Meet the Midwife
Shannon Greika, CPM, CDEM
Shannon Greika is a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) and Indiana licensed Certified Direct Entry Midwife (CDEM) offering home birth services in Central Indiana. Shannon graduated from Midwives College of Utah with an Associates of Science in Midwifery. Her journey into midwifery has been a long one starting with the birth of her own children. Each birth transformed her in so many ways which gave her a calling to serve mothers and babies.
Shannon’s career in birth services first began as a doula certified through Doulas of North America (DONA) working for Community Heath Network and in private practice. Shannon then apprenticed with a home birth certified nurse midwife for 3 1/2 years and birth assisted for several other home birth midwives. She also spent 6 weeks in the Philippines working in a high volume birth center delivering babies as a student midwife under supervision.
Other Certifications/Workshops/Accomplishments:
Shannon’s career in birth services first began as a doula certified through Doulas of North America (DONA) working for Community Heath Network and in private practice. Shannon then apprenticed with a home birth certified nurse midwife for 3 1/2 years and birth assisted for several other home birth midwives. She also spent 6 weeks in the Philippines working in a high volume birth center delivering babies as a student midwife under supervision.
Other Certifications/Workshops/Accomplishments:
- Secretary of Indiana Midwives Association
- Adult CPR Certified
- Neonatal Resuscitation Program Certified
- S.T.A.B.L.E Course Certified
- Completed Certified Lactation Specialist training
- Gail Tully's Spinning Babies and Shoulder Dystocia Workshop
- Vaginal Breech Workshop by Dr. Peter O'Neil, Dr. Frank Louwen, & Betty-Anne Daviss, RM
- Birth Emergencies Skills Training (B.E.S.T) taught by Andrea Dixon, CNM
- Numerous local skills workshops taught by local midwives
- Founding organizer of Preserving Indiana Birth Choices (Red Tent Event)
Cassandra Barker, Student Midwife
Cassandra was inspired to enter birth work after welcoming her first daughter at home attended by midwives. Throughout her own journey she became increasingly more aware of the common experiences parents have within the hospital maternity system and how it directly reflects in the trending poor outcomes for maternal and infant morbidity and mortality. Advocating for gentle, respectful care and birth experiences through education and support instantly became a fiery passion. She has been serving families in her community since 2016 as a Doula and Midwife's Assistant, and as an Early Childhood Educator since 2009. Cassandra began her midwifery program and clinical training with Shannon in the fall of 2021. When she graduates she will become a Certified Professional Midwife and Indiana Licensed Certified Direct Entry Midwife, and provide maternity and home birth services within Hendricks County and surrounding areas. Cassandra also started a local non-profit organization in 2022 - the Indiana Birth Coalition - to unite community birth workers, improve continuity for home birth families, and increase access to midwifery care. She resides in Avon with her two daughters and husband of 13 years.
Other Certifications/Workshops Completed:
- NRP Certified (Neonatal Resuscitation Program)
- Adult CPR Certified
- B.E.S.T. Workshop Certified (Birth Emergency Skills Training)
- Reteach Breech with Dr. Stu Fischbein
- Shoulder Dystocia, Suturing, & IV Therapy with Lynn Arnold
- Certified Childbirth Educator
Other Certifications/Workshops Completed:
- NRP Certified (Neonatal Resuscitation Program)
- Adult CPR Certified
- B.E.S.T. Workshop Certified (Birth Emergency Skills Training)
- Reteach Breech with Dr. Stu Fischbein
- Shoulder Dystocia, Suturing, & IV Therapy with Lynn Arnold
- Certified Childbirth Educator
Birth Philosophy
Midwives view pregnancy and birth as a natural, physiological process that the body is designed for. In most cases, giving birth is typically best and safest when left undisturbed as much as possible. However, at times intervention is needed and midwives are trained to identify when things fall outside of normal. Midwives are continually evaluating during the pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum period for risk factors or identification of problems that require transfer of care or consultation with a physician. Pregnancy and birth are also best supported with good nutrition, personal responsibility by the mother for the pregnancy, and attentive clinical management throughout the childbearing cycle. Midwifery care includes the family in the decision making process working together as a collaborative team giving individualized care in an unhurried environment. And lastly, giving birth is a powerful, life-changing experience, where babies, as well as mothers, are born.
Shannon Greika, CPM, CDEM
Shannon Greika, CPM, CDEM
