LaNette McQuitty
Certified Professional Midwife
Owner & Director at Authentic Birth Center
[email protected]

Thank you for considering Authentic Birth Center! I feel so blessed to be able to fulfill a lifelong dream of owning my own birth center and offering “authentic” care to women and newborns in southeastern Wisconsin. 

When Wisconsin began offering state licensure for midwifery in 2007, I immediately began the process to meet my longtime aspiration of assisting birthing families in their homes. My journey really started, though, years ago when I began supporting growing families as a Doula and Childbirth Educator. I have worked with hundreds of Milwaukee area families as a Doula and educator since 1980.

In 2008, I dual enrolled in The National College of Midwifery, Taos, New Mexico and the Midwest Maternal Child Institute, Chicago, IL. In spring of 2009 I completed a residency program living and working as a midwife with the tribes of Malawi Africa. After returning home from that life changing experience, I began a six-month apprenticeship, working with a Homebirth Certified Nurse Midwife in Illinois.

In February 2010, I earned my Associate of Science in Midwifery Degree and sat for the NARM exam. I received my CPM in February 2010 and was licensed by the State of Wisconsin in April of 2010. It has been an amazing couple of years as I navigated the path to becoming a CPM. Though, the letters behind my name have changed, my belief that birth is a natural, normal and healthy life event, is stronger than ever!

I firmly believe that birth is a family centered event and birthing at home allows families to bond in quiet and delight. I continue to be profoundly aware of the power of women, the transformations that birth brings to families and that births are, unquestionably, the most intimate yet empowering moments in life.

My goals also remain the same.

• I seek to care for and support expectant families that choose to birth outside of the hospital setting. I strive to provide exceptional skilled prenatal care with patience, warmth and respect. Moms, you will be treated like a queen! 
• I want to strengthen confidence in women with their ability to birth, breastfeed and nurture their babies.
• I will work to ensure that women continue to have choices regarding their births.

Kimberly McGuiness
Certified Professional Midwife
[email protected]

Hello beautiful families! My name is Kimberly McGuinness and I am a licensed Certified Professional Midwife. As far back as I can remember I have felt deeply called to birth work. I vividly recall the first birth I had the honor to witness as it (quite literally) brought me to my knees in awe. It was that moment I was certain birth work was my life calling. I was completely and utterly enamored by the strength, power, and energy that comes with birth. I personally believe that birth holds the potential to be a sacred, spiritual and transformative event in a woman’s life, as well as for her partner and family. It is these beliefs that shape who I am as a midwife. 

I began my journey into the field of birth in 2000 while working as a certified birth and postpartum doula. In 2002, I took a deep dive into midwifery and completed a direct entry apprenticeship in Chicago. It was this apprenticeship that taught me what I refer to as the “art of midwifery.” I am forever grateful for that experience! 

In 2005, I completed an internship at a high-volume birth center in El Paso, Texas. A few years later, I dual enrolled at the national college of Midwifery in Taos, New Mexico and the Midwest Maternal Child Institute in Chicago. I earned an Associates of Science in Midwifery and successful earned my CPM credential in October of 2009. That same year, I had the incredible opportunity to complete a midwifery residence program in Malawi.

I have a strong passion for health, wellness, and continual learning in the field of birth. I am currently enrolled in a Women’s Functional and Integrative Medicine Program. My goal is to bled together functional and integrative medicine into my midwifery practice and create a deeper level of care for the families I serve.

I am a proud mother of 4 children and wife to an incredibly strong anchor of a man. In my spare time I enjoy travel, interior design, anything outdoors, herbalism, and gardening. 

I greatly look forward to serving you and your family during this special and sacred time in your life. 

Becky Coolidge
Certified Professional Midwife
[email protected]

Hello! My name is Becky and I’m a Certified Professional Midwife. I jumped into the birthing world in high school when I supported a friend during her birth. Since then, I have been drawn to the energy of holding space for women as they bring their babies earth side. 

I regard a woman’s time of pregnancy and birth as a sacred space, designed to be guarded and nurtured as she follows her own body’s path for growing and bringing her baby into the world. The innate wisdom for navigating this unfolding time is the cornerstone of the midwifery model of care.  The physiological birth process works beautifully most of the time. There are a handful of scenarios that occasionally may benefit from a helping hand. As I come alongside you in your pregnancy and birthing journey, my role is to be your helping hand if and when you feel you need one. 

My pathway to becoming a CPM has including an eclectic and exciting mix of homebirth apprenticeship, a birthing center internship, CNM and CPM birth assistant, doula, CNA,  and private homebirth practice. I received an associates degree in Midwifery from Southwest Technical College. After being licensed in 2 additional states, I am now helping to expand the licensing of CPM’s in Illinois.

I am currently the President of the Illinois Council of Certified Professional Midwives, a chapter of the National Association of CPM’s, and Vice President of the Midwives Alliance of North America. 

I am first a mom to 5 grownup children, as well as the ongoing project manager of one grandchild. Additionally, I enjoy knitting and have several works-in-progress, and am working on a complex genealogy tree.

I am honored to be serving families at Authentic Birth Center.

Heather Mcullough
CAPPA Faculty CLD, CPM, CPD, CLE, SbaP, SbPE, 
Evidence Based Birth Instructor, HCHI
[email protected]

Hello! As a passionate, experienced, and innovative birth provider for over 25 years, I began this work when I was 19. Initially going into Pre-Med to become an OB-GYN, I was redirected to Midwifery and thus became a Certified Professional Midwife. I practiced in Portland, Oregon at the wonderful Adaluz Waterbirth center.

After moving back to the Midwest, I settled in Chicago. As co-owner of 312Doulas, we support 16-20 clients a month in Chicagoland while teaching class and in-services for families, doulas, and educators. 

Authentic Birth Center offers the perfect space to support amazing families through their childbearing years. As a member of your birth team, I’m absolutely honored to be a part of your transformative journey as a family. 

Seong Kitsos
CPM
[email protected]

Hello! I feel so blessed to be part of the Authentic family and I am excited to have the opportunity to serve families here. I come from a home birthing family. I am the oldest of five and experienced my youngest three siblings’ births. I grew up trusting birth and seeing it as a non-medical and very natural event. I have given birth in the hospital twice, at home on land once and at home in the water twice. All were unmedicated and uncomplicated.

Shortly after the birth of my fourth child, I  unexpectedly found myself on the path towards becoming a doula. I had just finished earning my BA in English and History and was thinking about beginning my career as an educator/editor. The universe had other plans! I was gently guided into the arms of birth-work. I completed doula training with DONA in 2014 and was shocked to realize how many people were experiencing traumatic births. I left that weekend with a fire in my heart to educate others about birth choices and promote the expectation of family centered birth.

I intuitively felt at home supporting birthing people and families. In 2018 I started on my journey to become a Certified Professional Midwife. I apprenticed with both private practice CPMs and a large home birth CNM practice for four years, attending around 400 births. I completed my apprenticeship, sat for the NARM exam, and earned mv CPM credential in May 2022.

I practice Trauma-Informed and consent driven care. I am passionate about home/community birth and helping to spread the word that it is a safe option for a low-risk pregnancy. I am passionate about recognizing the sacredness of pregnancy, birth and the postpartum experience. My goal is to make sure all feel safe, supported, and respected during this special time.