YOUR AUTHENTIC TEAM

Certified Professional Midwife midwifebecky@authenticbirthcenter.com

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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 earthside. 

 

I regard a woman’s 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.  While the physiological birth process works beautifully most of the time, there are a handful of scenarios that may benefit from a helping hand. As I come alongside you in your pregnancy and birth journey, my role is to be your helping hand when you feel you need one. 

 

My pathway to becoming a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) has included an eclectic and exciting mix of experiences: a homebirth apprenticeship, birthing center internship, Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) and CPM birth assistant, doula, CNA, and private homebirth practice. I received my associate degree in midwifery from Southwest Technical College, and after being licensed in two additional states, I am now helping to expand the licensing of CPMs in Illinois.

 

I currently serve as the President of the Illinois Council of Certified Professional Midwives, a chapter of the National Association of CPMs, and Vice President of the Midwives Alliance of North America. 

I am first a mom to five grown-up children, as well as the ongoing project manager of one grandchild. Additionally, I enjoy knitting and am currently working on a complex genealogy tree.

Certified Professional Midwife

midwifeseong@authenticbirthcenter.com

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I grew up trusting birth and seeing it as a non-medical and very natural event. The oldest of five, I come from a home birthing family and had the opportunity to experience my youngest three siblings’ births. 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 to becoming a doula. 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 my NARM exam, and earned my CPM credential in May of 2022.

 

I practice trauma-informed and consent driven care. I am passionate about home and 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.

Certified Nurse Midwife​

midwifekatie@authenticbirthcenter.com

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In childhood I developed a deep interest in pregnancy and birth after realizing that my favorite movies and TV shows always involved someone giving birth. From there I devoured every educational book I could get my hands on and quickly realized that nothing seemed as sacred to me as being alongside families while they welcomed their children. 

 

My journey into birth work began in 2017 with a job as a postpartum doula and lactation counselor at Authentic Birth Center while I was completing my nursing degree. After graduating with my bachelor’s I attended approximately 400 births as a hospital labor and delivery nurse getting to experience everything from unmedicated physiologic birth to extremely high-risk birth. Since then, I have caught over 100 babies while completing my master’s degree as a Nurse-Midwife at Marquette University and with a hospital-based midwifery group in Milwaukee. I’m excited now to return to Authentic to serve families with holistic, evidence-based care. 

 

I believe in the normalcy of pregnancy and birth. In low-risk people, pregnancy is not a pathologic state and does not need to be “managed”. My goal is to be supportive and informative while keeping the parents in the driver’s seat. I consider it an absolute privilege to be a part of your journey!

Certified Professional Midwife 

CAPPA Faculty CLD, CPM, CPD, CLE, SbaP, SbPE, 
Evidence Based Birth Instructor, HCHI
midwifeheather@authenticbirthcenter.com

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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 classes a wide variety of 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.

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Certified Professional Midwife, Student Midwife Liaison

midwifehannah@authenticbirthcenter.com

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My journey into midwifery began several years ago after the birth of one of my siblings. A woman who brought us a meal suggested the idea, and I began researching routes of entry. Pursuing the Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) credential through the North American Registry of Midwives, I was accepted as a student at Authentic Birth Center in 2022.

 

I was blessed to attend over 100 births before receiving my CPM and Licensed Midwife credentials in April 2024. I am thankful for the opportunity to continue to work with the families giving birth here. It is a great honor to be invited into these spaces, where life is celebrated, and mothers work so hard to bring their little ones into their arms.

 

I believe that mothers' bodies are created to bring forth their babies in a powerful, beautiful way. While no birth is guaranteed a perfect ending, most low-risk, natural births follow this pattern. Even if the birth doesn't go “as planned”, I believe the woman should be allowed to give true informed consent to ensure she is the primary decision-maker for her care. This is important for every woman, no matter the setting in which she gives birth.

 

From the moment a baby is conceived in the womb, to the first breath after birth, the entire pregnancy journey is one of change, concern, excitement, anticipation, and

joy. My job is to encourage, assist, and support you in this journey. Truly, mothers and babies are “fearfully and wonderfully made!”