About Melinda

I am a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) licensed in Tennessee and Kentucky and an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). 

I enjoy working with families to help them meet their goals for pregnancy, birth, and nursing. I have served growing families in a variety of roles - community breastfeeding counselor, birth discussion group facilitator, childbirth educator, doula, IBCLC, birth assistant, and midwife. 

After completing requirements for my IBCLC in 2019, I began assisting Sarah Cowan, CPM. I began my midwifery apprenticeship with her in 2021. During my apprenticeship, I also worked with Sheryl Shafer, CPM, and I assisted in several other practices as well. 

I currently serve areas of Middle and West Tennessee between Nashville and Jackson as well as parts of southern Kentucky through midwifery and lactation care. 

My certifications and training:

• CPM, 2023 (certified professional midwife, licensed in Tennessee 2023 and Kentucky 2024)
• NARM Midwifery Bridge Certificate 2024 (including 50 hours of education contact hours beyond CPM certification)
• IBCLC, 2024(​International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, initial certification 2019)

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• Neonatal Resuscitation Program, 2024 (renewal every two years)
• American Heart Association Basic Life Support, 2024 (infant, child, and adult, renewal every two years)
• Oral Habitation of the Dyad: A Masterclass for the IBCLC, 2021​
• ​Bradley Method® trained and affiliated instructor and doula, 2014-2021 
• Spinning Babies workshop, 2020
• Peanut Ball Trained, Basic and Advanced Levels, 2018-2019
• Rebozo techniques, 2018
• La Leche League Leader, community breastfeeding counselor, 2011-2020 ​​
• MAT, Mary Baldwin College, Staunton, VA 2006
• BS in Chemistry, University of the South, Sewanee, TN, 2000

photo of Brittany by Shalom Photography used with permissions

​​I am pleased to support all families to reach their own pregnancy, birth, and feeding goals. I am here to give you the tools to choose and the support you need. For those families who find it comforting to know that a support person has personal experience in certain areas, my own experience includes : 

• infertility and miscarriage
• homebirth 
• full-term breastfeeding
• cloth diapering​
• babywearing
• Fertility Awareness Method for avoiding and achieving pregnancy
• safe co-sleeping

My four children, ages 9 to 18 years, were all born naturally at home and breastfed full-term. They have ranged from "easy" to "high needs," and I am continuing to learn my best life lessons from them daily. I enjoy gardening and cooking as well as knitting, hiking, sewing, and reading. 
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Contact me with questions, to schedule a lactation appointment, or to arrange an in-home midwife interview: 

T. Melinda Ring CPM-TN, LCPM, IBCLC    931.308.9817 
[email protected]      

​​Nashville, Franklin, Spring Hill, Williamson County, Davidson, Cheatham, Dickson, Maury, Marshall, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford, Sylvan Park, Green Hills, Belle Meade, Bellevue, Brentwood, Goodlettsville, Hendersonville, Millersville, Greenbrier, White House, Gallatin, Mt. Juliet, Lebanon, LaVergne, Smyrna, Murfreesboro, Lascassas, Bradyville, Beechgrove, Christiana, Bell Buckle, Wartrace, Shelbyville, Chapel Hill, Columbia, Leiper's Fork, Fairview, Bon Aqua, Burns, Pegram, Kingston Springs, Ashland City