Meet the (Student) Midwife: Olivia Hartley-Belle

My interest in birth work started when I was pregnant with my twins because my prenatal care experience was full of pushback. During every appointment, I expressed my desire to give birth vaginally, but my providers dismissed my needs and wants. Although at first my OB practice seemed open to the idea of a vaginal birth, it quickly became clear that a scheduled C-section was likely. My providers were adamant about a surgical birth.

I left every visit feeling rushed and with many unanswered questions. That meant I was Googling information, which only added to my pregnancy anxiety. Just getting basic care was a nightmare for me. Even though twin A was head-down, I did have a C-section. Following my twins’ birth, I continued to be disregarded during my postpartum care.

After that experience, I knew I wanted to be a midwife, but it wasn’t feasible for me to pursue the Certified Nurse Midwifery path. Still, I wanted to do more — to help other women have pregnancy and birth experiences where they would feel listened to and valued. I began doing doula work for my family and, in 2020, I completed Latham Thomas’s Mama Glow doula training, where I won a scholarship.

After beginning work as a paid doula, I met two midwifery students who were enrolled at Florida School of Traditional Midwifery (FSTM). Once I discovered the Certified Professional Midwife path, I applied to FSTM. Because I had earned a biology degree from Florida A&M University, that covered my science and math prerequisites and even some of my first semester classes.

As a current FSTM student, I am completing my training at Magnolia. I enjoy it because it’s environmentally friendly, and the team cuts down on waste and is aware of reusable items. There’s also a lot of diversity among the staff and the clients. Plus, we offer holistic care that focuses on mental and emotional health, not just physical wellness.

I’m excited to be at Magnolia because I’m from Miami. When I was growing up in South Miami Heights, the options for reproductive care were not the best. Many folks are on Medicaid, and the providers there who take Medicaid are not giving high quality care. There are no midwives and no birth centers.

After finishing my midwifery training and earning my license, I want to be a community midwife in the area where I grew up. If someone is pregnant and wants to see a midwife, that should be an option for them. I hope to be able to provide that in the future.

In my free time, I like to spend time with my children and fiancé, visit with friends, and eat good food.

At Magnolia, we want to help you achieve your out-of-hospital birth while keeping you and your baby safe. To learn more about prenatal care and birth services at Magnolia, fill out our form to set up a free consultation!