Meria Loeks

FOUNDER/DIRECTOR

Meria opened Santa Fe Birth Center in 2019 to fill a huge gap in Santa Fe and surrounding counties birth services. The birth center is for those who want another choice in birth unavailable within hospital or home birth services. The birth center’s midwifery care honors the arduous work of birth in a building designed solely for the childbearing year. The beautiful remodel of an adobe home includes birth tubs, a private garden, a large kitchen, a living room, a library, classes, kiddo’s toys and books, and birth art everywhere.

As a recipient of midwifery care for the births of her three sons she wants women to access this same high level of compassionate, competent care. After the birth of her first son in 1975, she dedicated her life to birth work. A BA in psychology and education preceded her midwifery study through New Mexico’s “direct entry” program; she then obtained an RN and MA in Counseling Psychology. Meria edited for Mothering Magazine, directed the State’s maternity program, counseled in Santa Fe High School’s teen pregnancy program, and home birth clients.

In retrospect all of this prepared her minimally for the challenges of starting a birth center. A dogged perseverance, being unwilling to give up, moving forward one step at a time, brought the center into being. And grace. Trusting that no matter how many hurdles and missteps occurred the birth center is meant to be. And in no small measure Meria is grateful for the birth center’s good fortune being in a State with a long history of midwifery care, a Department of Health with specific regulations for birth centers, and a robust midwifery community with practice guidelines.

When not fussing over the birth center Meria walks her Bernese Mountain Dogs, studies French in hopes of one day going to Paris, practices yoga to maintain some semblance of vitality, and plays the piano with her grandchildren.