Ashley Musil is a midwife, co-owner and clinical director at Wellspring Midwifery Care & Birth Center. She is also the president of the Greater Houston Midwives' Alliance. She completed her midwifery training in 2013, and became a Texas state licensed midwife and a Certified Professional Midwife in early 2014. She opened a homebirth practice in Spring, TX and also began working part-time at a local birth center in 2014. She and her mother, Karla Mercieca, joined together to open Wellspring Midwifery Care & Birth Center in Kingwood, TX in January 2016, where she offers both birth center and home births. In the fall of 2016, she trained with Evidence Based Birth® to become an Evidence Based Birth ® Instructor and began teaching classes about evidence-based maternity care to birth professionals in 2017. She has a passion for continuing education as well as inter-professional education as a means to bring professionals from various areas of the maternity care system together. She also teaches Childbirth Classes at Wellspring. She currently teaches Evidence Based Birth® Childbirth Classes and has taught Christian Childbirth Classes in the past. She also teaches student midwives for the Association of Texas Midwives.
Ashley believes in the power of women and their bodies. God designed women's bodies to grow babies, birth them, and feed them. For most women, these are very normal functions that should be treated as such. Women need to be trusted and empowered to make their own decisions on their journey toward motherhood. They need to feel they can trust their care provider and loved ones to assist them safely through that journey as well. Ashley feels very strongly that she was divinely called to midwifery and serving women during the most sacred time of their lives.
Ashley also holds a B.A. in Visual Communication and Design from Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa. She has six children, and her husband is a Sheriff's Deputy and Accident Investigator for Harris County Sheriff's Office. She is passionate about essential oils and natural healthcare, and occasionally teaches classes about essential oil use during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. Her passion in life is to see women empowered by their choices, inspired by their dreams, and aspiring to meet their goals.
EDUCATION
Association of Texas Midwives
Graduate Midwife 2013
Northwestern College
B.A. Visual Communication and Design 2005
Magna Cum Laude
LICENSURE/CERTIFICATIONS
North American Registry of Midwives
Midwifery Bridge Certificate 2017
State of Texas
Licensed Midwife 2014
North American Registry of Midwives
Certified Professional Midwife 2014
American Heart Association
Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers 2017
American Academy of Pediatrics
Neonatal Resuscitation Program 2017
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Wellspring Midwifery Care & Birth Center
Licensed Midwife and Certified Professional Midwife 2014 – Present
Birth center and homebirth practice providing care for low-risk pregnant women throughout antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum.
Greater Houston Midwives' Alliance
President (formerly Secretary) 2015 - Present
Ashley was elected as Secretary of the Greater Houston Midwives' Alliance in 2015, and after serving four years in that role was elected as President of the organization. In that role, she represents her community midwives as a liaison, organizes continuing education for the group, and facilitates meetings and subcommittee work groups.
North Houston Birth Center 2014 - 2017
Part-time Staff Midwife
Provide on-call midwifery services on a part-time basis for a busy birth center, caring for low-risk women throughout antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum.
Monotrice/Doula 2012 – Present
Provide labor support and prenatal counseling for women choosing or needing a hospital birth.
Instructor/Speaker 2011 – Present
Teach classes and participate in panel discussions on topics such as health, wellness, entrepreneurship, childbirth courses, and natural healthcare alternatives in both private and public settings and at local conferences.
Health and Freedom Midwifery Care
Apprentice Midwife 2011 – 2013
Trained under a Licensed Midwife. Actively assisted or acted as primary midwife under supervision during prenatal appointments, postpartum appointments, and at homebirths.
West Houston Birth Center
Apprentice Midwife 2012 – 2013
Trained under a Certified Professional Midwife. Acted as primary midwife under supervision or birth assistant in a birth center and at homebirths.
North Houston Birth Center
Student Midwife 2013
Observed births in a birth center under a Certified Nurse Midwife.
TLC Birthing Services
Student Midwife 2012
Actively assisted with homebirths under a Certified Professional Midwife.
PUBLICATIONS AND PAPERS
“Labor Encouragement with Essential Oils”
Educational article published in Midwifery Today, Issue 107 2013
"For a Gentle Birth, Just Add Water"
Article published in Natural Awakenings Magazine, May 2017 2017
CONTINUING EDUCATION
MANA Conference, Cedar Creek, TX 2019
Gold Online Midwifery Conference 2019
AABC Birth Institute, Fort Worth, TX 2018
Association of Texas Midwives Annual Conference, Navasota, TX 2017
Birth Emergency Skills Training, Houston, TX and Knoxville, TN 2017
Evidence Based Birth Instructor Training, Online 2016
Limited OB Ultrasound Skills Training, AHEC, Houston, TX 2016
WIC Breastfeeding Management for Providers, Kingwood, TX 2016
Association of Texas Midwives Annual Conference, Navasota, TX 2016
Midwifery Today Conference, Harrisburg, PN 2016
Association of Texas Midwives Annual Conference, Conroe, TX 2015
The Gathering of Midwives, Kerrville, TX 2014
Association of Texas Midwives Annual Conference, Dallas, TX 2012
PROFESSIONAL/BUSINESS MEMBERSHIPS
American Association of Birth Centers
North American Registry of Midwives
Greater Houston Midwives Alliance
Evidence Based Birth® Professional Member
American Pregnancy Association
From Ashley:
"I have heard it said that the day you give birth is just one day in your life. What's the big deal? Well, the big deal is that it is one day in your life that you will remember for the rest of your life. Women swap birth stories with each other... it's what we do! Perfect strangers will share their birth stories because it's where we find common ground. It's part of our life story. The excitement, the disappointment, the triumphs and empowerment, or the hurts and feelings of failure. It is a much more important day than most of us realize at the time. Do yourself a huge favor and, first of all, pray about your upcoming birth. Discuss your desires with your family and significant other. Then, interview several midwives in your area to find the right fit. It may only be one day, but it is one of the most important days of your life. You want someone you trust to journey alongside you as you welcome your sweet little bundle into the world."
~ Ashley Musil, 2014