Meet Tiffany Miller CPM, RM | Home Birth Midwife

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tiffany Miller CPM, RM and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tiffany, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
Over time, I have discovered that there is really no such thing as work-life balance as a home birth midwife. Not on a day-to-day basis, anyway. On any given day, in order to be a good midwife, I have to miss events in my family’s life. Or vice-versa, in order to be a good mom, I have to send a back-up to attend a birth in my stead. Someone has to feel disappointed, and that certainly does not feel like balance most of the time, no matter how understanding and flexible my clients, my family, and my friends are able to be. In fact, I walk with a lot of grace from important people in my life. My life is a series of deciding on which side the scales will tip in a given moment. Over the long term, that tipping should reflect more of a “long-haul” balance as I look back over the time.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I have my own private home birth practice, called Preparing for Birth (PFB), in Colorado Springs. I am also part of a small group practice, the Peak Midwife Collective (PMC), and we work together to make home birth a bit more financially accessible to more families in the area. I work with Emily Thompson and Jennifer Green in the PMC.

What sets me apart is probably my focus on family-centered care. While the birthing mom and her baby are my central focus, her immediate family and chosen support people are very important to me. I like to help facilitate care that creates space for the family to grow together and walk out their own journey as they integrate a new human into their lives and home together. I really enjoy helping prepare any siblings too! Those little ones who are so curious, full of questions, and even want to “help” me examine their mother might be my favorite. There is nothing like answering questions from small humans and seeing their eyes light up when a grown-up takes them seriously and includes them. Very little brings me more joy in my work than building a relationship with an entire family. I think this aspect is what is most exciting about my work, honestly.

Yes, birth is amazing, and it never gets old. However, if I wasn’t able to attend any more births ever again, I think I could be content simply caring for women and their families prenatally and during the postpartum time forever. That’s the heart and soul of my work.

I got to where I am through sheer perseverance. I just didn’t stop. I kept showing up, learning, studying, growing, practicing, crying, straining, and pushing through. I asked for help, I leaned on my mentors and my family for support. I let go of relationships that couldn’t sustain my being on-call. Was it easy? Not. At. All. There was nothing easy about getting to where I am today, and I am eternally grateful for the privilege of calling myself a midwife.

Sometimes, it feels like I woke up one day as a midwife, but when I look back, I marvel at the steps I had to take to get here, and feel a little bit proud of myself. That said, just when I think I know so much, something happens that reminds me that there is always something to learn as a midwife. The lessons are new and varied, and come from the least expected corners. The most important lesson is to stay humble and hold everything with open hands.

There’s a reason we call it the “practice” of midwifery! It’s incredibly humbling work.

I want people to know that I am here to walk with them through their perinatal year with honest guidance, strong emotional support, and a steady belief in their inherent ability to navigate this time with intelligence, grace, and strength on their own terms.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Garden of the Gods is an absolute must. I have lived here for seventeen years, and never get tired of walking around, and taking pictures at Balanced Rock! Another must-see, especially if these friends have children is Michael Garman’s Magic Town, and the scavenger hunt. Even my teenagers have enjoyed going there as they grew. It’s so delightful, reminds me a bit of Norman Rockwell, and has something in the “Town” for everyone. Bear Creek Nature Center is another favorite, and I head there by myself sometimes just to put my bare feet in the little creek that runs through it. It’s yet another great spot for families, with easy hiking trails and events at the Nature Center itself. Red Rocks Open Space is another favorite for outdoor activities and family photos. The old quarry is incredible, especially if your kids think they’re mountain goats.

If I’m feeling fancy, walking around the grounds, galleries, and shops at the Broadmoor Hotel is a lot of fun, as is going for a drive in the Broadmoor area and admiring all the beautiful homes in that area. Tea at Glen Eyrie is also a fun excuse to dress up a little bit and have some quiet visiting time with a good girlfriend.

As for favorite restaurants, I love Elephant Thai on Academy for Thai food. Skirted Heifer and Drifter’s for burgers and fries are the best. Rooster’s House of Ramen is the absolute best bowl of ramen you can get anywhere — thinking about the broth is making my mouth water, actually. Pho-Nomenal is my favorite Vietnamese cuisine, and I always get their barbeque pork noodle bowl.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First, I want to dedicate my shoutout to the midwives who cared for me during my pregnancies, inspiring me to become a midwife myself: Eileen Greenham, CNM and Merrie MacDowell. Without these women and their assistants, I would never have thought to pursue a career in being “with woman” as a midwife. Next, my husband Levi, and our four kids. They’ve grown up with a mother who has been on-call for others from the earliest days of their lives, sharing me with strangers. Their support has been enthusiastic and unwavering, and I could not have done this work without their blessing and support. Last, but not least, my midwife mentors: Desirre Andrews (my preceptor), Emily Thompson, and Jennifer Green — all Certified Professional Midwives licensed in Colorado. They have each held my hands, guided me, been shoulders to cry on through the hard cases, and answered my seemingly endless questions as I navigated my midwifery studies and the earliest days of my practice. Of course, there are so many others, too many to name, but these were (and are) my cornerstones.

Website: https://prepforbirth.com/

Instagram: @preparingforbirth

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PreparingForBirth