G.B. Khalsa Certified Professional Midwife; Licensed Midwife

I have met licensing requirements with the Texas Department of Health, as required by law, since 1982.

Midwifery Certification

Professional Midwife Certification/North American Registry of Midwives (NARM).
This certification became available to midwives nationally in 1997

1999

Professional Midwife Certification/Association of Texas Midwives

1995

EMT -- Emergency Medical Technician – 170 hours / Austin Community College

1992

Texas Department of Health – Voluntary Midwifery Course and Exam – given to midwives prior to formal midwifery licensure in 2004.

1992

University of Texas – Language Studies / Spanish – Conversation and Medical Personnel

1987

Affiliations

Association of Texas Midwives – Associate Member 1982 -2023
Midwives Alliance of North America – Voting Member 1984 – 2023

CPR and Neonatal Resuscitation

- Adult and Infant CPR Certification – Bi-Annual Recertification 1982-2021
- Neonatal Resuscitation – Bi-annual Recertification 1982-2021

Conferences

Midwifery conferences cover a broad range of topics including: prenatal care, management of normal labor and delivery, complications of pregnancy, birth and postpartum, neonatal infection, transport of a sick newborn, infant resuscitation, lab work, suturing, herbs, birth control, family counseling and more. My midwifery study is continuous, consisting of seminars approved by the Texas Department of Health, research and studies from medical and nurse-midwifery journals, conferences and peer review with other experienced midwives.

Association of Texas Midwives Annual Conference – 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2014, 2019
Midwifery Today Conference - Eugene, Oregon 2017
Midwives Alliance of North America – San Francisco, California 2009
Midwives Alliance of North America – El Paso, Texas 1991
Midwives Alliance of North America – San Francisco, California 1993
Midwives Alliance of North America – Austin, Texas 1996 *Workshop Instructor

Additional Training

- Scar Release Technique -2020, 2021 Healing Technique for post C-Section / Episiotomy
- Myofascial Release – Alastair McGloughlin Chester, England 2019
- Myofascial Release / Pediatric – Judy Terwilliger RN – Bristol, England 2018
- Infant / Pediatric Cranial Sacral Therapy – Alison Hazelbaker PhD – Portland Oregon 2017
- Gold Conference for Midwives – Virtual 18 hours – 2016, 2017, 2020
- Gold Conference for Lactation – Virtual 18 hours - 2019, 2021
- Tongue Tie Workshop – Virtual 10 hours 2022

- Maternal Cranial Sacral Therapy Workshop - 28 hours - Carol Gray 2018

- Infant Cranial Sacral Therapy Workshop - 28 hours - Carol Gray 2017
- Cranial Sacral Therapy Conference – 20 hours – Portland Oregon 2012
- Infant Cranial Sacral Therapy Workshop – 24 hours – Carol Gray 2015
- Cranial Sacral 2 Year Foundation Training – Ged Sumner 2014-2016
- Birthing From Within – Pam England 2007
- Mayan Abdominal Massage – Professional training 2009
- Mayan Abdominal Massage – Self-Care 2008
- Pediatric Cranial Sacral Therapy 2 Year Foundation Training-John Chitty 2008-2010
- Pediatric Cranial Sacral Therapy – Benjamin Shields 2008
- Biodynamic Cranial Sacral Certification John Chitty 2010
- Cranial Sacral Fundamentals – Regina Callahan 2007
- Pediatrics: Examining the Well Baby – George Wootan M.D. 1986, 1989, 1995
- Maternal Physical Exam Seminar (6 sessions) – Mary Barnett C.N.M.
- Neonatal Emergencies – Mark Witte M.D. – 1991, 1993
- First Trimester Bleeding – Nan Green C.N.M. – 1991
- Principals of Venipuncture – Seton Hospital – 1990, 1991, 1993
- Cervical Cap and Diaphragm Certification – Gail Winters-Johnson C.P.M. – 1994
- Lab Interpretation / Childbearing Year – Anne Frye C.P.M. – 1993, 1995
- Breastfeeding Conference – Texas Department of Health – 1995
- Doula Workshop – Birth Assistant Training – Pat Pendroff R.N. – 1995

Other Work Pertaining to Midwifery

Board Member – March of Dimes (MOD) / Central Texas Chapter – Health Professional Action Committee Member - Developing needs assessment report for distribution of MOD funds

Maternal – Prolonged Labor

I currently attend approximately 2-4 births monthly as both a primary midwife and as an assistant to four other midwives. This year I am limiting my practice to ensure quality of care.

Personal Bio

Before midwifery I traveled nationally as a doula for five years. I lived with families for six weeks, tending to the home, cooking nutritious food, and lending emotional support to the father and other children. My work paralleled the European model which successfully eliminated problems common to the postpartum period, including depression, breastfeeding problems, mastitis, maternal infection, and newborn jaundice. This was extremely rewarding work which eventually inspired me to become a midwife. This hands-on experience was most valuable, as it taught me about the last and most important cycle of the birth process: the birth of a family. I learned about the transitions that families make from pregnancy to family and what a magical and challenging experience it can be.

To help in this process, I founded UMA, a mothers’ support group with two chapters that still meet thirty-five years later!

My midwife apprenticeship began in 1982 with the Austin Lay Midwives Association , a consortium of seven midwives. I attended prenatal visits, births and postpartum visits for one and a half years before I began in an assisting capacity. I received tutoring from 1984-1986 from Connie Ryan R.N.P., Midwife of 14 years. I also served as her assistant during this time.

My personal birth experience of four uncomplicated home births is very much at the root of my belief that most pregnancies and births are normal, healthy processes. I have two girls, 50 and 36, and two boys, 47 and 42. Both of my boys weighed 10 pounds at birth (no tears or episiotomies) and my girls each weighed 8 pounds. My husband and I are also proud grandparents of three beautiful grandchildren, all born at home. My personal birth experiences have varied in terms of hours in labor. I have had two 6 hour births, one 36 hour birth and one precipitous birth (which lasted only 1hr. 20 min.)

I maintain a small practice of 2-3 clients a month. Limiting the size of my practice preserves my ability to be attentive to my clients and my family. It also reduces the possibility that I will be at a birth when you go into labor. I also assist several other midwives in the Austin area. If one of my clients is in labor while I am assisting a midwife at one of her client’s birth I will be replaced by an alternate midwife so that I can attend my client’s birth.

I consult with a network of obstetricians, perinatologists, and pediatricians when necessary during the course of your pregnancy and birth. When a hospital is necessary, my hospital of choice in Austin is St. David’s Hospital. I also utilize the expertise of acupuncturists, cranial sacral therapists, massage therapists, chiropractors, naturopaths, and nurse practitioners specializing in women’s health.

Please feel free to contact me with any further questions. A list of client references is available upon request.