Nikki McIver-Brown
Certified Nurse Midwife and owner of San Antonio Nurse Midwife
Nikki is a game-changing nurse and midwife who is dedicating her career to not only supporting women through their pregnancies and safely delivering babies into the world but also to turning around the ridiculous statistics of what happens to black families and mothers in the birthing process here in America.
First, let me tell you something on a personal note. As a pregnant mom, you want to be able to enjoy the joy of pregnancy without feeling like you are imposing upon your caregiver. You want to the certainty that you and your baby are doing well coupled with a knowledgeable professional that can share both good and bad news with you in an empathetic and factual way. At least for me personally, I experience two ends of the prenatal spectrum. One was earlier on in my pregnancy when I was seeing an OBGYN who was supposed to be one of the best in San Antonio and the other was when I met Nikki. Before Nikki, I’d sit for hours in the waiting room, stressing as my appointment time slipped by, my stress levels rising as I was ever later for getting back to my corporate gig. I experienced very little bedside manner as my husband and I were rushed in and out as fast as possible, but the interactions I did have with the doctor left a lot to be desired. I felt nervous asking questions because, more than once, I left feeling like an idiot for bringing up some of my concerns. Compound this with the fact that I could never get ahold of the nurse in the practice with any follow-up questions or prescription support, and I was one frustrated person. It all changed when I met Nikki.
Nikki, baby Roosevelt, myself and my husband Justin at Roosevelt’s 2 week checkup
During my pregnancy, a friend of mine recommended I watch The Business of Being Born. After the documentary, I knew I needed to expand my options. I can’t remember if someone referred us to Nikki or if I came across her through a web search. Either way, there were hundreds of reviews about Nikki on Facebook, all 5-stars, all singing her praises. Apprehensively, I reached out to her thinking this rockstar of a provider would probably be too busy to get back to me. Imagine my surprise when she got back to me and we had a long phone call to talk about her philosophy on childbirth and care. She patiently and lovingly answered my questions. I didn’t feel stupid. I felt heard. Needless to say, I switched to Nikki as my provider and never looked back. Furthermore, after numerous meetings with Nikki in person, I never once was made to feel stupid. I rarely had to wait for an appointment, and on those rare occasions when I did, we sat in a very comfortable living room setting with toys and books available. She also had a fridge with water for guests and a nice, clean bathroom. Also, she was incredibly responsive to my text messages and phone calls (I could reach out to her directly). She took a vacation during my pregnancy and left me a back-up midwife’s contact info who was also very supportive and knowledgeable. This is how care should be.
Not only is Nikki an incredible human, she is also highly trained and educated. Nikki is a Certified Nurse Midwife with a Master’s of Nursing Degree obtained from the University of Cincinnati in 2012. Prior to becoming a Certified Nurse Midwife, she worked as a Labor and Delivery RN for over 13 years in the Baptist Healthcare System in San Antonio, TX.
When you read about Nikki on her website, it becomes clear what guides her approach. “Holistic client care is completed according to the Standards for the Practice of Midwifery as defined by the American College of Nurse-Midwives. Spending time listening to clients, providing health education, and supporting them empowers birthing people to make informed healthcare choices throughout their life. She understands that sexuality, pregnancy, childbearing, and menopause are significant, natural life events. Nikki offers her clients individualized care in a non rushed manner.”
In October of 2019, Nikki took her practice to the next level by opening the San Antonio Nurse Midwife Birth and Wellness Center. Nikki is passionate about ensuring that every birthing person gives birth where they feel safe and heard. And in the US, this means dramatically improving the experience for black birthing people. She personally saw and experienced the systematic racism that exists in hospital settings which data back up: black birthing people are up to 6 times more likely to die or have complications related to birth and the postpartum period than their white counterparts. Studies show institutional racism in the hospital system is one of the causes of these increased morbidity and mortality statistics. Famously, Serena Williams also encountered this experience after the birth of her child.
Nikki now owns one of only 11 Black-owned birth centers out of 350 in the US. She’s created a fund to support Black birthing families that cannot afford her care on their own.
This month, Leva has donated $500 to support Nikki’s incredible vision.
We’d love it if you would donate as well to support ensuring women of all races receive excellent care in a loving, listening environment free of judgment.
Powerful Quote by a Powerful Woman
“Black Women have always been and will always be the leaders to address healthcare disparities facing black women.”
-Nikki McIver Brown
+ References
- San Antonio Nurse Midwife. (n.d.). The birth center is up AND RUNNING!! Retrieved February 28, 2021, from https://sanantonionursemidwife.com/
- https://www.gofundme.com/f/birth-scholarships-for-black-birthing-people
