Terra Crist, CPM
My journey with midwifery began as a little girl, I just didn’t know it at the time. I’ve always been drawn to pregnancy and birth and wanted to do something meaningful with my life, even when I didn’t know what midwifery was. When I had my first child, the experience didn’t go as I hoped: I wasn’t prepared or well informed and I left the birth feeling like it happened TO me. I felt like I missed out on a moment I had longed for my whole life. That experience lit a fire inside of me. I knew there had to be a better way for women to experience one of the most important days of their lives. In 2013, when my daughter was 2, I signed up for my first doula training.
Nearly a decade later I had my own home birth with my son. That experience was powerful and made me realize that midwifery was the meaningful work I’d been searching for. I began my apprenticeship in December 2021 and had the honor of witnessing and helping many families welcome their babies into the world during that time. I passed my NARM exam, became a Certified Professional Midwife and officially opened my practice, Heirloom Homebirth, in 2025.
My philosophy is that childbirth is natural, sacred, and deserves deep respect. I believe in trusting a woman’s body, supporting her informed choices, and creating a nurturing space where both mother and baby are seen and honored. My practice serves Saint Joseph, MO, where I reside, along with the rest of Northwest MO and the Kansas City region. I look forward to hearing from you!