What is a Licensed Midwife?
A Florida licensed midwife is a professional practitioner providing expert prenatal, labor, delivery, and postpartum services to women having normal, healthy pregnancies. In order is qualify for licensing, candidates must graduate of a 3-year academic and clinical midwifery education program. License requirements meet established national and international professional standards. For more information of licensed midwifery visit the Midwives Association of Florida website, at www.maf.cc

Our Midwives & Staff...
Debbie Marin is the owner of the Hollywood Birth Center and a licensed midwife with over 20 years experience. She has two daughters of her own, Ariel and Munirah. She has dedicated her life to empowering women and keeping birth safe.
E-mail Debbie at: hollywoodbirthcenter@earthlink.net

Sharon Hamilton, Licensed Midwife #MW16, Licensed in Florida since 1982. Ms. Hamilton has practiced in the South Florida tri-county area since 1986. She has delivered over 1,500 babies in the out-of-hospital setting. She specializes in massage for pregnant women, improving relaxation, and relieving common discomforts of pregnancy. She also provides classes on infant massage and childbirth education. She is the mother of two very wonderful adult children, Lara and Don Steinick. Ms. Hamilton was president of the Midwives Association of Florida from 1986-1992 and 1996-2000. As president she led the organization during passage of legislation to restore licensure for midwives in 1992. She also facilitated passage of laws that ensure medicaid and insurance reimbursement to midwives.

Miriam Pearson-Martinez is licensed by the state of Florida. as well as having has received national certification as a professional midwife. Miriam is a graduate of the only Public accredited college offering a degree in direct entry midwifery program . She has trained with numerous respected midwives and did her internship here at Hollywood Birth Center. Additionally, she has attended to birthing mothers at a busy clinic in Honduras and worked in an emergency room in Ecuador. Miriam has also been certified as a doula (labor coach) and childbirth educator specializing in hypnosis for labor and birth. Her proudest professional accomplishment was working in collaboration Laura Houwers, RN LM to successfully restructure the Florida laws and Rules in 2006 giving more women the opportunity to choose a normal birth after cesarean. She conside rs herself lucky to be the mom of four wonderful children. Miriam is Fluent in English, Spanish, and Sign Language as well as conversational in French.

Laura Houwers, LM RN - Laura has worked in Maternity for over 20 years. As both a midwife and registered nurse, she has attended to thousands of women during pregnancy and birth. She has recieved a degree from the only Pubicly accredited college in Midwifery, graduating with special honors for clinical excellence. Laura is a council member for the Florida State council of midwives. She has been instrumental to changing the rules restricting vaginal birth after cesarean section. Laura is also the mother of two beautiful and talented girls.