River Valley Midwives

Midwife Bio

Chana Luba Ertel’s journey to Midwifery began through reading the classic book, Spiritual Midwifery by Ina May Gaskin, many moons ago.  She was amazed and intrigued by the miracle of birth and the beauty that women possess when surrendering to the power of birth.

Chana Luba studied herbalism at the Northeast School of Botanical Medicine in Ithaca, NY in the mid 90’s.  Her life path brought her to Israel to study Jewish Mysticism. While there, she entered the Birth Assistant Education Program at the Misgav Ladach Birthing Hospital in Jerusalem.

Chana Luba  has been a labor assistant (doula) since 1998.  She has been teaching Childbirth Education since 2000 and has trained over 100 women to be doulas through her Maternal Wisdom CAPPA Certified doula training program.

She is a CAPPA Certified Childbirth Educator, a certified DONA and CAPPA labor doula, a trained Hypnobirthing instructor, A Safe Passage Facilitator (trained in supporting survivors of sexual abuse through labor), and a CAPPA certified labor doula trainer.  She is an active member in the GreenRiver Doula Network.   She has recently completed the Farm Midwifery Assistant Program taught by Pamela Hunt and Ina May Gaskin.    Her published writings can be found on birthing and Jewish web sites as well as printed publications.

Chana Luba shares her life with her supportive and dear husband Rafael.  Her three children are her most prized accomplishments.  They were born with empowerment, love and with the help of her wonderful midwives, Fran Ventre, Kristen Bernard, Audra Karp and Jharna Harvey-Amhai.

“I feel truly blessed to have the opportunity to work with the River Valley Midwives!  I am so thankful to be learning from Jharna and Kristen.  Their years of experience, their trust of birth, and deep wisdom are precious.  I look forward to serving them and the women of the Pioneer Valley.” ~ chana luba ertel  2007