Bio and Education

Monika Rosicka is a homebirth midwife inspired by her daily yoga and meditation practices. Born in Poland, raised in Northern California, Monika’s bicultural roots and fluency in Polish, English, and Spanish, led her to work with diverse individuals as doula, student midwife, midwife, and childbirth educator. She sees midwifery not only as spiritual work but as a catalyst for bringing world peace. Monika rejoices in sharing her knowledge with families and learning from other midwives locally and internationally.

While a case manager with teenage mothers in the Bay Area, Monika was called to her first birth in 2002. As a direct result of this life-affirming experience, Monika immersed herself in studying midwifery. She sought out local study groups, attending numerous trainings, conferences, and meetings dedicated to birth and midwifery with experts in the field. As a volunteer doula with two organizations in the Bay Area, Monika served primarily Spanish-speaking clients from 2003-2005 due to the needs of her community and her linguistic abilities.

Going to midwifery school on the border with Mexico resonated with the aspiring midwife. By September 2005, Monika was enrolled in the MEAC-accredited Maternidad La Luz, graduating with high marks and working as new student coordinator for one month following her graduation in September 2006. While at La Luz, Monika attended 120 births, hundreds of prenatal and postnatal appointments, and had earned the respect of her senior midwives as a valuable practitioner. She also assisted several homebirths in CA following her training in El Paso, TX.

Returning to CA, Monika took a position as Perinatal Services Coordinator with a community health center in the Bay Area from 2007-2008. After passing the NARM exam in 2007 for her CPM and the CA Challenge in February 2008, Monika received her CA license (LM). She started meeting with midwifery clients in April 2008 and has since been building and growing her practice Tree of Life Midwifery Services based out of Arcata.

Monika with her dogs, Pardo and Dunie

Monika has a bachelor’s degree in Women’s Studies and Psychology from UC Santa Cruz and has been active in women’s circles and community leadership since 1996. She has studied yoga since 1997, including a 100 hour Immersion with Katchie Gaard. She teaches prenatal and postnatal yoga. She continues to stay active in local organizations that promote natural pregnancy, childbirth, and lactation, including the California Association of Midwifes (CAM) that she Co-Reps for, and local doula groups. She enjoys teaching, interacting with families, and building community.

I moved to Humboldt County in January 2008 to plant roots here and practice the art of midwifery. My partner Peter has lived in the area since his college years. He’s a wildlife biologist by training. We live on Fickle Hill Road in Arcata with our two dogs. Tree of Life Midwifery Services was created March 2008. I see parallels between the way a tree grows from seedling to sapling to robust tree and the way pregnancy and life unfold. The baby, too, has a view of the tree of life, as its side of the placenta and cord resemble the roots of a tree.

Living in nature, practicing yoga, and growing food has been my dream for many years. Splendidly, the North Coast allows mindful living and brings us together. With deep regard for the cycles of life and respect for women’s ways of knowing, I offer my services to anyone who is pregnant, considering pregnancy, or wanting holistic care during her childbearing years in Northern California.

Monika Rosicka, Licensed Midwife, Tree of Life Midwifery Services: (707) 502-7440

Copyright © 2008 Tree of Life Midwifery Services. All rights reserved.