Tema Mercado
My name is Bianca Tema Mercado Quiñonez, but most people know me as Tema Mercado. I’m honored to serve families on Kumeyaay Unceded Territory, known today as San Diego, as a Licensed Midwife in California and a Partera Profesional Certificada in Mexico.
I am first-generation, born in San Jose, California, and the first of my siblings to be born in the U.S. My roots stretch across borders; my maternal lineage is Purépecha and my paternal lineage is Yoreme. I spent my adolescent years in Mexicali, Baja California, and carry those formative experiences with deep pride and a strong sense of service. They continue to shape how I show up as a midwife, mother, teacher, and community member.
As the mother of six children and grandmother of two, I bring a wide range of lived experience to my work. My children are lovingly split into two cohorts: my three eldest, now adults, were born in highly medicalized hospital settings when I was a young mother navigating birth without many options. Years later, after discovering midwifery and stepping into this sacred calling, I welcomed three more children into the world, all born outside the hospital, surrounded by support, intention, and reverence. These personal experiences ground my practice in deep understanding, compassion, and non-judgment for the many paths birth can take.
For over a decade, I’ve had the privilege of supporting families across both sides of the U.S.–Mexico border. My work is guided by the belief that birth is not just clinical, it’s spiritual, ancestral, and deeply relational. I’m committed to protecting the sacred, restoring trust in the body, and making space for both tears and triumphs.
At home, I am held up by my beloved husband Omar, a restorative justice teacher and unwavering partner. Together we raise our family, live our values, and stay rooted in love and community. I believe this is what allows me to do this work with integrity and sustainability.
Whether you’re planning a home birth, seeking trauma-informed care, or simply exploring your options, I’m here to walk alongside you, with presence, humility, and a deep respect for your journey.
