Hannah Price
Hannah and her little nephew Logan when he was
just a few hours old
Howdy Everyone! =)
I’m Hannah Price, I’m 19 years old and I joined the
Charis family in October of 2014. Right now
I’m enrolled in the Charis CE/Doula program but I
hope to someday, Lord willing, become a midwife.
I was born and raised deep in the heart of the Blue
Ridge Mountains of Virginia in a town called
Roanoke. My parents returned here from
California to be closer to family after my dad
served on a Navy ship for 6 years. I’m the 3rd
child of 4 and the only “native Virginian” in the
family besides my dad! I have an older sister
and brother who were born in California and a
younger brother my family adopted from South Korea.
Growing up our parents taught us that serving others
is important, in all areas of life; at church, in
the community, and with family. This is one of
the reasons I'm feeling called to be a midwife.
My interest in midwifery began when I was almost 14
years old. A young couple renting our basement
apartment used a midwife and doula in their home
birth. This was my first encounter with that
sort of thing and I was fascinated! At that
age, not having much experience, I honestly didn’t
know home births were even an option!
My dad and older brother are both volunteer
firefighters while my mom and I are on the local
Rescue Squad. In 2012 all four of us became
licensed EMTs and part of our training was emergency
labor and delivery. The interest in midwifery
and doulas reignited upon my high school graduation
from homeschool in 2013 and I felt that this was
what God wanted me to do.
Its amazing to sit back and look at all the people
who “coincidentally”
came into my life when I felt God calling me to
midwifery!
To begin it all, a sweet family with 6 kids moved to
Roanoke from Richmond and started coming to our
church. With the 7th on the way the parents
asked if I could come weekly and help with the kids.
As I grew closer to the mother, she got excited with
my chosen line of work and invited me to be present
when her baby was born. She had most of her
babies at home with midwives and planned to give
birth to this baby in the same way.
When she called in early labor I went to her house
and met her midwife who happens to be our very own
Susan Oshel. Although the birth transported to the
hospital when baby Adele decided her best position
was transverse with her hands and knees presenting,
I was able to get a glimpse of what it’s all about
and how a doula works.
Prenatally
this mamma expressed to her midwife, Susan, about my
interest in birth and Susan spoke with us about
Charis. When I arrived home from this birth I
looked Charis up on the internet and after many
months of praying and talking with my parents, I
decided to join the Charis family!
Susan became my Charis coach and since she also
lives in Roanoke, she and Hannah Mann CNM extended
an invitation for me to train with them to become a
midwife assistant; that way giving me the
opportunity to gain more experience as well as be
able to work more closely as student and coach!
They have a small wonderful home birth practice in
Roanoke called Shiphrah Midwifery.
Also, just as another piece of “coincidence”,
Hannah Mann is the midwife who came to our house
when I was 13 to assist the young couple in our
basement apartment. I don’t know about you,
but I think it’s amazing when things come together
like that!
Little did I know that 7 years later, I’d be working
with them! =)
So there’s the story of my “journey”
to Charis and midwifery! It’s been fun and
it’s only beginning!
Hope you have a blessed day and don’t forget to
smile!!
Love,
Hannah
