Holistic Home birth and Gynecology
Cheri Shields, CNM, ARNP provides a unique style of care that combines the hands-on approach of a midwife with the knowledge of an experienced nurse practitioner. Whether you're seeking a gentle waterbirth or personalized support during the perimenopause transition, Cheri offers a holistic blend of natural therapies and science tailored to your needs and values. Because home birth should be a right and not a privilege, Salmonberry is in-network with most insurance plans, including Apple Health.
Services
Gynecology
Home birth
Waterbirth
Menopause & Perimenopause
Gynecologic care can make one feel deeply vulnerable. And despite new guidance, many women are still under-treated for pain during common gynecological procedures. Cheri understands this and prioritizes your comfort, consent, and pace. She offers annual exams, pap smears, contraception and IUD insertion with attention to your individual needs, preferences, and adequate management of pain and anxiety.
Planned home birth with a skilled midwife can mean gentler births, smoother recoveries, and better outcomes for moms. For healthy, low‑risk pregnancies, it’s a safe choice for babies too. At home, you’re free to follow your instincts and birth physiologically without harmful interventions and unnecessary interference.
Birthing in warm water can help reduce pain, ease anxiety, and lessen bleeding and vaginal tearing. Many women also love the privacy of the water and the gentle buoyancy that supports easy movement between positions. Babies have no instinct to breathe until air touches their faces; being born through water is both gentle and safe.
Menopause is a major life transition, and you deserve a provider who listens, believes you, and takes your symptoms seriously. Too many clinicians are under‑trained in menopause care and are hesitant to treat, relying on outdated information. Cheri offers thoughtful, evidence‑informed care including bio-identical hormone therapy so that you can feel like yourself again.
Salmonberry proudly accepts most insurance plans, including Apple Health
Cheri Shields has served the women and families of Clallam County for over 14 years. She is well-known as a provider who combines the nurturing heart of a midwife with the clinical expertise of a Board-Certified Nurse Practitioner. As such, her mission is to empower clients with holistic, evidence-based care that honors the sacred nature of every phase of life, from birth through the menopause transition.
Watch: My Philosophy of Care
My Story
I was born in New Mexico and delivered by my Grandpa Melvin Lester, who was an OBGyn. I earned my nursing degree and Masters of Midwifery from Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, Oregon, then went overseas to work in the Commonwealth of Saipan before settling in Port Angeles. As a Nurse Midwife at Olympic Medical Center for 12 years, I provided gynecological care and delivered hundreds of babies into our community. However, by the end of my time at OMC I was disappointed (actually crushed) to find the midwifery practice moving in a very medicalized direction under leadership that prioritized procedures and protocols over the person-centered care that is the heart of midwifery. When the Medical Director said to me: "They're not your patients, they're OMC's patients," I knew I had to go. Now I'm in my second year supporting out-of-hospital birth, and it's like breathing fresh air for the first time - I can take care of you exactly how you need me to. I don't have to meet quotas. I don't have to follow scripts. And we can take all the time we need. On the personal side, I'm the mom of three teenagers. I love painting, rockhounding and gardening, and I play violin with the Port Angeles Symphony Orchestra.
Meet the Midwife
Kind Words From The Community
“I seriously have the best midwife in the world! Thank you for helping us welcome now both of our children into this world!”— Cheyeanne B.
“Although I believe in natural holistic remedies, western medicine was necessary for care. Cheri Shields knows how to balance both sides of the spectrum!”— Tenisha C.
“The prenatal care is incredible—so thorough and personalized. I felt safe, cared for, and the birthing tub is *amazing*.”— Billie Jo
Getting to have you deliver our oldest in 2015 and again, delivering our newest a couple months ago has just been the most special thing!! Our community is so lucky to have you! - Chelsea B.
Not only did I receive attentive, evidence-based care throughout pregnancy but was able to have a water birth. Cheri walked me through every step of pregnancy and was always open to discussing options ... - Jennifer O.
Not just a midwife, but a doula, friend, and calm voice in the storm. Won't have a baby with anyone else :) - Alison W.