LABOR DOULA, CHILDBIRTH EDUCATOR & BIRTH PHOTOGRAPHER, FOUNDER NOVA Birth Services

Credentials: Bachelor’s of Social Work, Certified Labor Doula, Certified Childbirth Educator

I’m a happy wife of 25 years and mother of five, to three daughters and two sons. I have been supporting and educating families in pregnancy and childbirth since 2006 and have been training childbirth educators and doulas since 2010. My driving passion is to see mothers and babies in pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period served according to their immeasurable worth. When mom and baby are well loved and respected during their most vulnerable years together, the entire family benefits – and healthy, empowered families are what fortify healthy, whole societies. My energies in training Educators and Doulas are fueled by my hope to see the maternal health model in the U.S. improve, while also seeing the humanization of birth take place on a global scale, for underprivileged families in the developing world.

LICENSED CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL MIDWIFE

Credentials: Bachelor's of Science in Biology & Chemistry, Certified Professional Midwife, Certified Childbirth Educator, Certified Labor Doula, Certified Postpartum Doula

Though I had completed my university education with the intent to attend medical school, I found that I wanted to practice health care differently.  After giving birth to our first child, Esther, in 2006 through an unnecessary Cesarean section, my passion was ignited for the field of childbirth and midwifery.  Sadly, her birth was characterized by our fear and vulnerability coupled with a lack of support.  It was enough to cause me to seek education and empowerment and I haven't stopped since. The journey from then until now has been a beautiful one, as the LORD has opened doors for me to gain the knowledge and skills to ensure that other families do not have to feel the way that we did. 

Since 2006, I have given birth to three more beautiful babies all at home surrounded by a supportive and highly skilled birth team.  I have also gained training and certification as a Childbirth Educator and Postpartum Doula, and then as a Certified Professional Midwife through NARM (North American Registry of Midwives) in 2014.  I was able to obtain midwifery experience alongside seasoned and highly skilled midwives and am licensed to practice Midwifery by the state of Tennessee.  I feel immeasurably blessed to serve women and families by ensuring that they are loved, supported and empowered to make informed choices throughout the childbirth process, promoting a sense of autonomy and confidence during this transformative journey.

REGISTERED NURSE, LICENSED CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL MIDWIFE, LABOR MONITRICE 

Credential: Registered Nurse, Certified Professional Midwife, Labor Monitrice

As I entered the nursing profession, I yearned to lovingly care for people going through very difficult times and hoped to bring some sense of joy to them as they trudged through the deep valleys of pain and illness. After 3.5 years of nursing, I sensed a call to a different type of medical care and began the process of becoming a Certified Professional Midwife. After three years, I became certified through the North Atlantic Registry of Midwives and licensed in TN in 2016. I value my time as a nurse becoming proficient in basic nursing skills, but my eyes have since been opened to the idea of holistic care where we recognize that all aspects of a person; body, mind, and spirit, are connected in their wellbeing. I love the opportunity I have to care for women, families, and babies in a way that encompasses all of who they are and empowers them to make informed choices for their families. It is a privilege to know and serve families in this way. Outside of work my husband, Bill, and I spend our days chasing around 3 wild kiddos; Ellie, Asher, and Shepherd. What a joy to walk alongside growing families as we also navigate the crazy journey of parenthood!

LICENSED CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL MIDWIFE

Credentials: Certified Professional Midwife, Certified in NRP and CPR, Certified Labor Doula, Trained Postpartum Doula, Trained Childbirth Educator

My journey to midwifery started with a calling in 2012 while ministering in El Salvador. My work is propelled by the belief that a society full of confident young women and healthy mothers has a reverberating, historical impact on the health of our human family. I am honored to play a small part in realizing this for the families I am privileged to serve.

I began serving families as a postpartum doula in 2014 and in 2016 transitioned to full-time birth work as both a labor and postpartum doula.  In 2016 I also began apprenticing under highly skilled Certified Professional Midwives, including Heather Muñoz, Celesta Bargatze, and Bobbi Stidham. After three and a half years of training, I became a Certified Professional Midwife through the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM).

As of 2023, I have served 360 families.

CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL MIDWIFE, CHILDBIRTH EDUCATOR, LABOR DOULA & POSTPARTUM DOULA

Credentials: Certified Professional Midwife, NRP certified (2016, 2018, 2020) AHA-CPR certified (2021), Certified Labor Doula, Certified Childbirth Educator, Trained Postpartum Doula.

I began pursuing an education in Maternal health in 2008. I’ve always had a desire to care for people in their times of need and knew I wanted to learn more about childbirth after witnessing the health disparity of pregnant women in my travels to Latin America. My studies began slowly through reading books and becoming aware of the maternal health disparities in the US as well. Though I began my formal training in 2009 to become a Certified Childbirth Educator, I knew from the start that I wanted to become a midwife. I had the privilege of working with a trained traditional midwife in El Salvador for 3 months in 2011. I officially began apprenticing as a midwife in 2012, and while I had the great honor of attending and assisting many skilled midwives in the greater Nashville area, I was primarily trained by MaryAnne Richardson and Heather Muñoz. I was able to sit for the NARM exam in the Spring of 2019 and finally became a Certified Professional Midwife.

Seeing new life come into the world is a gift! The moment a baby is born brings so much joy, but the mothers journey to that moment, the bonds that take place afterwards and the growth of a family are all joyous moments to behold. The late Marsden Wagner said it well when he wrote, “...Respecting the woman as an important and valuable human being and making certain that the woman's experience while giving birth is fulfilling and empowering is not just a nice extra, it is absolutely essential as it makes the woman strong and therefore makes society strong.” I believe women are innately strong, and being able to support them as they realize that strength is one of my favorite aspects of being a midwife. When I am not busy being a midwife, I am happy taking care of my three beautiful children, spending time with friends, making people laugh, and enjoying life to the fullest.

CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL MIDWIFE, CERTIFIED LACTATION EDUCATOR, MASTER OF SCIENCE IN MIDWIFERY

Credentials: Certified Professional Midwife, NRP certified, Certified Labor Doula, Certified Lactation Educator.

I began attending births in 2016 as a doula and photographer. Eventually, this work led to my desire for more training and education in the fields of midwifery and lactation. In 2023, I finished a three-year Master of Science degree in Midwifery with an emphasis in botanical medicine for the childbearing year from Bastyr University in Seattle, WA. During this program, my clinical placements were completed with busy home birth midwifery practices and two high-volume birth centers.

Additionally, I became a Certified Lactation Educator and am currently building on that knowledge by pursuing an IBCLC certification. In 2024, I was privileged to have the transformative experience of birthing my own son at home under the expert care of community midwives. Experiencing midwifery care as a consumer has only solidified my passion for natural, out-of-hospital birth.

CERTIFIED NURSE MIDWIFE, MASTER OF SCIENCE IN NURSING, CERTIFIED LABOR DOULA

Credentials: Certified Nurse Midwife, NRP certified, Certified Labor Doula, Master of Science in Nursing.

My journey into maternal health began when I served as a medic in the United States Air Force, where I was first introduced to midwifery. That early experience ignited a passion in me that only grew stronger as I transitioned into nursing, began serving families as a birth doula, and ultimately became a Certified Nurse Midwife, a goal ten years in the making.

I’ve had the honor of walking alongside hundreds of families through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. I believe deeply in informed choice, evidence-based care, and holding space for the natural process of childbirth, while always prioritizing safety and respect for both mother and baby. I strive to empower the people I serve, ensuring they feel heard, supported, and cared for every step of the way.

At home, I’m a proud mother to twin boys, Eli and Luke, a daughter, Lorelei, and we are eagerly awaiting the arrival of our last baby boy, Everett. My husband, Matt, is also an Air Force veteran and a spinal cord injury survivor. He now serves others as a physical therapist specializing in spinal rehabilitation. Together, we’ve built a life rooted in empowering others, resilience, service, and compassion, values I carry into my work as a midwife every day.

CERTIFIED LABOR DOULA, CERTIFIED PLACENTA SPECIALIST

Credentials: Bachelor of Science - Psychology/Sociology (Southern Arkansas University), Certified Birth Doula (DONA), Certified Placenta Specialist (BEST Doula)

As a young girl I had an appreciation for the miracle of childbirth and showed a strong interest in reproductive and  maternal health. After marriage and becoming a mother, I entered into my calling to support women in the most vulnerable and sacred times of their lives as a birth doula in 2018 and became certified in 2020. I enjoy educating and empowering women and their partners to make informed birth decisions and advocating for the labor experience they deserve! My hope is that every family that I’m blessed to serve experiences the love of Christ.

I received birth doula certification through DONA International, and obtained a Bachelor of Science from a university in southwest Arkansas where I was born and raised. I met my college sweetheart 2004. We married in 2009, and moved to middle Tennessee with our sweet daughter in 2017. I love all things birth, but I’ve been given a heart to serve in different capacities. When I am not at a labor, or encapsulating a placenta, I am worshiping and teaching the youth at my local church. During my free time, I enjoy being with my family.

Credentials: Labor Doula, Student Midwife, Midwifery Assistant, Postpartum Doula

I am a wife to an amazing husband & mom to a beautiful daughter! My heart has always been filled with a passion to help and care for others in the healthcare field. 

With over 15 years of experience in the healthcare field, I've dedicated the last 5 years to being a passionate birth doula, attending over 130 births. Armed with an Associate of Science Degree in Nursing, and a wealth of knowledge through birth trainings, my journey also extends into the realms of a midwife assistant and a student midwife in pursuit of continued growth and impact.

Fueled by a mission to rectify the shortcomings of the maternal health system, my focus is extended to advocating for change within communities of color. My vision is to ensure birthing individuals, especially those underserved, encounter a transformative birth experience that is not only respected and positive but also deeply empowering and informed.

Beyond the birthing space and academic pursuits, I find joy in family moments, exploring the world through travel, and allowing my faith to guide me on this profound journey of service to the birthing world.

LABOR DOULA & POSTPARTUM DOULA

Credentials: Bachelors of Community Development, Certified Childbirth Educator, Certified Labor Doula, Trained Postpartum Doula, Trained Loss Doula

I married my wonderful husband Chris on May 1st, 2021, and have loved serving women as both a Labor and Postpartum Doula since 2014. Through utilizing the skills that I have gained to support women before, during, and after birth, I also have the opportunity to offer the empowerment that comes through education and helping the woman find her voice in birth. 

I received doula and postpartum doula training through NOVA Birth Services, and have had formal education in Maternal Health through the NOVA Childbirth Education program. It has been my privilege to serve many women in the Nashville area through Postpartum and Doula care over the last few years.  My experience includes supporting families through loss, supporting refugee families in Nashville conducting reproductive health seminars in India, and volunteering in a Birth Center in the Philippines.

I believe that woman's birth will shape her experience as a mother and can impact the rest of her life. I love journey of learning how to anticipate a woman's needs throughout pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period and enjoy being someone who can offer both support and education in each stage.

LABOR DOULA & POSTPARTUM DOULA

Credentials: Waterbirth, Int., Gentle Birth,  When Survivors Give Birth (trauma-informed care), HUGS Your Baby, Spinning Babies Advanced Training, Broken Sleep (newborn/mother sleep support), Peanut Ball Trained, Midwifery skills conferences, BLS Certified, Doula/midwifery Mission to Uganda (2012)

My official journey into labor support began on our farm helping my daughter as her Golden Retrievers gave birth.  She was the midwife.  I was the doula before I knew what a doula was. The spark was lit.  I knew I wanted to support women through pregnancy and birth! 

My journey began in 2010 with my daughter joining me in doula training.  The spark became a beautiful flame.  I knew women’s experiences could be better, and I wanted to be a part of making that a reality.  

As I supported women, I began to see gaps in their access to resources and care.  I became certified in postpartum support and lactation counseling in the hopes of bridging the needs of new mothers during this very vulnerable season.  I especially love to witness women become confident in their own bodies, abilities, and mothering instincts.  Empowering dads in supporting their wives is the frosting.

My most important and cherished role, though, has been that of being a mother.  I am a mother to my favorite adults and Nana to two princesses.  I enjoy hiking (not nearly often enough), starting a garden that goes to weed during baby season, cooking, and sewing/knitting.  I collect stacks of books to read, and if home I may be found on the porch with a good book and tea.

LABOR DOULA & CHILDBIRTH EDUCATOR

Credentials: Bachelor's of Organizational Communication, Certified Labor Doula, Loss Doula, Childbirth Educator, Spinning Babies®️Parent Educator

I cherish supporting families through pregnancy, birth and beyond. It’s a calling for me— one I began as a doula in 2008 and have continued to carry on as an educator. The courage, perseverance and dedication mothers show during labor and those first few months of motherhood is remarkable. It awakens something special in women---our faith, our grit strength, our overflowing love. I believe that no matter the circumstances that birth may present, all women deserve to receive dignifying care and unwavering emotional, physical and informational support. My personal birth and postpartum experiences compelled me to pursue continued education in the areas of birth trauma, cesarean recovery, birth physiology & movement, birth advocacy and storytelling. I have also volunteered with the Nashville ICAN (International Cesarean Awareness Network) chapter and contributed to NOVA’s Beautiful Midwifery Conferences. I married my college sweetheart, Mark, in 2008. Hailing from the Pacific Northwest, we stereotypically enjoy the outdoors, campfires and good music. Our three kids keep us laughing and praying: Earnest, Edith, and our bookend baby, Quinn.

CHILDBIRTH EDUCATOR, LABOR DOULA & POSTPARTUM DOULA

Credentials: Bachelors of Community Development, Certified Childbirth Educator, Certified Labor Doula, Postpartum Doula, Trained Loss Doula

A fire was lit in me in my early 20s when I witnessed the motherhood journeys of many close friends, who generously shared their experiences navigating the medicalized birth system for the first time, and seeking empowering education and care on the other side. As a result, I was compelled to become equipped to serve mothers in the developing world and here in Nashville. I began pursuing training in childbirth education in 2008 and have served families as a labor and postpartum doula since 2010, serving over 200 families in birth and countless others in the precious hours and weeks postpartum. I have volunteered in East Africa as a birth attendant and educator, and have been privileged to support birth in low-technology to emergency settings.

I believe that parents have the best opportunity to make empowered decisions for their growing family when they are informed through education, and I find great joy walking alongside women through the life transitions of pregnancy, birth and postpartum. I feel incredibly proud of the progress that has been made in our local birth care system through the collaboration of Midwives, Doulas, Educators, and Obstetricians, and believe that there is more work to be done to offer families birth options they deserve. I also enjoy the administrative side of care, and love connecting couples with a care team that can support their dreams for birth. My heart for helping families to navigate birth in all circumstances has led me to support mothers in the home, hospital, and birth center setting.

My experience supporting families includes families with multiples, those conceiving with IVF, high-risk pregnancies, advanced maternal age, single parenting, adoption, surrogacy, VBAC, special needs babies, clients on bed rest, premature birth, and pregnancy loss and stillbirth. 

I married my kind and extremely supportive husband, Moses, in early 2016. Later that year, I gave birth to our first daughter, Mireembe, who was stillborn. Our experience with an emergency birth and the grief of love with no place to go has made me a stronger birth worker and mother.  Since then, we have been blessed with three beautiful children and supported by Midwives and Doulas through redemptive births. Our home is full of chaos and joy, raising our daughter, born in April of 2018, son born in October of 2020, and a son born December of 2023.

IBCLC, CERTIFIED CHILDBIRTH EDUCATOR, CERTIFIED & REGISTERED LACTATION CONSULTANT

Credentials: Bachelors of Community Development; Certified Childbirth Educator with experience as a labor doula; Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), Registered Lactation Consultant, Training in CFT (Craniosacral Fascial Therapy via the Gillespie Approach)

My Story:

In 2012 I began a two year Childbirth Education Certification program through the Institute for G.O.D. International because I wanted to serve women here and in India through maternal and infant health.  Through the program, I started teaching and serving local families as a doula, including local refugee families that I still have a relationship with many years later.  In the summer of 2012, with my husband and a team of others, I took my seven month old daughter Rahomi to India for six weeks of learning and serving those in poverty.  During that time I found myself surrounded by vulnerable mothers and babies who were malnourished, sick, preyed on by corporations, and desperate for help.  On that trip, the Lord called me into the field of lactation that supported my fat and healthy baby even in hostile environments with antibodies and abundant nutrition.  These women deserved the support and education that I had received. 

When I had my second daughter Niah, she was born with a rare heart condition (HRHS) and I received the help of a lactation hero Jane Kershaw.  Jane is now a retired RN and IBCLC who started and managed A Mother’s Place at Centennial Hospital for over 30 years and Hope Breastfeeding Support in-home lactation for six years while training me.  She worked with me day and night to help Niah nurse.  It was an around the clock journey through NICU, home oxygen, open heart surgeries, tongue ties, pumping, oversupply, losing supply, and tandem nursing my older child to protect supply for my critically ill child.  During that time, Jane offered me the once in a lifetime opportunity to train with her over the next six years to become an IBCLC and carry on her legacy of supporting moms and babies.  I would not be doing this work today without Jane’s faithfulness and expertise.  I passed my IBCLC board exams in December 2021 and have been in private practice with NOVA since then.

My Work Now:

As a lactation consultant, my role is to listen and support mothers and babies on their breastfeeding journey.  We evaluate their moment and make a plan together to meet their unique needs and goals, and these plans can vary from visit to visit as their situation changes.  My priorities are counseling parents through this vulnerable process, overseeing baby’s growth and development, protecting or building mom’s milk supply, and keeping breastfeeding an enjoyable experience for both.  My role is assessment, support and empowerment— this includes the complex world of tethered oral tissues and functional oral assessment for baby.  I am a huge proponent of collaborative care and have a great team who I refer families to for body work, feeding therapy, or tongue tie release providers when needed.

Whether you are a first time mom needing a prenatal consult, a new mom working out the difficulties of learning on the job with a new little one, a veteran mom who is learning how to navigate nursing with a new “dance partner”, a mother going back to work outside the home and needing a game plan, or an adoptive parent wanting to feed the baby at the breast or help with biologically intuitive bottle-feeding— I’m here to help.  I can also assist moms looking to build their milk supply, preserve it when returning to work, complementary feed with breastmilk and formula, introduce solids, or wean from a breastfeeding relationship. Together we can work through whatever challenges you may be facing with feeding your baby and help you have the confidence and ability to meet your baby’s needs.

SENIOR MANAGER, CHILDBIRTH EDUCATOR, LABOR DOULA, MIDWIFERY ASSISTANT & NOVA SENIOR MANAGER

Credentials: Certified Childbirth Educator, Trained Labor Doula, Trained Midwifery Assistant

My passion for serving women in childbirth began in 2007 after the birth of my second child. It was an amazing, empowering experience that propelled me into a positive new season of motherhood. I wanted every woman to have the opportunity to have such an experience in birth and postpartum. That desire is what inspired me to become a doula and childbirth educator. I have been married to my husband Jason since 2004 and we have six beautiful children!

HR MANAGER, CHILDBIRTH EDUCATION & LABOR DOULA

Credentials: Bachelor’s of Intercultural Studies, Certified Childbirth Educator, Trained Labor Doula

My husband Austin and I have been married for six years and have two sons, Liam and Timothy.  I first became interested in helping expecting families after the birth of my first son in 2011. This experience helped me to see the incredible impact birth has on the journey of motherhood and the family as a whole.  I believe that all women deserve education, support, and love throughout their pregnancy, birth, and postpartum time. My hope is to support mothers in such a way that they feel valued and empowered through their experience and in turn, serve as a benefit for the entire family.

Heather is currently on an indefinite sabbatical from attending births.

QUALITY SPECIALIST, PRESIDENT OF THE TENNESSEE MIDWIVES ASSOCIATION, REGISTERED NURSE, LICENSED CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL MIDWIFE, LABOR MONITRICE, NRP INSTRUCTOR

Credentials: Registered Nurse, Trained Labor Doula, Labor Monitrice, Certified Neonatal Resuscitation Instructor, Licensed Certified Professional Midwife

I developed a love for maternal and newborn health in 2002 as I witnessed firsthand the suffering and lack of nutrition of women and children in East Africa. I became a Registered Nurse in 2004 and have had experience in Medical/Surgical, Postpartum and Nursery units. I have the opportunity to serve low-income and refugee/immigrant population with the Vanderbilt Midwives in Nashville. In 2006, I began my training to become a Certified Professional Midwife and now serve families in Middle Tennessee as a licensed CPM-TN. I serve with NOVA as a labor doula and Monitrice (a doula experienced in clinical skills) because I recognize that women deserve to be empowered through education and have a supportive advocate throughout labor in order to have the best possible outcomes. I’ve been married for 11 years and have 5 children - 2 daughters, 3 sons, including twin boys!  My children are my inspiration to assist women into a healthy season of motherhood.