SHANI VAN PATTEN,
LM, CPM

Hi! I’m  Shani Van Patten, a midwife at The Addice. It is an absolute joy to be an Addice midwife, and
to serve the Houston area as it grows.

Q: When was the moment you knew you wanted to be a midwife?

A: The moment I knew I was meant to be a midwife was...after a birth where I was serving as a doula.  There was a birth in particular that was attended by three midwives, after this mother just went through a whirlwind of precipitous labor, the way the midwives loved on this family was just a sweet, sweet sight. I knew at that moment that midwifery was going to be my life's work...welcoming new life and serving families at the beginning of a beautiful new season as a family. 

Q: Why did you become a midwife?

A: I became a midwife because...pregnancy and birth are normal, extraordinary life events and when we are able to start them off in an educated, peaceful and safe manner it can truly change the course of life. I wanted to be a part of that. I remember seeing a slogan on a t-shirt once, "Peace on Earth Begins at Birth". To me, becoming a midwife was less about the actual birth, don't get me wrong...I love catching babies, but about safeguarding  matrescence, becoming a mother. 

Q: What is a birthing moment you will never forget?

A: A birthing moment I will never forget is…the moment I had the privilege to catch my best friends baby girl. 

Q: What is something you will never get tired of?

A: I will never get tired of…witnessing couples falling in love all over again, in a new way, as they become parents. 

Q: What is your favorite thing about being a midwife?

A: My favorite thing about being a midwife is…walking with a family as they make a decision to receive out of hospital care. It can sometimes feel like you are on an island alone. I am honored to  stand on the island with them and say, "I'm with you, let's navigate this together".