Dr. Belinda K. Lashea, PhD, CNM, Clinical Herbalist

From Belinda:

My midwifery journey began in 1998 with the homebirth of my second child, a profound and life-changing experience that taught me to trust the innate power of birth and the strength of a supportive community. That birth awakened a lifelong commitment to supporting families in reclaiming their birth stories and creating spaces where people feel empowered, respected, and deeply seen.

For over 25 years, I’ve had the honor of attending more than 1,000 births across homes, birth centers, and hospital settings. At the heart of my work is relationship-based care, care rooted in trust, informed choice, continuity, and collaboration.

A Lifetime of Community-Based Midwifery

My path into midwifery began through apprenticeship in Boone, North Carolina, and Eastern Tennessee, where I spent eight years training with two exceptional homebirth midwives. During that time, I immersed myself in traditional midwifery, community birth, and plant medicine. Together, we built a homebirth practice serving families across North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia, honoring birth as both a sacred life event and a communal experience.

In 2008, I pursued formal nurse-midwifery education, earning my BSN from UNC Chapel Hill (2012) and my MSN in Nurse-Midwifery from East Carolina University (2016). I joined Women’s Birth & Wellness Center in Chapel Hill, a freestanding birth center with admitting privileges at UNC Hospital, where I provided full-scope maternity care for six years and later served as Director of Midwifery (2021–2022).

In 2022, I returned to my roots in community birth and founded Bear Root Midwifery in Wilmington, North Carolina, a practice built around holistic, relationship-centered care that extends beyond pregnancy and birth into lifelong wellness.

Philosophy of Care:

Holding Space for Your Story

My philosophy of care has been shaped by clinical experience, personal journey, homebirth, and a deep love for community and connection. At Bear Root Midwifery, I strive to create a safe, grounded space where your story matters.

I believe midwifery care should:

• Honor autonomy

• Supporting informed decision-making that aligns with your values, culture, and vision for care.

• Be holistic and inclusive

• Integrating evidence-based medicine, nutrition, and herbal support to care for the whole person: body, mind, and spirit.

• Offer continuity and relationship

From pregnancy and birth to primary care and menopause, I aim to be a steady, trusted presence across life’s transitions.

Much of my work is inspired by the power of shared spaces, the quiet intimacy of a birth room, the glow of a campfire with kindred spirits, or time spent with my horse, Rip, where partnership and intuition guide every step. These moments remind me that healing and growth happen through presence, trust, and connection.

Leadership, Teaching, and Scholarship

I believe midwifery is both an ancient art and a modern science, something to be practiced, taught, and continually evolved. Since 2016, I have served as part-time faculty in the Nurse-Midwifery Program at East Carolina University, where I teach and mentor future midwives in community birth, postpartum care, reflective practice, and professional formation.

I hold a PhD in Nursing, with research focused on reflective practice, cultural humility, and sustainability in midwifery education and care. I have guest lectured nationally at institutions including Yale University and SUNY Stony Brook, and regularly present at community birth summits, midwifery conferences, and herbal education events.

My leadership and advocacy roles have included:

• President, North Carolina Midwives Alliance (NCMA)

• Board Member, NC Midwifery Education Regulation & Association (NCMERA)

• Former Chair, Community Birth Committee – NC American College of Nurse-Midwives (NCACNM)

• Advocacy is central to my work. I have helped organize statewide initiatives such as the NC Community Birth Summit and the NC Walk for Midwives, fostering collaboration, visibility, and systemic change for community-based midwifery.

Herbalism & Holistic Healing

Herbal medicine has been woven into my practice from the very beginning. My training has come through traditional apprenticeships, self-directed study, and decades of hands-on experience crafting remedies to support pregnancy, postpartum healing, and general wellness.

I believe plant medicine offers a gentle, effective way to support the body’s natural processes. At Bear Root Midwifery, I integrate herbal care thoughtfully and safely into clinical practice and offer herbal consultations and workshops that empower families, midwives, and community members to engage with plant medicine confidently.

A Vision for Lifelong Care

Midwifery is about far more than birth, it is about showing up for the full arc of life. From menarche to menopause, from first pregnancy to long-term wellness, I offer care that honors your whole story.

At Bear Root Midwifery, my goal is to provide care that feels personal, grounded, and empowering, care that reminds you of your strength and supports you as you move through each chapter of your life.

Outside of Midwifery

When I’m not attending births, teaching, or mentoring, you’ll often find me:

Competing in ranch horse events with my big red horse, Rip

Gathering around campfires with women who inspire me, sharing stories and laughter

Tending my garden and crafting herbal remedies rooted in the healing power of the lan