Meet Haikanarumi Yais | Licensed Midwife, Master of Science in Midwifery

We had the good fortune of connecting with Haikanarumi Yais and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Haikanarumi, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
Midwifery support and my business impacts not only families but also communities. When we support families and communities we are also helping the world. Out-of-hospital midwifery isn’t only about home births. Yes, I love providing home birth services, it means increasing access to alternative birthing options, but it is also a more personalized care for each family. My goal is to empower not only the pregnant person but also their partner and their family, for people to understand their choices and make an informed choice that works for them. When people have autonomy over their bodies when they can understand their choices, it leads to more satisfied and confident parents, and this has a ripple effect on the family, community, and the world. I am here to support, share information, listen, and to foster a sense of community, and offer a place where families know that they aren’t alone during this major life event.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Renacer Midwifery is what I decided to call my business, Renacer is a word in Spanish that represents the process of renewal, regeneration or the beginning of a new phase after a period of transformation.

I see pregnancy, birth and postpartum as a process of renewal, life always throws curve balls at us and we have to readjust , adapt and find a new way forward. Getting to where I am today wasn’t easy, I wanted to give up many times, I was one of the only poc in my cohort, I never felt like I belonged, also having an accent didn’t help my confidence, and I am still overcoming challenges. My inspiration and what has helped me overcome challenges is thinking about my mother. She gave birth to my three brothers at home, without a midwife, and at the time she went into labor with me she was a single mom, she went to the hospital and the story goes that she helped other women give birth before she gave birth to me. I always wonder if my mom felt alone, what kind of support she had, what if she would’ve had access to a midwife, to community support and resources.

I have learned that families a lot of times feel alone, even when they sometimes have other family support, it is overwhelming and many families are barely surviving. We live in a time where we are connected through social media but people feel alone and we need human connection, we need storytelling, we need resources, we need one another. I don’t think I have all the answers, but I hope I can make a difference for the families I support. There are many midwives, doulas, childbirth educators, lactation consultants and many more amazing people that are constantly supporting families and communities. It takes teamwork to make the dream work.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
When people come visit and they want to eat, I always have to ask them what they are craving, LA is so diverse and we are privileged of having so many different kind of amazing good and variety. My best-friend from Chicago always comes and visits me, one of her favorite places to eat is JINYA Ramen Bar in Santa Monica.
I personally like showing people the great views and the great parks we have.
Venice beach and the canals (ideally during the week day when isn’t too crowded)
Topanga Park is always a great getaway to nature away from the cars.
Keneth Han if you want a great view and quick hike.
Palos verdes has an incredible view
Griffith Park
In LA you have to pay attention to what’s happening and what you are wanting to do. Every weekend there is always a great event happening, you just have to see what is it that you feel like doing. But don’t miss the lowriders in East LA!
To eat one of my favorite spots:
(depends on the vibe and what people are hoping for and the budget!)
Jewel (Silver Lake)
Hot and Cool Cafe (Leimert Park)
Cha Cha Chicken (Santa Monica)
Lauren Hardware (WeHo)
Nua (Beverly hills)
Tulsi (DTLA)
Tu madre (different locations)
Villas Tacos in Highland Park (They opened a location in DTLA)
Any street vendor that smells good, tacos, pupusas, tamales…

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There have been so many people that have supported me throughout my journey, because nobody becomes a midwife alone, it takes community. If I were to name every single person, it would be a very long list. I’m thankful and grateful to all the families that welcomed me into their birth spaces and allowed me to be part of their pregnancy, birth and postpartum, I learned something new from each family. All the midwives I learned under, the ones that saw something in me when I couldn’t see it myself. The midwives at Kindred Space LA have always believed in me and supported me in ways I could never repay back, and they are always inspiring me to become the best version of myself. My incredible loving partner Amanda Rocio, and my best-friend Jennifer Campos that has always been there cheering me on when I wanted to give up. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t because of all the people that have supported me along the way.

Website: https://renacermidwifery.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/renacer_midwifery/

Other: Haikamidwife@gmail.com

Image Credits
Karissa M Raya https://karissamraya.com/ Myself