. She is knowledgeable about birth and understands how important it is to have emotional support during the birth experience. For more information please do not hesitate to call.