Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Giles.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My first job as a nurse-midwife was in a very busy teaching hospital. I learned a lot and was grateful for the experience, but my heart was heavy. When going back to school, I wanted to be a provider who cared for women and made them feel confident in their bodies. I wanted to spend time with them and empower them to believe in their ability to birth and be an amazing parent. In that busy hospital setting, I was unable to provide that type of care and I felt like a failure. Then my best friend told me she was pregnant and was going to Allen Birthing Center for her care. She invited me to her birth and it changed my world. I observed her nurse-midwife provide the care that I had dreamed of providing and I was hooked! I instantly knew that the out-of-hospital setting was what I was looking for. After months of persistent begging, the midwife hired me in 2004. I’ve been there ever since.
In 2010, that precious midwife retired and sold the birth center to my husband and me. Our vision was to make the birth center a place where the entire family was welcome and loved. We wanted our clients to come into the birth center and feel like it was their home away from home… a place that welcomed them in with a big hug, where their little kiddos could run and play during their mom’s appointment, a place where the staff all loved each other and loved the clients like their own family. After ten years of owning the birth center, I can honestly say that we have achieved that goal. I have to pinch myself sometimes because I really cannot believe what we have created, and by we, I mean my husband and the amazing staff. Our nurse-midwives, nurses, and administrative staff are truly our family. We care for one another, support each other during hard times, and celebrate during happy times.
My husband and I love them so much and could not do what we do without them. This year we have added to the services we provide to include the entire family. We changed our name from Allen Birthing Center to Allen Midwifery and Family Wellness. We are now providing services to women and men of all ages, including fertility/infertility services. Our dream of caring for the entire family has come to fruition. I feel so incredibly lucky and blessed to have walked this journey, especially with the amazing clients I have cared for along the way.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road to get where we are today was both smooth and rocky. My husband and I had never owned a business, but we knew how we wanted it to run. We went down the rocky road of learning the ins and outs of running a birth center. In Texas, birthing centers are regulated by the state’s health department. We studied all the laws, went through inspections, and learned a great deal along the way. We passed inspections with flying colors and allowed those experiences to boost our confidence that we could truly make this a success. The road we walked with our clients was very smooth. They were our marketing directors! They told their friends and families about the care they received. Our word-of-mouth marketing was amazing! It was obvious to us that people just want to be listened to and cared for in an environment that made them and their families comfortable. We provided excellent midwifery care at the same time. We provided love and compassion. Our clients were appreciative of this type of care and made our work so fulfilling.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Allen Midwifery and Family Wellness?
AMFW provides services for the entire family. Our midwives are certified nurse-midwives with either a master’s or doctorate degree. They have hospital privileges and can provide care when necessary at Medical City McKinney. They provide pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care to women wanting a natural birth-center or home birth. They also provide well-woman care, including annual exams, birth control, gynecological problems, hormone replacement, and health promotion. Our family nurse practitioner provides care for men and women, including yearly physicals, hormone replacement, blood pressure management, thyroid management, sports physicals, and other primary care.
Our traditional Chinese medicine specialist provides fertility care for couples. She helps couples who are getting ready to conceive, couples who have had trouble conceiving, and couples who have had previous miscarriages. All of these services are provided in a home-like setting. Our facility is located in a historic home in downtown Allen. Our wrap-around porch provides rocking chairs and a swing for you to relax while awaiting your appointment. Our grounds are full of flowers and space for your kids to run and play. Our exam rooms and waiting rooms are large and comfortable with overstuffed chairs and couches. Our kitchen is available for tea and coffee. We want everyone to feel at home in our house.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I have been very lucky and blessed to have been introduced to several amazing people in my life. My mentor, Dr. Becky Burpo, was the owner of the birth center who hired me and later sold me the birth center. I had met her while in midwifery school and told my husband that there was something very special about this woman. She made everyone around her feel as if they were the only person in the room. I knew I wanted to soak up her knowledge and compassion for women. I learned from her how to respect others’ choices, support families, protect birth, and provide safe, loving care to women and their families. She was and continues to be my mentor and one of my very best friends.
I am so very lucky and blessed to have met and married my husband, Jeff. He has always been my biggest fan and support. He encouraged me to go to school to get my midwifery degree and my doctorate. He cared for our two children while I studied and worked crazy hours. He told me years before we bought the birth center that we would eventually own and run it. I thought he was insane… but after ten years of owning and running the practice, I think I can say he was right. He runs the financial side of the business, but more importantly, he keeps us all laughing and lightens the mood of a busy day. He is our comic relief, handyman, gardener, financial guru, and the heart of our staff. His heart is immense and he loves our staff. I am forever grateful for his encouragement and drive; I would never be where I am today without his continued love and selflessness.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@allenmidwifery.com
- Website: allenmidwifery.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allenmidwifery/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AllenMidwifery
