As many great love stories between midwife sisters go, we first met in the company of a brave, laboring client. It was the spring of 2011, Nicole was a midwifery student and Alisha, a seasoned midwife, the assistant to Nicole’s preceptor. There was an immediate resonance between our compassionate spirits. In the couple years that followed, we found ourselves at a number of beautiful and challenging births. Nicole appreciated Alisha’s calm presence, insights into the subtle nuances of labor and birth, and the way she always encouraged her to practice new skills. Alisha appreciated Nicole’s enormous heart, loyalty, and commitment to midwifery.

In 2013, we had the excitement and pleasure of giving birth just 8 days apart to our precious boys, who happen to have the same name (…yes, we consulted one another ;) Our midwifery careers transformed alongside our growing families and in 2015 the stars aligned for us become midwifery partners. Over the years, our appreciation for one another and our midwife sisterhood has only grown. In our deep commitment to collaboration, growth, sustainability, and self-examination, we have created a practice that allows us to flourish both personally and professionally.

A word about our lens: As white women, we acknowledge there are structural forces that perpetuate racism and race-based disparities in health care. We are actively working to recognize and address our implicit biases, internalized racism, and potential contribution to systemic racism. We are committed to providing nonjudgmental, culturally sensitive care to all of our clients.

Alisha Madrone, RN, NP, CNM (she/her)

My calling to midwifery began, literally, as a dream… I was halfway through my undecided undergraduate studies when I woke one morning with a deep knowing of the work I needed to do in the world. Luckily for me, taking classes of interest had steered me in the right direction. In 2000, I graduated with my bachelor’s in nursing from Auburn University. I worked as a labor and delivery travel nurse in Tennessee, Oregon, Colorado, California, and Hawaii. Being present with women during the challenging and transforming process of birth confirmed my passion and in 2002, I moved to Oregon to begin my graduate studies at Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU).

Upon graduating from OHSU in 2004, I practiced full scope midwifery with the Women’s Health Center of Oregon. I cared for individuals throughout the childbearing years and beyond, providing numerous gynecology visits and delivering hundreds of babies. Inspired to find a better balance for my love of midwifery, natural medicine, and a healthy lifestyle, I found myself compelled to study Chinese Medicine. I took a year of coursework at the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine before realizing that what I needed was not another degree, but a job that more accurately reflected my values, beliefs, and lifestyle.

I became a partner at Vivante Midwifery in the spring of 2008 and catching babies at home was a fast love. Simultaneously, I was hired by Oregon Health and Science University to run a gynecology midwifery clinic and be on call for labor and delivery. Additionally, I had the privilege of offering clinical guidance to nurse midwifery, medical, and resident students as adjunct faculty.

With the birth of my first son in the fall of 2009 came a new vision for the expanded breadth of my passions. Continuing to care for the folks and families I had grown to love, while at the same time being present for the blossoming of my own family became my mission. I gave birth to Flourish Wellness and Midwifery in 2011 and subsequently to my second son in the winter of 2013. My dream for a blessed family, a practice of caring for deeply inspiring individuals, and the collaboration of a shared wellness haven have all come to fruition.

When I’m not practicing midwifery, I can be found moving my body in ways and places that make me feel alive, investing in meaningful relationships, and reflecting on my deep gratitude for this one precious life.

Nicole Bendotoff, CPM, LDM (she/her)

After many years of sweet births and heartfelt collaboration with Alisha, Nicole is taking sabbatical from Flourish. You can find her at nicolealyce@gmail.com if you’d like to get in touch or are interested in pelvic floor work.