Meet the Team

Dara DeSoto, LM, CPM is a California Licensed Midwife and Certified Lactation Education Counselor serving families throughout San Diego County. With over 13 years of experience supporting women and families through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, Dara is passionate about providing compassionate, individualized, evidence-informed midwifery care.

Her approach is rooted in trust, education, informed choice, and respect for the natural physiology of birth. She believes every woman deserves to feel heard, supported, and empowered throughout her childbearing journey. Whether supporting families through home birth or collaborating in hospital settings, Dara is dedicated to creating a calm, safe, and nurturing environment where mothers and babies are at the heart of care.

As a community midwife, her mission is to honor the sacred journey of motherhood while providing skilled, relationship-centered care that supports the whole family.

Dara is also a wife of 30 years, a mother to four grown adults and a blessed DD (grandma).

Bachelor’s of Science in Midwifery – Mercy in Action College of Midwifery

Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) – AAP (Active)

CPR & BLS – American Red Cross (Active)

Certified Lactation Education Counselor (CLEC) – UC San Diego

Helping Mothers and Babies Survive – Master Course (2024)

San Diego Midwife – Assistant student midwife (2022–2024)

New Beginnings Birth Center – Primary student midwife (2024–2025)

Spinning Babies® – Gail Tully, CPM (2014)

DONA International Certified Birth Doula (2013)

Hypnobabies Childbirth Hypno-Doula (2015)

CAPPA Postpartum Care Training (2015)

Midwifery Assistant Training – Beach Cities Midwifery (2015)