Lydia Schmittel

Originally from Apollo, Pennsylvania, Lydia chose midwifery as a profession due to her own personal experience with the supportive, personalized care her midwife provided her during the birth of her children. This support enabled her to reach her goal of an unmedicated VBAC.

“I originally planned to go to medical school to become an obstetrician but decided on being a biology teacher part way through my freshman year,” she said. “I really had no exposure to what a midwife was until my own pregnancies. Once I discovered midwifery care it quickly became clear I was always meant to be a midwife.”

Lydia earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Duquesne University and worked as a nurse at a busy tertiary care center in Pittsburgh, PA on the postpartum, antepartum, and labor and delivery units. Lydia then earned her master’s degree in nursing from Frontier Nursing University and completed her clinical training with The Midwives at Magee at Magee Womens Hospital of UPMC as well as with The Midwife Center in Pittsburgh, PA.

Before moving to Durham, she was a midwife for three and a half years at a community hospital in Northwestern Pennsylvania. She’s also a member of the American College of Nurse Midwives.

She worked as a postpartum, antepartum and labor and delivery nurse at a busy tertiary care center in Pittsburgh, PA prior to becoming a midwife.

“I served a unique population as a midwife taking care of 35% Amish and Mennonite families,” she said. “I enjoy partnering with my patients to achieve their healthcare goals. I firmly believe knowledge is power and strive to help women understand their bodies, their options, and how they can optimize their health. My goal is to make you as comfortable and empowered as possible.”

Lydia and her husband, Derek, have three wonderful children. Their oldest child, Emma, has demonstrated an interest in art and cooking, while her middle child, Miles, likes video games and reading. Her youngest child, Claire, loves to go on adventures and dance.

They share their home with two dogs, a Bernedoodle named Leo and a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Sawyer. They also have two adopted cats.

Outside the office, she loves hiking, gardening, cooking, traveling and spending time with her family.