Lisa Lederer, CNM

I entered Midwifery school after my VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean) in a freestanding birth center in 1992. I felt strongly moved to pursue this career and the Lord opened every door to make it possible. I am blessed to have such an important calling on my life. I love being a Midwife with all my heart!
My experience as a Midwife started at a free-standing birth center in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in 1994. I had the opportunity to learn from 3 very experienced Midwives during my yearlong orientation. I absorbed so much wisdom and confidence. I still rely upon it today.
When I left Pennsylvania for New Jersey, I joined Roxann Mitchell, my friend with whom I had attended Midwifery school, and Cindy Redmond in their physician-owned practice. Although we were employed by a doctor, we had our own clientele that were exclusively Midwifery patients. We worked in a tiny level 1 hospital where we thrived. We had a very “high touch, low tech” practice style that had excellent outcomes for many years.
When the time came that our Physician employer was retiring, we stepped out on our own to start a private practice, Hackettstown Midwives, LLC DBA Midwives of New Jersey in 2007. We added homebirth to our offerings in 2008 and we began at Morristown Medical Center in 2010, where we could again attend women who desired a Trial of Labor after Cesarean (TOLAC). Since then, we have started a Midwife Intern program, introduced “natural” cesarean to Morristown Hospital in 2011, opened an online store, developed complementary programs like MotherCare, lactation circle and childbirth classes, opened additional offices in Madison and Hoboken and, as of 2018, added the option of birth center as a place of birth for our clients.
I am the president and owner of the practice. My primary goal for the Midwives of New Jersey is to give Midwives a place to practice true Midwifery. The expansion of this practice is not a financial decision but a vision-driven decision. We usually have 6-8 Midwives, currently there are 7 Midwives in the group and we all practice our profession with integrity. As we grow, we hope to see the Midwifery Model of Care become a standard for excellent maternity care in New Jersey.
My family has been an integral part of the success of Midwives of New Jersey. Not only do they let my employees and patients “borrow” me on the nights, weekends, and holidays when “regular” moms are available, they ENCOURAGE me to continue my work. My husband, Warren, has been a rock and a huge behind-the-scenes supporter of Midwifery and my practice. I have 4 grown daughters, a son-in-law and 3 grandchildren, all born into my hands at Our Birthing Center. The beautiful, peaceful entry into the world that my children and grandchildren have enjoyed is a birthright of every child and my fight is making this a reality.
My children have all been employed by the Midwives in some capacity over the years, so they have seen for themselves the beauty of pregnancy, birth, and motherhood. My girls have gained a true understanding of the effort and reward that comes with a low-intervention birth. My daughter Grace is a nurse working both at MNJ and Our Birthing Center. Kathryn has her doctorate in Chiropractic at Life University and has joined MNJ focusing on women and children’s needs. My daughter, Magdalene, is in her 4th year of Medical School working to become an OB/GYN. My 4th daughter, Cecilia, is following in her father’s footsteps, with a degree in communications and working in Marketing and Public Relations at her 1st job. Cecilia helps manage The Essential Market, photographs important moments in our practice and helps with social media content. Hopefully, the next generation of Lederers will further my vision for years to come!
My current project is a new Midwifery practice in Guttenberg, New Jersey. We are excited to have a practice housed inside Our Birthing Center on the Hudson (opening November 2024). The birth center and our office is currently under construction and it will be AMAZING to look at the NYC skyline during the day and labor with the twinkling lights of the city in your room at night!
My passion for my work has not dimmed but grown stronger over the years as I see the fruit of our work here and the damage caused by the prevalent OB model throughout the state. I hope to work many more years with many amazing Midwives bringing much needed change that will benefit the parents and children of New Jersey.

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