Today we’d like to introduce you to Shari Camarata, APRN, CNM.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Caring for people has always been an interest of mine, from childhood taking care of neighborhood children and being a helper to families. As I got older, I pursued a degree in early childhood education with the goal of becoming a teacher. Science was a calling but I did not feel the fit in this field of education.
While living in Europe as a military spouse in a close-knit community, I found myself supporting families as they were giving birth. I would watch their children and help them unconsciously with physiological birth and parenting education even though I had never been pregnant and did not yet have a child. For fun, I read science books on embryology! Never really listened to the calling to work deeper into health or family studies or found my niche until I was thrust into single motherhood during my first pregnancy. At six months pregnant, my former spouse chose to not support our family and quickly had to listen to forces pushing me to greater heights.
Hiring a Doula during my pregnancy was a turning point in my life. She recommended a ton of books and I read them all. She stated you have a knack for this maybe you should become a doula, which led me to Seattle Midwifery, Simkin Center in Seattle, Wa; now a part of Bastyr University. With my tiny son in my arms and the support of friends and neighbors, I attended the 4-day intensive DONA doula training. Not soon after in 2006, I relocated to Katy, Texas to be closer to my family for support.
As a single mother taking jobs that paid the bills while trying to find my way as a doula. The Houston birth culture at this time was astonishingly unsupportive in comparison to Washington State. That pushed me to help our community grow.
Taking baby steps into midwifery by way of nursing education I took one class at a time at Lone Star College while working full-time as a school bus driver. Studying every chance I had. With the full support of family and friends who helped with the care of my son, I graduated with an Associate’s Degree in Nursing. Thankful for the first position as a registered nurse at Baylor Scott and White in Brenham. This unique small town hospital labor, birth, postpartum and well-baby nursery helped shape my young nurse education. I knew starting this position that it was a stepping stone to someday becoming a certified nurse-midwife. As I built my foundation I am thankful every day for the nurses and physicians that taught me how to care for women in this capacity.
I started my midwifery education in 2015 at Frontier Nursing University. Working at two other Houston area hospitals and a birthing center during my master’s education. It was a balancing act of schedules, studies, and family. I attest to this balancing act teaching me how to balance my midwifery practice and life nowadays.
Just before graduation with my master’s of science in nurse-midwifery, I accepted my first position at a birth center. It was a dream to be able to care for families in a community birth setting and also provide women care in a setting that was comfortable and non-invasive. Thus teaching me what it truly meant to meet people where they need to be. To make greater change in our community I took a position as a midwife in a hospital-based practice. I learned quickly this was not the role for me. Intervention and personal autonomy were shrouded by the need to meet business numbers. This is when Tulip Midwifery, LLC was born and we have been growing for almost 3 years. All while trying to take classes to complete my doctorate in nursing practice, which I am three classes away from completing.
Tulips are one of the rare flowers that continue to grow after they are cut, a symbol of both the birther and child growing after the umbilical cord is severed. As a certified nurse-midwife, it is my goal to assist in the education and reduction of the maternal mortality crisis that is currently plaguing our nation. Families need to be heard and it is my passion to listen as they are the experts of their bodies.
Coming from a foundation that needed support during my pregnancy, birth, and postpartum I recognize the holes left in our community. If I can assist and help one family then that will in turn educate and help hundreds, thousands, and generationally change the face of our maternal healthcare.
Who knew with a terrible turn of events in my life it would turn out like this, I would love to say that this is all about me but it truly is about the people I have the opportunity and honor to care for.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
So many struggles! From jobs that didn’t work to selling items to pay bills. The road to taking care of families has been long, tiring, and expensive. Finding your way in any career is tough but coming in with a ton of passion and experience from book knowledge is especially difficult when you have lives in your hands. Taking a deep breath at every turn and using every challenge as an educational opportunity has helped me stay humble and grow simultaneously.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Tulip Midwifery, LLC?
Tulip Midwifery, LLC specializes in wellness care for birthing families to include yearly well visits, pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and immediate newborn care. We are pleased to offer concierge appointments that allow us to really get to know our families in their spaces. Entering clients’ homes enables them to be more comfortable during exams, and we can see if their needs are being met, i.e. do they have food, a safe place to raise a family, identify abuse, and help them gain access to services as needed. Opening educational opportunities in more ways as our visits typically span an hour. Need-based care is essential to building healthy families.
We offer complimentary consultations and truly want our community to find the midwifery provider team that fits them. We consist of a team of professionals, one certified nurse-midwife, three student midwives, five trained birth assistants who all hold certifications in neonatal resuscitation, registered nurses, lactation specialists, and an administrative assistant.
How do you define success?
Defining success is through the response you have when you fail. You will fail at some point, success is learning from it and using it to fuel your next failure. My favorite fable is of the Farmer and the Donkey. I challenge everyone to read it and know that as long as you keep stepping up, you will succeed.
Contact Info:
- Website: TulipMidwifery.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tulipmidwifery/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tulipmidwifery
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@tulipmidwifery?_t=8Ufi487bqwA&_r=1
Image Credits
Lindsey Wilkins Photographer Sarah Fulton Photography Devynn Leanne Photography
