Gaia Midwifery P.C.
"Childbirth with Choice"
866-239-5445
Discover the Difference a Midwife Makes!
Philosophy
Pregnancy is a very special time in a woman's life. Bringing a new life into your family should be a time of happiness and excitement for you all. It is a time of change and growth.
We believe that finding someone who can help you have a healthy safe experience from your first prenatal visit through the birth of your child and into motherhood is extremely important.
Midwives are experienced in providing comprehensive women's healthcare. The emphasis in this practice is on partnering with a woman and her family to maintain good health and minimize problems. Because there are often unexpected questions and concerns, being available 24/7 to clients is important.
Taking the time you need to discuss your concerns during your pregnancy is the best way to maintain good health in pregnancy. A comfortable, trusting relationship between midwife and client is one of the best ways to promote the peaceful, joyful birth of your baby.
We have seen it happen - hundreds of times... and every time it is special.
Dale Cook, CNM, MS
Dale has been working with women and midwives since becoming a Registered Nurse in 1994. She worked at the only free standing birth center on Long Island, as birth assistant, lab tech, head nurse and labor supporter. There she learned "to trust birth, midwives and birthing women".
Dale graduated from SUNY Stony Brook's Midwifery Program with a master's degree in 1999 and has since delivered over 750+ babies in a variety of settings.
Dale believes that birth is a sacred miracle - and should be honored as one of the most important times in a woman's life. "Each birth is a unique opportunity for growth and learning. By trusting birth - we gain the wisdom that will help to bring us through life's other challenges. It all begins with birth."
Dale is married, a mother of four sons and an avid reader and writer. She promotes midwifery actively on Long Island and enjoys bird watching and gardening in her spare time.
About Us:
The Birth Team
Dale, Susan, Julie and Rochel feel privileged to work with a very talented network of birth related specialists. Go to our Birth Links page to find Doulas, Childbirth Educators, Breastfeeding Specialists, Lactation Consultants and even birth photographers. Within this network there are those who bring knowledge and joy to the birth and breastfeeding experience.
Each birth is unique - as is the birth team involved.
Our goal with each client is the best possible experience with the best possible outcome.
Susan Brockmann, CM. MPH
Susan felt a calling to the women's health field from early on, and is passionate about the work. With a Bachelor's Degree in Biomedical Ethics from Brown University and a Masters in Public Health from Columbia University, Susan was involved in public health research around the issue of perinatal transmission of HIV for years. With the addition of her midwifery credential from Downstate University Medical Center in Brooklyn in 1998, Susan added the clinical component to her work.
Susan is excited about working on the Gaia Midwifery team to promote natural birth in NUMC's water birth unit. The Malverne office is Susan's primary site of caregiving.
Susan is married, the mother of two home-birthed children, Harper and Kai. She actively serves her community through midwifery, motherhood and her teaching. Her goal is to provide the best care - midwifery care to the women of her community - in order to optimize their experience of their pregnancy and birth.
Julie is a graduate of the Stony Brook Midwifery program. She has trained and worked in a variety of health care settings. She was also active as a birthing assistant and doula for the original Gaia Midwives in the early years. Julie will be providing hospital and homebirth services.
Julie has a compassion and understanding of the feelings every woman shares regarding gynecologic exams and is determined to take the time to make this necessary healthcare event a warm and personal experience. Her desire is to listen, as well as teach and assist women during the varied life events – First gynecologic visit, family planning, pregnancy and birth, well woman gynecology, perimenopause and menopause.
Julie Toner, CNM
Julie’s goal is to provide holistic midwifery care “ Beyond Expectations!”
Joelle Ceremy is a direct-entry midwife trained at the International School of Midwifery. From a very young age, Joelle realized that she wanted to assist women in childbirth. While in college, she discovered her calling to midwifery and her desire to care for women before, during, and after their childbearing years. Joelle has attended over 150 births in home, birth center, and hospital settings and has participated in countless prenatal and postpartum exams. She also has over 3 years of experience as a childbirth educator. Joelle will be assisting the Gaia midwives at births, providing doula services to mothers, and offering childbirth classes to the Long Island community.
Joelle Ceremy, Midwife
With Woman Childbirth Services
Labor Support, Postpartum Support, Childbirth Education
(786) 290-6069
Joelle Ceremy is a direct-entry midwife trained at the International School of Midwifery
Rochel comes to GAIA with a long history of involvement with women, babies, and families. She has been a midwife for ten years, and a Lamaze Certified Childbirth educator for over twenty, and has taught childbirth classes to over 1000 families. She is well-known in the Far Rockaway/Five Towns and Queens communities for her close involvement with Rabbinical authorities regarding Jewish women’s family purity issues.
Rochel’s educational background includes a Teaching Certificate from Gateshead Seminary, a Bachelors of Science in Community Health from SUNY Empire State College, and a Masters of Science in Midwifery from SUNY Downstate. She is a Board-Certified Midwife and Adjunct Clinical Professor at SUNY Downstate, Columbia, and. New York Universities. She is the mother of six and a seasoned grandmother.
She has worked in a faculty practice at Brookdale Hospital and has coordinated the OB/GYN Residency program at Jamaica Hospital. She brings many years of clinical and administrative experience to the Malverne office and is thrilled to be joining her dear friend and former classmate Susan, offering gyn and ob care to all women in the South Shore.
Rochel Lieberman, CM, MS, LCCE, FACCE
