Even with something as natural as childbirth, the more education a woman has the better choice she can make for herself and her baby.

A Sedona midwife works with mothers to educate and guide them to make the choices that are right for them and their babies, and delivers babies in the comfort of the mother’s own homes. Now, Maryn Leister is bringing that education to the world.

“Women have been helping women with birth since the beginning. It’s nothing new. It’s only recently in history women have gone to doctors and hospitals,” Leister said. She is a licensed and certified professional midwife. “I’m not against medical. Normal birth does not have to be a medical event. I encourage women to explore their choices.”

Leister created a website on which she hosts an online class focused on natural childbirth and home birth. She designed the class to be a resource for women all over the world who are searching for information and support to have their babies their way.

“Through the Internet, I’m able to take the same education I provide women here and spread it all over the world.”

Leister has worked with women in the United States, Canada, Singapore and the Netherlands through her online class. Some of them were pregnant moms, some were doulas, some were midwives — all were looking for information and the opportunity to share their stories, Leister said.

“Women everywhere want to know what their options are and have someone to consult with about everything surrounding their pregnancy and birth,” she said. “I don’t think women have enough information, but they are starting to realize they have options. It’s not just a given to have babies in the hospital.”

Leister’s journey into midwifery started when she gave birth to her first child, Amelia, now 8, in a hospital. She did not know home birth was an option at the time. With her second child, Leister learned about birthing at home from a doula because she wanted her baby’s birth to be unhindered, uncomplicated and a safe, loving experience, she said.

When her baby Egan, who is now 6, was born at home the experience was what Leister said she was looking for. Her other children: Talula, 5, Rune Winter, 2, and Belgium Temple Rose, recently born, were all delivered at home.

Leister works with low-risk, healthy pregnancies, and has helped with close to 150 births. She sees her role as a guide and partner in the birth. The mother runs things and Leister gives her the education and information she needs, and assists with the birth.

“At home, a woman is more comfortable in [her] own surroundings with familiar people around them,” Leister said. “Childbirth is the woman’s event. My job is to keep mom and baby safe.”

Leister, her husband Jason, and their children moved to Sedona from Chicago about 1½ years ago.

“I came to Arizona to get a license, and I am the only licensed midwife in Sedona and the Verde Valley. I’ve been involved with midwifery for six years and was trained through apprenticeship. It’s been the main way of learning midwifery,” Leister said. “We’re starting to circle back to how it used to be.”