My Philosophy of Practice
I believe that pregnancy and birth is one of the most life changing things we as women do on this earth, when we are called to do it. It is the most intense physical, spiritual, and transformative experience you will ever have here on earth. I believe that our bodies were designed fearfully and wonderfully, and it is a blessing to birth and raise our babies when the gift is given to us by our Father in Heaven! Will we look at the experience during and after as a burden, or as a blessing? Our mindset will transform our character for better or worse, and becoming a mother is a great opportunity to build your faith. Our mindset will also make the pregnancy and birthing process more difficult, or one where can can actually COUNT IT ALL JOY (James 1:2) as we journey through the trial of labor, and ride the waves gracefully and powerfully! For God has not given us a spirit of FEAR, but of POWER and of LOVE and of a SOUND MIND. 2 Timothy 1:7. Believe it mamas!
I don't believe birth is a medical condition until we make it one, either by our action, or inaction. I believe we are called to take accountability in obedience to the Lord, caring for the temple we were given to the best of our ability so that our bodies can function at the capacity the Lord intended. I believe that if we do that, and there is still an unfavorable outcome, this was the Lords will and we have been called to something only HE can walk us through with faith, hope, and perseverance, given and guided by the Holy Spirit living within us!
I believe we were called to be fruitful and multiply, training up children for the Kingdom of Heaven. I think that being pregnant and subsequently going through labor is a blessing from our Father. I have faith in a woman’s ability to do well in labor, given the opportunity to be led by the Spirit, free in her own element, able to work with her natural instincts surrounded by people she feels safe with. I trust her instinct to move, eat, drink and be active during labor as she desires. I like to provide hands on support and guidance during this process when I can, but I highly recommend a doula since my job as a midwife is a little different and requires me to consider other elements of your birth process.
During your pregnancy, I strive to inform you on best practices, risks, benefits, and any alternatives to every screening, or procedure. I encourage your own research on topics you find important to your family, and will offer my opinion when desired. I won’t do anything without your consent and understanding. I listen to what is important to you first, and then encourage you to be in charge of your health after having the knowledge to do so.
I acknowledge the physical, psychological, spiritual and social experience the woman is having during her pregnancy, birth and postpartum period. I believe it is important to prepare my mamas for what these seasons might look and feel like so she and her partner are best equipped to handle the things "they don't tell you about birth". Since I believe birth is an intimate experience and really transforms women and families best in a comfortable, private, supportive environment of their choosing, I strive to establish a close trusting relationship with my clients to help provide that atmosphere for them.
I welcome sibling involvement, and promote breastfeeding and biblical parenting principles with the whole family as needed and desired. I respect and treat my clients as the individuals they are and don't believe in a "one size fits all" approach to healthcare. I believe in traditional midwifery practices that call upon nutritional and herbal remedies before pharmaceuticals, and strive to learn more and more about these practices each year that I do birth work.
If any of this resonates with you, I would love to work together.
I am so excited to be a part of your journey and look forward to serving you and yours!
Your birth team
Count it all Joy currently has a team of 2, sometimes 3 birth assistants to attend your birth.
My youngest assistant in training is my daughter Jadyn, and sometimes we even bring the husband along for prayer, heavy lifting and the support of your partner during the labor, making it a family affair! This sets us apart from any other practice in Arkansas. My husband can be an awesome asset to my team, supporting me spiritually and offering his own expertise when I need to bounce ideas off of someone who "gets it". He is the one I trust the most, he stays out of the way, and is not apart of your clinical care. He isn't a hands on part of your experience :). Learn more below!
I work with another midwife in the area as a second pair of trained hands for any emergencies that may arise, and she is a great asset as well!
In the future, I would love to, and plan to work with another apprentice midwife to raise up more CPMs in our area!
The Midwife
Jayde Girardo CPM, LLM
I'm an Arkansas transplant! I was raised in Lansing, Michigan and around 2011, I moved to a village called Bath, right outside of Lansing. This has created a love for small town life that will always stick with me! In 2022 I became a Clinton Arkansas resident, so the small town life will stay a part of me here! I am a biological mama to three kiddos and step mama to six more!
The children get super involved in my work, and get excited when I come home from births. They always want to know how the mama did, what gender baby is, what their name is, and how much they weighed! It is such a blessing to come home to after a long birth!
My family and I are currently spending our free time building up a homestead on our acreage and meeting people in our community. We homeschool our children, and we love to be active in networking as much as possible. Meeting new families through birth work has been such a joy and has afforded me and my husband new friends and partners. I feel so blessed to have served each and every one of them over the years!
Apprentice
Jadyn Girardo
I have always had a vision to share midwifery with one of my daughters in the future, and right now, Jadyn has shown enough interest that I have decided to train her as early as possible! She grew up experiencing her moms own births, and because of that, have grown to love birth and babies! She is our only child that can't wait to be a mom and wife :). She has gotten a better head start than I did; busy reading text books and other midwifery interest books with an eagerness, learning as much as she can, taking notes and asking questions. She has been NRP and CPR trained, and will continue to attend trainings with me yearly, and will continue learning from hands on birth experience- the best kind! Right now she is at an observe level of her training and is learning what it looks like to assist at a birth and how to assist during prenatal appointments. She is good at capturing pictures of beautiful moments as well :). She is humble, sweet, and shy, slowly learning to come into her own in this profession. Please welcome her into the fold as a fly on the wall, soaking it all in as she finds her way! It is always ideal to have at least two pair of hands at a birth, even just to chart for me, do clean up and make you breakfast! She will be at some of your prenatal visits and will attend your birth.
Jacob Girardo
The hubs
My husband Jacob, and his late wife had 6 home births together. Four of those births were unassisted, one was breech, and one was followed up with a pretty sketchy hemorrhage! They sought the Lord alone in these experiences and were very blessed through it. He has a ton of wisdom that a lot of dads don't have because of it, and this has been a blessing to the dads we've worked with.
During the day, his job is to be a jack of all trades contractor for hire- especially on our homestead! But his other passion is helping families realize the benefits of home birth and birthing on your own terms, and most importantly with the support guidance of the Lord. God brought us together after many trials in both of our lives, and he is such a blessing to have on my side. He is my rock, and my best friend. I glean from his Spirit, and his wisdom just as much as my own when it comes to birth...but not just :).
Together, we're strong believers and have a passion for teaching. Some families ask that he come to their birth to add an extra layer of support through prayer, comradery and heavy lifting if necessary. If not needed, he just hangs in the other room in case I need him, OR he doesn't come to your birth at all. He is an optional perk ;).
Education and Background
My academic background started when I completed the Child Development and Early Childhood Education program at Lansing Community College, in Michigan graduating in 2012. I was a preschool teacher for several years while I had my own children. My doula training was completed after my second child came, and that was at the Center for the Childbearing Year in Ann Arbor, MI. in 2013.
In 2016, I started my apprenticeship as a student midwife with a local CPM on a whim, hoping midwifery was actually my calling! I took a leap and was back in school. I spent 3 years with that midwife and until 2023, worked in 6 other practices in 3 states, in the home, hospital, and birth center settings.
In 2017 I enrolled into The Midwives College of Utah, and completed my degree for a Bachelor’s in the Science of Midwifery in April of 2023, in conjunction with my apprenticeships, and a few trips to my campus in Utah for in person, hands on skills testing during each phase of my training. I then passed the national NARM exam, awarding the credential of CPM, certified professional midwife in late 2023. I became licensed in the state of Arkansas at that time as well.
Count It all Joy Midwifery opened September 2023!
I continue to run my own practice as a doula, Jayde the Doula, when I'm called to it, but it is not often given there are so many awesome doulas across the state!
I try to find time to enjoy keeping things in balance within my home and family most importantly. :)