Nell Tharpe is a certified nurse midwife, registered nurse first assistant and author.

She has dedicated her life to the care of women and their babies, and the continuing education of midwives.

As adjunct faculty at Philadelphia University, she designs and teaches continuing education programs for midwives, nurse practitioners, registered nurses and physician assistants.

Tharpe is also a sought after midwifery workshop presenter on the national level.

During her many years in practice, before the advent of the Internet as a ready reference, Tharpe began thinking about the need for a quick reference book for nurse-midwives. She envisioned a text that included guidance for clinical situations midwives might not see on a regular basis. In 1999, there was no easy to use, quick reference guide for clinical situations in an easy-to-reach-for reference book.

“I thought, how can I provide support and good care, reference topics appropriately and limit risk to the woman, the midwife and the facility or practice?” Tharpe said.

In 2000, Midwife Publications was born, delivering the first edition of the “Clinical Practice Guidelines for Midwives” by Nell Tharpe of East Boothbay.

Tharpe sourced her guidelines from a wide range of reference materials, collected them into notebooks, on scraps of paper and photocopies of information. The first book was compiled in a intensive week of writing, and sold in loose leaf binders out of her garage — printed one book at a time.

In January of this year the third edition, “Clinical Practice Guidelines for Midwifery and Women's Health” (2008) the first to be co-written with colleague Cindy L. Farley (CNM, PhD, FACNM, Faculty, Midwifery Institute at Philadelphia University, Clinical Midwife, Greater Cincinnati Nurse-Midwives), was translated into Indonesian and entitled, “Praktik Klinik Kebidanan.”

References to clinical maternity and women's health include scientific evidence-based care, traditional midwifery, and holistic care information.

Tharpe and Farley found out about it unexpectedly in February. “I came into my office and saw a book that looked vaguely familiar, but the size was wrong and I couldn’t read it,” Tharpe said.

The Indonesian publishing company, Penerbit Buku Kedokteran, had requested permission of Jones & Bartlett to translate the midwifery/women's health guide.

“The publisher forgot to tell us about it, and just sent us author’s copies,” Tharpe said.

According to Farley, also a professor at the Midwifery Institute of Philadelphia University, “The 'Clinical Practice Guidelines for Midwifery & Women's Health' was chosen as an important contribution to midwifery literature.

“Indonesia is the fourth most populated country in world where an estimated 4.7 million women give birth each year. As of 2012, Indonesian midwifery schools became accredited. Nell and I are delighted to be able to contribute to the health of Indonesian women and their families through the education of Indonesian midwives.”

Also in 2013, Jones & Bartlett Publishing released the fourth edition, “Clinical Practice Guidelines for Midwifery & Women's Health,” also co-written by Tharpe and Farley. This edition was thoroughly updated with expanded sections on documentation and risk management.

The reference guide, an invaluable tool for all midwives, also includes women's health/primary care practice information (as did the 2008 edition, the first to be co-written by the two women).

Tharpe is also a poet, fiction writer and artist. What follows is a poem found on her website, www.midwifepublications.com, which she wrote following the birth of her granddaughter. By the time Tharpe ended her years of private practice in 2003, she had assisted in the delivery of approximately 600 babies at St. Andrews, Miles Memorial and Parkview hospitals.

Everyday Miracle

By Nell Tharpe, December 2007

The infant child sleeps.

Her flawless skin a testament

To the possibility

Of perfection;

One cherubic hand, outstretched

The other, curled at her mouth

Like some small creature

Nestled near its mother’s breast.

She carries the future

On her small shoulders;

Each day, all unknowing,

She recreates the twisted path of

Human evolution.

We come into this world

Whole, innocent,

Filled with Grace.

Before the mundane world

Puts its mark upon us,

For one brief moment

Poised on the cusp between

The spirit and the flesh

Perfection.