Grace Flannery, CPM, LM, EMT
Certified Professional Midwife | Licensed Midwife | (she/her)
For me, midwifery is both an art and a discipline—a relationship built on trust, shaped by evidence, and deeply informed by intuition. I approach this work with reverence, rigor, and respect for the incredible variation in how people give birth and live their lives. Like many midwives before me, my commitment to this path comes from the core of who I am.
My calling to midwifery began early, long before I had the language to name it. I first recognized it as a deep and profound love for people. Over time, I nurtured that love into a way of caring that is rooted in acceptance, presence, and a profound respect for each person’s uniqueness and autonomy.
My multicultural upbringing, including formative years in Latin America, shaped how I see and relate to the world. I’m fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, with foundations in French and German. Living and learning across cultures taught me something essential: that truly understanding people requires humility, curiosity, and a willingness to listen with your whole being. This insight continues to guide every part of my work.
In 2015, I was asked to support my first birth as a doula. It was just the two of us—single parent and doula—and the experience changed my life. I knew then, with complete clarity: I am a midwife.
After working as a doula, I began midwifery school in 2017. While studying, I worked full-time as a birth assistant at Willow Midwives Birth Center in Minneapolis, where I also completed most of my clinical training. That high-volume environment gave me the chance to attend hundreds of births and learn from an extraordinary range of midwives. It also sharpened my clinical skills and strengthened my ability to stay calm, present, and precise in fast-moving situations.
I joined Trillium Midwifery Care as Emme’s midwife partner in 2020. As a midwife, I bring both clinical precision and deep listening to every interaction. My care is highly personalized, evidence-based, and shaped by lived experience. I’m also deeply intuitive. I trust the information that comes not only from labs and data, but from quiet attention and the subtle cues that arise in relationship. This balance of science and sensitivity is at the heart of how I practice, and how I teach.
Mentorship is a meaningful part of my work. I precept student midwives through my practice and regularly lead workshops on clinical skills, communication, and collaborative care. I believe that midwifery is meant to be passed hand to hand, and that our collective strength grows when we invest in each other.
There is deep power in community midwifery. Our model centers autonomy, loving presence, and thoughtful education. Through hour-long prenatal visits and frequent postpartum care, we make space for learning, integration, even laughter. I hope this model allows clients to deepen their relationship with themselves and one another, carrying that groundedness through birth and into the rhythms of life.
My training also includes healthcare interpreting, emergency medical response, and board-certified phlebotomy. These skills become especially relevant in hospital settings, where I act as a cultural bridge. My role then centers on helping all members of the birthing team communicate effectively and remain grounded in shared purpose. Hospitals have their own culture, language, and expectations. Navigating that space requires knowledge, clarity, and presence. I strive to create an atmosphere of collaboration, even when things haven’t gone to plan.
I am a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) and Licensed Traditional Midwife (LTM), licensed by the Minnesota State Board of Medical Practice. I hold certifications in Neonatal Resuscitation (NRP), CPR (BLS), and am a licensed Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and board-certified Phlebotomy Technician (PBT). I’m also an active member of the Minnesota Council of Certified Professional Midwives, the Childbirth Collective, and the Sweet Water Alliance of the Oshun Center for Intercultural Healing.
Outside of work, I live quietly with my partner Ian in Bloomington. We’re surrounded by forest, wetland, and still water—a landscape I paddle, walk, and admire daily. I love reading epic fantasy, digging into world history, knitting by lamplight, and caring for my jungle of houseplants (I run a thriving “plant hospital” for rescues). Ayurveda keeps me steady. So does solitude. I’m an introvert at heart, though you might not guess it when we first meet. I think deeply, live intentionally, and love fully. These are the things that make me, me.