Eleanor Colmenares, DNP, CNM, IBCLC

 My journey to midwifery began when my brother was born at a birth center when I was 8 years old.  I have described “growing up in a birth center” as a central part of my childhood.  When I became pregnant with my oldest daughter at 17, the midwives at the birth center I spent my childhood at walked alongside me while I became a mother for the first time.  It wasn’t until later that I recognized how much that support during my transition into motherhood affected my whole life.  Supporting women and families as they make this sacred transition has become the focus of my care.  Professionally, I have worked in birth for over 10 years and while my journey started in out of hospital birth, I have found a passion in creating the kind of prenatal, birth, and postpartum support I received in a birth center for those who desire or need a hospital setting for giving birth.  I have been in the Shenandoah Valley and catching babies at Sentara RMH since 2018 and have worked to grow midwifery access in this area at Harrisonburg ob/gyn, Healthy Community Health Center and Sentara.  I am excited to continue to expand midwifery care even further in this community with Hygge Wellness.