Whole Mother Show – Whole Mother: Recent Episodes
Pat Jones
Valerie Zabinski of To Heal is to Love, a CranioSacral Therapist who is passionate about supporting women and families through every stage of the childbearing journey—from preconception and pregnancy to postpartum healing and beyond.
Her work is rooted in the belief that the body has an incredible capacity to heal when given the right support. Through gentle, hands-on therapies, Valerie helps clients release tension, improve pelvic and whole-body balance, support fertility, prepare for birth, recover after birth, and reconnect with themselves during life’s many transitions.
As a mother herself, Valerie understands that pregnancy, birth, and motherhood are deeply transformative experiences that deserve compassionate, individualized care. She is passionate about creating spaces where women feel seen, heard, and empowered to trust the wisdom of their own bodies.
Valerie is honored to serve on the leadership team for this year’s Birth Fair, a beloved community event on October 3, 2026, that has connected families with local birth professionals and resources for more than two decades. She is excited to help continue its tradition of educating, supporting, and celebrating growing families in our community.
Valerie Zabinski, CranioSacral Therapy
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Monisha Holley-Cherry is founder of Her H.A.V.E.N. Birthwork and a full-spectrum birthworker dedicated to supporting families through fertility, pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. She is passionate about helping parents make informed decisions, rebuild the village of support, and experience birth and postpartum with confidence, dignity, and compassionate care. She will tell us how Her H.A.V.E.N offers birth support in our community and what that advocacy looks like during labor, plus information on traditions and cultural ceremonies.
Monisha Holley-Cherry, founder of Her H.A.V.E.N. Birthwork
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Dr. Diljot Virdi is a chiropractor and co-owner of Mulberry Chiropractic in Houston, Texas. She specializes in family, pregnancy, and pediatric chiropractic care and is passionate about helping women have healthy, empowered pregnancies and postpartum experiences. Through her work, she helps support mothers from preconception through motherhood with a focus on nervous system health and whole-family wellness.
Using a gentle, nervous-system-focused approach to chiropractic care, Dr. Virdi helps identify and correct areas of stress and tension within the spine that can affect how the body functions and adapts. Her goal is to help mothers and families feel, move, and function at their best throughout pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and beyond.
With over five years of experience, Natalie Guzman is a dedicated Salvadorian doula and apprenticed midwife passionate about supporting Spanish-speaking families through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Rooted in cultural traditions and and holistic care, Natalie Guzman provides compassionate guidance, education, and advocacy to ensure families feel empowered and nurtured during their birthing journey.
Committed to creating a safe and informed space, Natalie Guzman specializes in personalized birth plans, emotional support, and postpartum recovery, always honoring the unique needs of each family. Whether it’s a first-time parent or a growing family, Natalie Guzman is devoted to uplifting and empowering the community, one birth at a time. You can find her on Instagram as Sweet Surrender Doula
Dr. Diljot Virdi & Natalie Guzman
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Jolene Tollett is a twenty year veteran of Montessori, discovering the educational method right here in Houston. Jolene graduated from Texas Tech University before trying out many places before settling in Houston where she taught in one of HISD’s public Montessori schools. She has a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Curriculum and Development and is the Director of MOLO Bilingual Montessori School in Westchase. She has presented her own curricula as well as research within the state and nationwide.
Her daughter who is now 13, started Montessori at three months old and went through 5th grade. She spends her free time driving her child around to various sports practices and managing a household with three dogs and a teen in it. She also makes time to volunteer with the local dog rescue Pup Squad, Houston Heights Woman’s Club and an supports TEAM (Texas Education and Advocacy for Montessori) where she can.
Jolene Tollett on Montessori Eduction
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Jackie Griggs, CNM, is a Certified Nurse Midwife who has been practicing in the Houston/Beaumont area for the past 35 years. She is a mom of 5 grown sons, 3 born at home with the help of midwives. Three grandchildren, ages 2,6, and 9, who are the light of her life. She has helped mainly with home and birth center births, but has worked in the hospital some as well. She is the owner of a birth center in Beaumont, Birth Center of Beaumont and also helps with home births in the Houston area. She has been on the Board of Directors of the American Association of Birth Centers, and still is a very big advocate for midwifery care at a birth center or home, for the women of this country. She is also focused on training new midwifery students and helping to increase the number of birth centers in Texas and the United States.
Kailee Viator is a 35 year old artist, working mainly as a tattooer. Her husband Trevor is a personal trainer and Brazilian jiu jitsu instructor. They have been together for ten years and finally decided to try for a child one year ago, after a long time of claiming that they did not want children. Their son Forrest was born on March 27th. They are planning on him being an only child and are looking forward to raising him in their home in the woods.
Kara Chandler is a mom of five energetic kids, four boys and one girl. She is originally from Utah, where she studied music at BYU. She has been married 18 years to her handsome chemical engineer husband and they have lived in Texas for about 13 years. Her oldest three sons are ages 16, 14, and 10, followed by a spunky six year daughter, and her most recent baby, Kaleb (a.k.a. “chunky little love”), was born on Valentine’s Day and is about three months old. She loves her children more deeply than she ever thought possible, even though she was a bit hesitant about becoming a mother. She enjoys learning about natural health, walking with her baby, playing horn with the Bay Area Philharmonic, watching her kids devour homemade sourdough bread and perform their various sport and musical events, playing piano for her church, and doing pilates on the porch. She plans to keep homeschooling, ease back into running with her husband and kids, and camp as much as possible with her family this summer.
Jackie Griggs, CNM, Kailee Viator & Kara Chandler
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Suzanne Juel provides a holistic, family—centered approach to lactation, infant feeding and parenting support. Her journey began in 2003 with the foundation of Merry-Go-Round in Kingwood, a haven for moms seeking both community and lactation guidance.
By 2014, she was instrumental in establishing a breastfeeding-friendly environment at The Woman’s Hospital of Texas. Shortly after, she teamed up with Dr. James Liu, known for his expertise in addressing oral restrictions. Together, we ensured comprehensive care for families grappling with challenges like lip and tongue ties. However, her passion didn’t stop there. Recognizing the need for more tailored support, Bayou City Breastfeeding was born in 2016. We passionately believe in empowering parents, firmly holding that they are the true experts on their children.
In today’s often confusing landscape of parenting advice, we bridge the gap. Beyond mere lactation advice, we’re here to build lasting relationships, offering insights on everything from infant feeding to mental health, viewing each family holistically to ensure everyone’s needs are addressed. Professionally, she stared out as a Certified Lactation Counselor and achieved the gold standard International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant certification in 2014. She values continuing education and has pursued additional training in numerous areas related to breastfeeding and infant feeding. Presently, she is honored to serve as President of HALCEA, nurturing growth in the lactation community. On a personal note, she is privileged to celebrate 24+ years of marriage and the joy of parenting. Outside of work, she relishes running, reading, and painting. She’s here to stand by you, ensuring you feel valued and heard on this incredible journey.
Kathy Lenert, RN, IBCLC, has dedicated over 30 years to supporting mothers and babies through every stage of the perinatal journey. Her passion for maternal-child health began with her own personal birth and breastfeeding experiences, which inspired a lifelong commitment to helping families feel confident and supported. Throughout her career, Kathy has worked in a wide range of settings, including as a mother/baby nurse, NICU nurse, lactation consultant, staff trainer, and patient educator. She has provided care in both hospital and private practice environments, bringing a well-rounded, evidence-based, and compassionate approach to her work. Kathy is known for her ability to combine clinical expertise with practical, real-life guidance, empowering families to meet their feeding goals and navigate early parenthood with confidence.
Jennifer Robert is a passionate Maternal-Child Health advocate with over two decades as a Registered Nurse and Community Health Educator. Her journey began in New Orleans where she graduated from LSU Health Sciences Center’s School of Nursing. Her love for Maternal-Child Health truly blossomed after witnessing a Midwife-assisted delivery while in nursing school.
From an RN at The Birthing Place at Tulane University Hospital and Clinic, to volunteering post-Hurricane Katrina, and moving to Houston pregnant with her twins, her passion for supporting moms intensified during her tenure at The Woman’s Hospital of Texas.She soon realized teaching was her calling. As a Certified Childbirth Educator, teaching an array of topics from Infant CPR to Marvelous Multiples, she specializes in empowering parents. And her own NICU journey with my preterm twins fueled her commitment to lactation support. In 2014, she became a Certified Lactation Counselor, and soon after, an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. Contributing to The Woman’s Hospital of Texas becoming the first Baby-Friendly Hospital in Houston is a badge of honor for her. Her heart is with the fierce moms and their tiny NICU warriors. With her professional and personal expertise, she was pleased to bring her passion to her community by leading the opening of Memorial Hermann Pearland Hospital’s Lactation and Perinatal Education Departments. Come 2022, she joined the fantastic Bayou City Breastfeeding crew! Now, from their Webster and West NASA Offices to your cozy homes, she is here for you.
Outside of work, she cherishes time in Pearland with her husband and four children, engage in her church’s Women’s Ministry, and daydream about sandy beaches.Ready to embark on this journey together? Let’s make your breastfeeding experience memorable! Remember, together, we’ve got this!
Suzanne Juel, CLC, IBCLC, Kathy Lenert, RN, IBCLC, & Jennifer Roberts
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Lindy Myers, MS, CCC-SLP, pediatric speech-language pathologist (SLP) and Clinical Lead at Coral Care, discusses the first few weeks of newborn life and how SLPs, occupational, and physical therapists can help families as they adjust to their new normal, including bringing home babies who have spend time in NICU.
Lindy Myers, MS, CCC-SLP
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Natanya Champney is a dedicated midwife with over 17 years of experience, transitioning from a thriving practice in rural New Hampshire to her current role as the Staff Midwife and Clinical Director at The Addice Birth Center in North Houston, Texas. Throughout her career, Natanya has passionately provided compassionate care and support to families, helping them navigate the profound journey of childbirth.
Before moving to Texas, she founded and operated As It Was Midwifery in Littleton, NH, where she served over 300 families, gaining invaluable insights into the unique challenges and rewards of rural midwifery. Although Houston is vastly different from the life she led in Northern NH, Natanya and her two sons are thriving here in Texas. She is amazed at how seemless the transition has been.
Natanya is also an emerging author, currently writing a book about her journey into and through midwifery. This work seeks to illuminate her experiences, challenges, and reflections as she adapted from a rural practice to a bustling urban environment, offering inspiration and insights for fellow midwives and those interested in maternal health.
Natanya Champney
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Natalie Guzman, Chieko Babb, and Anna Demetra Badoian tell us about the premier screening of a film you don’t want to miss – Pacific Mother – plus the work they are doing. I will also be speaking with Christine Diaz, a member of the BIRTH Fair Leadership Team, who will share information about this year’s BIRTH Fair. BIRTH (Bringing Information and Resources to Houston) is sponsoring the Houston premiere of the award-winning film Pacific Mother. The film will make its Houston debut on April 22, 2026, at Cafe Brasil, located at 2604 Dunlavy Street, from 7 to 10 PM.
Natalie Guzman is a Salvadoran birth doula, student midwife, and ceremonialist, devoted to reclaiming birth as a sacred rite of passage. She is the co-founder of Aliento of Nacimiento – A school of traditional birth arts. It was the ecstatic homebirth of her son that opened the portal into birthwork for her. It was an initiation that forever changed her life and awakened a calling she couldn’t ignore. She also serves on Birth Fair’s Leadership Team and is a vital link between Birth Fair and spanish speaking families in Houston, Texas.
Chieko Babb is a Japanese-Puerto Rican licensed midwife and co-founder of Aliento de Nacimiento. Chieko believes her midwifery training instilled in her the importance of taking on leadership in communities for the health of future generations. Her practice of holistic midwifery care
is rooted in both evidence-based practices and respect for traditions. She brings all the tools of the trade she has gathered throughout her journey as a birth doula, herbalist, reproductive health ally, and home birth midwife into her practice.
Anna Demetra Badoian is the heart behind Of the Earth Holistic Care and Of the Earth Botanicals. These are spaces where she gets to share her passions as an experienced bodyworker, plant lover and birth worker dedicated to the wellbeing of womxn, wombs and the childbirth continuum. Her background includes over a decade of work in the Rolf Method of Structural Integration, Scar Work®, Arvigo Abdominal Therapy, Yoga/Functional Movement and Energy Healing. She is a gifted teacher and healer in our community.
Together, they are dedicated to spreading awareness of ancestral ways of birth, weaving workshops, ceremonies, and gatherings that honor tradition, culture, and the wisdom of the body.
Christine Diaz is a long-time supporter and volunteer with BIRTH. Her first BIRTH Fair was in 2005, when she volunteered in the maternity fashion show, and she has been involved ever since. This year, she is serving as the Sponsor/Vendor Coordinator. After experiencing the empowerment of having her three children at home with a midwife, she became dedicated to helping others learn about their birth options and supporting the right of every birthing person to shape their own experience.
Outside of her work with BIRTH, Christine has been active in community media, co-hosting KPFT’s Voices at Work for several years. She currently works full-time, enjoys fitness, and is a fan of Abbott Elementary. She is grateful to her partner, Gordon, for supporting her ongoing commitment to BIRTH Fair and its mission.
Natalie Guzman, Chieko Babb, Anna Demetra Badoian, & Christine Diaz
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Charis Asher is a Business Operations and Leadership Strategist, Certified Christian Counselor, and Founder of Lady Power Inc., a nonprofit supporting underserved mothers through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care. With over 17 years of experience and a background as a former Montessori school director, she helps organizations and families thrive through strategy, structure, and community-centered support. Her work is rooted in faith and lived experience, inspired by her own empowering birth supported by a midwife who was first a doula. Today, she leads a team committed to ensuring every mother has access to compassionate care and support.
Charis W. Asher, Black Maternal Health Week
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https://wholemothershow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/kpft_240624_200000wholemother_trimmed.mp3John V. Geisheker, JD, LL.M, has practiced medico-legal law as an arbitrator, mediator, litigator, and law lecturer, for over 30 years. He is currently the full-time pro bono Executive Director and General Counsel for Doctors Opposing Circumcision, an international physicians’ charity based in Seattle, Washington. D.O.C.’s members and supporters oppose merely cultural, non-therapeutic, genital cutting of children, male, female or intersex, on human rights’ grounds.
John is a native of New Zealand, a country that fully abandoned medicalized male circumcision in the 1960’s. He hopes his adopted U.S.A. will someday follow that principled example.
John V. Geisheker, JD, LL.M
https://wholemothershow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/kpft_240617_200000wholemother_trimmed.mp3Heather Goodwin is the Director of Heights of Health Holistic Therapy Services, and Heather empowers adults and children with proven life-transforming tools. Her mindfulness, behaviorally-based and multi-disciplinary approach is rooted in the recognition that emotional issues cannot be separated from physical, social, spiritual, and cognitive influences.
Heather is the cofounder of TriVibrance, a 3-female owned company that has created powerful, energetically imprinted products to empower the release of unharmonious energies and to allow the flow of higher vibration energy and emotions into and within the body. She also co-created Present Time Kids, a cutting-edge, neuroscience and mindfulness-based program for schools and at-home use.
Heather holds a Master’s degree in Education and is a Board Certified Holistic Health Practitioner. In the past, she has served in an administrative role as a District-Wide Behavior Specialist for a large urban school district in Houston. Other notable roles include lead associate in one of our nation’s cutting-edge educational consulting firms, Director of Behavior Programs for a national publishing company in Colorado and a requested national speaker, radio and TV guest.
Heather Goodwin, Holistic Therapy, Part 2
https://wholemothershow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/kpfthd3_240612_130000wholemother_trimmed.mp3Heather Goodwin is the Director of Heights of Health Holistic Therapy Services, and Heather empowers adults and children with proven life-transforming tools. Her mindfulness, behaviorally-based and multi-disciplinary approach is rooted in the recognition that emotional issues cannot be separated from physical, social, spiritual, and cognitive influences.
Heather is the cofounder of TriVibrance, a 3-female owned company that has created powerful, energetically imprinted products to empower the release of unharmonious energies and to allow the flow of higher vibration energy and emotions into and within the body. She also co-created Present Time Kids, a cutting-edge, neuroscience and mindfulness-based program for schools and at-home use.
Heather holds a Master’s degree in Education and is a Board Certified Holistic Health Practitioner. In the past, she has served in an administrative role as a District-Wide Behavior Specialist for a large urban school district in Houston. Other notable roles include lead associate in one of our nation’s cutting-edge educational consulting firms, Director of Behavior Programs for a national publishing company in Colorado and a requested national speaker, radio and TV guest.
Heather Goodwin, Heights of Health Holistic Therapy
https://wholemothershow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/kpft_240527_200000wholemother_trimmed.mp3Marly Hudanish, Master NCS, joins us to help us unpack options for care for the postpartum family. We dive deep on sleep training and how it doesn’t have to mean leaving your baby to cry it out.
newborncareexpert.com
Marly Hudanish, Master NCS
https://wholemothershow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/kpft_240520_200000wholemother_trimmed.mp3Lynn Schulte is a Pelvic Health Physical Therapist for over 30 years and she is the principle instructor at the Institute for Birth Healing. She has successfully healed thousands of women from all the issues women experience after birth and is now teaching courses to bodyworkers to help them do the same. She found a common birth pattern that shows up in the pelvis after birth and knows how to effectively release these patterns. Knowing we are more than just our bodies, Lynn works on all levels, physically, energetically, and spiritually with women to help them access their full potential. She also teaches bodyworkers how to work with the energy of the body and how to access and use your intuition in your bodywork sessions. She offers a certification process to help birth professionals become Birth Healing Practitioners.
Lynn holds a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy from St. Louis University, St. Louis Missouri.
centerforbirthhealing.com
instituteforbirthhealing.com
Lynn Schulte, Pelvic Health Physical Therapist
https://wholemothershow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/kpft_240101_200000wholemother_trimmed.mp3With 13 years of dedicated experience as a Doctor of Physical Therapy, Dr. Valerie Akinwande is a leading expert in women’s health. In 2020, she founded WomansDPT, a venture aimed at empowering women through specialized physical therapy. Dr. Akinwande holds a Doctorate in Physical Therapy, a Master of Science in Biology and Biochemistry, and a Bachelor of Arts in Biology. Her credentials also include the Certificate of Achievement in Pelvic Health and the Certificate of Achievement in Obstetrics from the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).
Beyond her academic and professional achievements, Dr. Akinwande’s journey includes three un-medicated vaginal births, instilling in her a profound belief that all women can benefit from the guidance of a pelvic floor physical therapist. Drawing on her wealth of knowledge, she served as a college professor for several years, enriching the lives of her students.
Currently, Dr. Akinwande is actively involved in the community, both locally and online, where she teaches birth preparation and postpartum classes. Her mission is to impact the lives of 10 million women, helping them navigate pregnancy, recover from childbirth challenges, manage painful periods, overcome incontinence, experience pain-free intimacy, and cope with menopause.
A passionate advocate for women’s health, Dr. Akinwande channels her mission by providing on-demand courses and freebies online at Pelapy Academy and on her Pelapy YouTube channel, where she creates and shares valuable content with the world.
Dr. Valerie Akinwande, DPT, MS
https://wholemothershow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/kpft_240422_200000wholemother_trimmed.mp3Annalee Reid became a Medical Laboratory Scientist in 2011 and fell in love with midwifery in 2013. She then graduated from Midwives College of Utah in 2013 and became a Birth Doula living in Guatemala for 3 months serving the under-served birth centers outside of the capital and in the mountains with the indigenous midwives. She moved back to New York and had to complete a Masters in Midwifery to be licensed in New York.
She created Super Mamma Birth Services and does public speaking on women’s health topics, educates parents, and does Community Baby Showers, plus advocacy work with the Birth Justice Defenders and contributes to research for improvement of fetal and maternal health.
An event coming up is a Free Confident Parenting Class on Thursdays at 10:00 am from April 18 to May 23 hosted by Northwest Assistance Ministries Offices on the 4th floor Behavioral Health Suite).
Annalee Reid, Super Mama Birth Services
https://wholemothershow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/kpft_240415_200000wholemother_trimmed.mp3Kathleen Vandegiessen has been a Certified Nurse Midwife for nearly three decades, indicating her expertise in providing healthcare and support to pregnant women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period.
· Masters in Nursing 1995: Obtaining a Master’s degree in Nursing demonstrates a high level of education and specialization in the field of midwifery.
· Registered Nurse for 25 years: With 25 years of experience as a Registered Nurse, Kathleen likely gained a strong foundation in healthcare before specializing in midwifery.
· Worked as a staff midwife at Baylor College of Medicine for 4 years: Her work at Baylor College of Medicine indicates a dedication to providing midwifery care in a hospital setting.
· Started a Midwifery service at a small community hospital for 6 years: Her experience in starting a midwifery service at a small community hospital demonstrates her leadership and commitment to expanding midwifery care to underserved areas.
· Started a free-standing Midwifery service at North Houston Birth Center in 2005: Establishing a free-standing midwifery service suggests her entrepreneurial spirit and a commitment to providing women with alternative birthing options.
· Continues with full scope Midwifery: Kathleen Vandegiessen’s dedication to full-scope midwifery means she provides a wide range of healthcare services to expectant mothers, from prenatal care to delivery and postpartum care.
Her extensive experience, education, and career achievements suggest a passion for women’s healthcare and a significant contribution to the field of midwifery
Kathleen Vandegiessen
https://wholemothershow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/kpft_240408_200000wholemother_trimmed.mp3Dajana Yoakley is a dedicated advocate for bringing peace and connection to your parenting journey through research-backed self-compassion. As a certified Peaceful Parenting Coach and Parenting Educator, Dajana has undergone training directly under the guidance of esteemed professionals like Dr. Laura Markham and Dr. Lawrence Cohen. With over a decade of experience in corporate leadership, she understands the transformative power of relationships, particularly in parenting dynamics.
Through her platform, Delight in Parenting, Dajana empowers parents with strategies and tools to cultivate respectful, peaceful, and loving relationships with their children. As a proud mother of three amazing kids, she intimately comprehends the challenges of parenthood. Armed with a Master’s Degree from the University of Florida and with experience in adult learning as an Adjunct Professor at several state and private Universities, Dajana is dedicated to supporting parents at every turn.
Learn more at www.delightinparenting.com.
Dajana Yoakley
https://wholemothershow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/kpft_240401_200000wholemother_trimmed.mp3Midwife KaTina, of Amena Idir Midwifery, and Shay Wallace, of Rooted In Her, LLC, join us to discuss disparities in maternal health care and outcomes.
Shay Wallace – KaTina – Disparities in Maternal Health Care
https://wholemothershow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/kpfthd3_240327_130000wholemother_trimmed.mp3Debbie Hull began learning about birth in 1996 after the birth of her first baby and has been serving Houston area families since 1999. She is certified with CAPPA as a new parent educator, labor doula, and childbirth educator, is honored to be on CAPPA faculty for both labor doula and childbirth educator, and is the Senior Program advisor for CAPPA’s labor doula training program.
Debbie believes that it is the most precious and sacred of honors to be invited to care for a family during their childbearing season and is very proud to have the opportunity to speak into the work of the next generation of birth professionals. Her work has taken her places she never expected to go, including portraying Jillian in all the Houston productions of Karen Brody’s play, Birth, but only with the fingerprints of her beloved midwife/friend all over her back. They say the birth sounds she made there, on a stage in front of hundreds of people, sounded real. She profoundly hopes so.
Debbie designed and developed the curriculum for an innovative, interactive childbirth class and began offering classes that even dads report enjoying! She believes that we learn best when we are laughing, so her childbirth classes and professional training are designed to be enjoyable and memorable. Debbie is most proud to be the mother of two amazing formerly breastfed and home-schooled young adults, the youngest of whom has been on a nursing strike for over 20 years. When she is not working on her feelings about that, Debbie enjoys movies, reading, and game nights, even when she loses.
debbiehull.doula@gmail.com
Debbie Hull, CLD, CCCE, CAPPA – World Doula Week
https://wholemothershow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/kpft_240318_200000wholemother_trimmed.mp3Marya Axner was has spent the past 30 years as an activist working against oppression of all kinds and also working as parent educator. She speaks and leads workshops on the topic of anti-Semitism and racism, at social justices organizations, worker organizations, and religious institutions. She currently is active in Fix the Grid, a network of organizations trying to make the governance of our electric grid in New England more democratic and more responsive to climate change issues. She has been the Director of a parents program in the Somerville Public Schools, supporting parents to be involved in their children’s education. More recently, she was the Director of the New England Jewish Labor Committee, where she organized the Jewish Community to stand up with workers for their rights.
Marya Axner has taught listening skills through Re-evaluation Counseling for many years. Axner has also been active in Sustaining All Life (SAL) and United to End Racism (UER) both projects of Re-valuation Counseling. She leads Family Workshops for Sustaining all Life (SAL) whose mission is to end human caused destruction of the environment and end the exploitation and oppression of people most affected by climate change. She leads workshops on how to use listening tools to empower people in the Climate Change movement.
Marya Axner, Parent Educator & Activist
https://wholemothershow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/kpft_240311_200000_trimmed.mp3Rhett Edwards, MA, is a native Ohioan who has lived in Texas the last 8 years. Married for 9 years, has a 15-year-old stepdaughter, 6-year-old daughter and 3-year-old son. Rhett has an MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and is a Licensed Professional Counselor – Associate, Supervised by Matt Whalen and works with Matt at Changing Tides Counseling, in Katy, TX.
Before entering the mental health field, he spent nearly twenty years working with teenage and young adult populations in non-profits, higher education, and most recently teaching high school psychology in a public charter school. Clientele focus is around teenagers’ development and mood regulation, twenty somethings life transitions, and adult men navigating family, fatherhood and career.
Rhett Edwards, MA, Licensed Professional Counselor
https://wholemothershow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/kpft_240304_200000wholemother_trimmed.mp3Tania Zirulnik graduated from midwifery school at the age of 23 in Lima, Peru, her native country. Since then, she has been able to participate in the birthing process in different settings, from hospital to home. Ultimately, it was home birthing that inspired her and brought joy to her work. Additionally, the experience of giving birth to her children at home with the support of her husband deepened her understanding of the birthing process.
Tania’s practice is based on listening to people’s stories and visions of their births and on empowering them to be active participants of their pregnancy and birth. Her care is personalized and aimed to educate and offer information necessary to build a trustworthy relationship with every pregnant person under her care. She adjusts her care to the needs of every individual so she can support them and contribute towards achieving the goal of a natural and powerful birth experience.
Luna Homebirth
Tania Zirulik, Luna Homebirth
https://wholemothershow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/kpft_240226_200000wholemother_trimmed.mp3Encouraged to support women after the birth of her own daughters, Catrice Harris has been helping families with childbirth education, labor & birth, postpartum and lactation support since 1992. Her initial Lactation training was through the University of Texas Health Science Center and City of Houston WIC Programs.
She continued to embrace caring for women and children by becoming certified as a birth and postpartum doula. After observing many challenges faced by women who did not feel enabled to advocate for themselves during childbirth, it seemed that the only next step was to pursue midwifery. Taking the leap away from Corporate America in 2012, she embraced birth work full time.
Growing into a midwife has been a journey that constantly presents new opportunities for growth in many beautiful ways. Currently, with a solo home birth practice, Catrice also trains and mentors doulas through a grant funded program seeking to provide birth support to under-served communities in Houston, TX. Having supported over 365 families with the births of their babies as of 2023, she is truly grateful that this work found her.
Catrice Harris, LM, CPM – Midwifery and Underserved Communities
https://wholemothershow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/kpfthd3_240221_130000wholemothera_trimmed.mp3Kirsten Nottleson is the proud mother of 2 sons, 18 and 24 years old. She has worked extensively with parents, preschool staff, teen parents, and families experiencing substance abuse issues as a parent educator/consultant in Austin, Texas for the past 30 years. Kirsten LOVES leading all sorts of support groups and classes, especially ones that involve play, pillow fights, and wrestling. She has been using the Hand in Hand parenting approach in her own family for over 24 years and is eternally grateful to have had these support tools during the teen years as her boys grow into young men. All of her work is based on the principles of the Hand in Hand Approach, which she believes to be nothing short of a Peace Movement in Action.
If you’d like to learn more about the classes, consulting services, and free talks that Kirsten offers, visit Hand in Hand Workshops.
She will be leading a 6 week Foundations Course for Parents Class with Pat Jones starting March 13.
And a Raising Happier Teens and Tweens Class, starting March 14.
Enter promo code WHOLEMOTHER to receive a 15% discount on either class.
Kirsten Nottleson
Parent Educator/ Consultant
(512) 585-5874
HandinHandWorkshops.com
Parkour and Play Camp
ParkourandPlay.com
Kirsten Nottleson, Parent Educator, Consultant with Hand in Hand Workshops
Jaelin Stickels, RN, CNM, and Blair Krisman, CPM Jaelin Stickels is a certified nurse midwife, wife, mother of 3, grandmother of one, business owner of Holistic Heritage Homebirth, student of life and currently working towards her doctorate degree. Blair Krisman … Continue reading →
https://wholemothershow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/kpft_230828_200000wholemother_trimmed.mp3Jackie Griggs, RN, CNM, and Abby Henson, CLC, SM
Jackie Griggs, CNM, has been a Nurse Midwife in the Houston area for the past 30 years. She is a mom of 5 grown sons, 3 born at home with the help of midwives. She owns a birth center in Beaumont, and helps with babies at home in Houston and the birth center in Beaumont. She has been on the Board of Directors of the American Association of Birth Centers, until just recently, and still is a very big advocate for midwifery care at a birth center or home, for the women of this country.
Abby Henson is a student midwife studying at the National College of Midwifery, currently apprenticing in Houston with Jackie Griggs. After working for 10 years as a business consultant, Abby’s interest in midwifery began when she had each of her two children with midwives. After each delivery, Abby’s interest in birth work and midwifery grew stronger, and in 2022, she decided to leave consulting and become a midwife. She is excited to dedicate her work to empowering parents through the birthing process. Abby is also a Certified Lactation Consultant.
Suzanne Juel World Breastfeeding Week 2023 is coming up and to help us celebrate Suzanne Juel, of Bayou City Breastfeeding, joins us to discuss becoming an IBCLC and all the wonders of breastfeeding!
Patty Wipfler Patty Wipfler was born, raised and educated in California, and is the mother of two sons. The focus of her work since 1974 has been teaching basic listening and parenting skills to parents and early childhood educators, and … Continue reading →
Kimberly Seals Allers and Sheridan Blackwell For too long, the medical system has operated without transparency or any public accountability, particularly to Black women who are disproportionately dying in hospital settings during and after childbirth. Our back-end database, turns your … Continue reading →
Melissa Nealy Melissa is a wife, homeschooling mother of 3 amazing children, midwife, IBCLC and CFT. She has a menagerie of pets at home, including 5 cats, 2 dogs, a bearded dragon and a horse. We are so excited to … Continue reading →
Marya Axner and Tresa Elguera Marya Axner has spent the past 30 years as an activist working against oppression of all kinds. Recently she has been working to address the climate emergency and ending societal divisions that hamper solving this … Continue reading →
Jessica Gonzolas Jessica Gonzolas has worked in the field of women’s health for over 20 years. The midwives who mentored her taught her that pregnancy and birth should not be treated as an illness, but embraced as a transformative life … Continue reading →
Jackie Griggs, CNM, and Patricia “Trish” Perkins, CNM Jackie Griggs, CNM, has been a Nurse Midwife in the Houston area for the past 30 years. She is a mom of 5 grown sons, 3 born at home with the help … Continue reading →
Elizabeth Kintner, Part 2 Elizabeth Kintner joins us again to share more about her birth stories, a cesarean section and a VBAC that was not all she wanted it to be.
https://wholemothershow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/kpft_230522_200000wholemother_trimmed.mp3Dr. David Hayes and Kristine Lauria, Midwife, founders of Breech Without Borders
Dr. Hayes is an OBGYN with an academic background and a passion for science and its proper application to clinical medicine. He has worked for Médecins Sans Frontières and trained in critical care obstetrics. After beginning as a hospital-based obstetrician, he transitioned into a home birth practice in Asheville, NC. Physiologic breech birth and supporting the training of breech birth attendants are particular interests of his. Dr. Hayes left his home birth practice in 2019 to work full-time with Breech Without Borders.
Kristine Lauria, midwife, works for Médecins Sans Frontières and became BWB’s Global Midwifery Director in 2022. She specializes in high-risk maternity care in low-resource environments and is passionate in her support of bodily autonomy in medical decision making and is a staunch advocate for undisturbed, physiologic birth. She has attended over 5000 births in more than 25 countries around the world, among them being over 500 vaginal breech births, including sets of twins and triplets. She is the creator and instructor of BWB’s Master Class on breech & twins, as well as an instructor for the vaginal breech workshops. When she is not doing humanitarian aid, teaching or traveling, she is home in the upper peninsula of Michigan with her pug. She writes about her experiences on her blog, midwifewithoutboundaries.wordpress.com
https://wholemothershow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/kpft_230508_200000wholemother_trimmed.mp3Elizabeth Kintner
Elizabeth Kintner joins us to share her first two birth stories, a cesarean section and a VBAC that was not all she wanted it to be.
https://wholemothershow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/kpft_230424_200000wholemother_trimmed.mp3Gabriela Gerhart
Gabriela Gerhart was born in a small mountain village in the Czech Republic. She is an entrepreneur,
speaker, author, and the Founder and President of the Motherhood Center. She has always loved babies and children and knew from an early age that it would influence her career path. Due to Gabriela’s love of children and helping others, she pursued degrees in both pediatric nursing and physical therapy from 1991-1997. When Gabriela moved to the US she began working as an au pair to four boys, ranging from newborn to elementary age, from 1998-1999.
Gabriela soon noticed there was a void in the market for families of newborns and young children looking to find nannies for their children. She then realized the even greater need – a place where pregnant women and new mothers could go for advice, classes, and support. It was from this realization that the Motherhood Center was born in 2000, and it has served more than 40,000 clients and counting since its beginning. Over twenty years have passed and it is still Gabriela’s passion project. She is constantly working to customize the Motherhood Center’s services and working to collaborate with others to best serve mothers and their families in our surrounding community and all over the world. Her goal is to build a cohesive network of support for new parents to turn to – the ultimate village, if you will.
Gabriela is recognized as an expert in the field of pregnancy and early-stage child development. She has
intimate knowledge of the childcare and newborn care industry, as well as in-home staffing (nannies,
family assistants, and newborn care specialists), massage, yoga, and pregnancy education. She recently
launched the Motherhood Network which allows families virtual access to the services and classes offered at the Motherhood Center. This was a dream of Gabriela’s since she started the Motherhood Center and she is beyond elated to be able to extend support to families across the country and world.
Gabriela is passionate about supporting her community and regularly provides donations of pregnancy
and parenting services and products to countless causes around Houston to assist with fundraising efforts and to better the community as a whole. To name just a few, she has supported the Children’s Museum, Junior League, The Women’s Fund, Crime Stoppers of Houston, L.I.F.E. Houston, and many elementary and preschools in and around Houston.
Gabriela is excited to have recently published her first book titled, “After the Fall,” a memoir in which she shares her journey growing up amidst communism, coming to America, and living the American dream. She now tours the country for book signings and events to share and speak about her unique and inspiring journey. The simple pleasures in life bring Gabriela the most happiness. In her free time, she enjoys golfing, reading, listening to music, phone photography, quality time spent with family and friends, and traveling with her husband.
https://wholemothershow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/kpft_230417_200000wholemother_trimmed.mp3Rowan TwoSisters, Hottie Hooper Healer, CPM
Rowan became a CPM in January 2019 and has extensive birth center and home birth experience. Prior to earning midwifery boards, they worked as a doula and a birth assistant. They also are a licensed massage therapist with certifications in Arvigo Maya Abdominal Massage, a Spinning Babies Aware Practitioner and is pursuing certification for scar remediation (STREAM). As a trauma informed provider, they are great all around at helping you feel more at home in your body. A co-founder of Preggers Can Be Choosers, all-in-all they have more than 25 years of experience with all things birth and healing. Their side passions are pool crashing, flow arts, and making something from nothing.
https://wholemothershow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/kpft_230410_200000wholemother_trimmed_1.mp3Lynn Schulte
Lynn Schulte is a Pelvic Health Physical Therapist for over 30 years, and she is the principle instructor at the Institute for Birth Healing. She has successfully healed thousands of women from all the issues women experience after birth and is now teaching courses to bodyworkers to help them do the same. She found a common birth pattern that shows up in the pelvis after birth and knows how to effectively release these patterns. Knowing we are more than just our bodies, Lynn works on all levels, physically, energetically, and spiritually with women to help them access their full potential. She also teaches bodyworkers how to work with the energy of the body and how to access and use your intuition in your bodywork sessions. She offers a certification process to help birth professionals become Birth Healing Practitioners.
Lynn holds a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy from St. Louis University, St. Louis Missouri.
https://wholemothershow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/kpft_230403_200000wholemother_trimmed.mp3Sherry Duson, M.A. LPC-S, LMFT-S, PMH-C and Emily Blessinger, LPC
Sherry Duson is a Texas and an Arizona Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice, and the Founder and Director of The Center for Postpartum Family Health in Houston and The Woodlands, Texas. Since 1999 she has focused her practice on helping new mothers and the needs of young families. In 2014, she opened the Center for Postpartum Family Health, using therapists training under her supervision, to provide services on a sliding scale to the community. The center is a counseling center specializing in perinatal mental health, addressing all mental, emotional and relational issues related to reproduction. It is a place for all new mothers in Texas to find help, solutions and support. Sherry is a graduate of UH-Clear Lake Family Therapy, and is certified in the perinatal mental health specialty.
Emily Blessinger is an Licensed Professional Counselor Associate who joined The Center for Postpartum Family Health in 2021. Emily comes to CPFH with inspiration from her personal experiences with parenting and motherhood and a desire to help support women and their families through the joys and challenges parenting can bring. Her personal background includes becoming a mother at a later age, and experiencing perinatal loss, which have shaped her perspective and led her to this specialty.
Emily helps lead the weekly online support group for new mothers, and sees clients in person in the Houston office and through teletherapy. She has additional training and certification in EMDR, Perinatal mental health, and couple’s therapy. Emily practices under the supervision of Associate Director, Kim Jones.
https://wholemothershow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/kpft_230327_200000wholemother_trimmed.mp3Eden MacAdam-Somer and Aaron Hartley
Composer/performer/improviser Eden MacAdam-Somer (b. 1979) is one of today’s most exciting and versatile artists. Hailed by the New York Times as reflecting “astonishing virtuosity and raw expression” her music challenges the boundaries of composition and improvisation and transcends genre, weaving in and out of the many cultures that have formed her experience. Eden has written numerous works for solo artist on voice, violin, and body percussion, such as ‘Rumi Songs’, a partially composed, partially improvised song cycle. Her works are performed internationally, and she has received commissions by such groups as the New Gallery Concert Series, Cuatro Puntos Resident Artists, the Providence Mandolin Orchestra, and the AURA Ensemble. Her 2015 live solo album, My First Love Story, was listed as one of the top ten jazz albums of the year in the Boston Globe.
While growing up in Houston, Texas, Eden studied classical music formally, spending her free time at the local folk music sessions and working as an arranger and studio musician. She attended Houston’s High School for Performing and Visual Arts, winning the Music Teacher’s National Association State Division and the Lennox Young Artists Competitions. In 1993, she was introduced to contra-dancing in Amherst, MA, on a night out at Musicorda Chamber Music festival. When she got back to Houston, Eden tracked down the local dance community and began playing for dances. Thanks to the support of the Houston Area Traditional dancers, she was soon brought to the local Irish session, where she connected with members of an international music party band, the Gypsies, who took her under their wing. While earning her undergraduate and graduate degrees in classical violin performance, she was spending nights playing music of all kinds: Balkan, Eastern European, Klezmer, Jazz, Bluegrass, DAWG, and more. Meanwhile, she earned her BM and MM in classical performance from the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston, as a student of Fredell Lack, and the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, as a student of Kenneth Goldsmith.
Eden is a full-time faculty member at New England Conservatory, where she teaches courses, ensembles, and studio lessons, in addition to serving as Co-Chair of the Department of Contemporary Improvisation. A dynamic and passionate teacher, Eden works with each student to attain the skills they need to become creative and successful artists, strengthening unique personal style with a good foundation in aural skills and technical facility. Outside of the classroom, Eden maintains an active, eclectic international performance and recording career as a soloist and with such bands as Notorious Folk and the Klezmer Conservatory Band. She lives in Boston with her husband, (trombonist, artist manager, and videographer Aaron Hartley) and two children.
Videographer/artist manager Aaron Hartley grew up photographing weddings as a second shooter with his father at Lakeside Photography in Tampa, FL. While attending New England Conservatory of Music for Jazz Performance, Aaron co-created Boston’s legendary Film Noir Series that was featured in Jordan Hall for 15 years, which jump-started his career in videography. Now, Aaron is a full-time videographer and film editor, capturing weddings, concerts, and other events. In his free time, he loves learning new juggling tricks (both clubs and balls), taking care of his flock of chickens, practicing trombone, taking footage of his kids playing, sailing with his brother, Greg, or woodworking.
Aaron and Eden live in Boston with their three children, Gideon (6), Ida Lu (4), and Ori Tov (10 months). As a family, they enjoy baking, hiking, gardening, reading, playing music, dancing, tending their chickens, and exploring the world around them.
https://wholemothershow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/kpft_230320_200000wholemother_trimmed.mp3Jackie Griggs, CNM, and Patricia (Trish) Perkins, CNM
Jackie Griggs, CNM, has been a Nurse Midwife in the Houston area for the past 30 years. She is a mom to 5 sons, 3 born at home with the help of midwives. She owns two birth centers, one in the Houston Heights and one in Beaumont. She helps with babies at home and birth center. She is also on the Board of Directors of the American Association of Birth Centers.
Patricia “Trish” Perkins is a Certified Nurse Midwife who began her career as a Labor and Delivery nurse at Jefferson Davis Hospital. She is the mother of 4 children, all brought into this world into the hands of midwives. The first two were born in the hospital and the last 2 at home with Pat Jones!! After raising her own family, she realized her lifelong dream of studying midwifery. She has worked as a midwife at a free-standing birth center and for Baylor College of Medicine, at The Centers for Children and Women. Her experiences also include working as a Lactation Consultant at St Joseph’s hospital, helping them achieve Texas Ten Step status. She is now the owner of a beautiful free-standing birth center just north of the Woodlands, – Bliss Birth Center -. Trish is passionate about providing quality, women-centered, compassionate care and has the unique knowledge, skills and experience to provide comprehensive, evidence based midwifery care that women deserve.
https://wholemothershow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/kpft_230313_200000wholemother_trimmed.mp3Dr. Whitley Caruso and Dr. John Caruso
Dr. Whitley Caruso is a family wellness, vitalistic chiropractor in Houston. She is the owner and founder of Vital Family Chiropractic, located in the Heights. Dr. Whitley loves serving many women and children through nervous system based chiropractic care. She is Webster certified and a member of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association. She holds a certification in craniopathy and is certified in craniosacral therapy and Gillespie craniofasical therapy. She is a Spinning Babies Aware Practitioner, a BIRTHFIT Leader and is dedicated to helping families through the motherhood transition. She also teaches cranial work classes to other chiropractors. Her office hosts postpartum and prenatal classes, classes for parents about ways to support their children and family in natural ways, monthly breastfeeding meet ups and breastfeeding classes and regular play dates, where her son, Warrick, often makes an appearance.
Dr. John Caruso is the owner and clinic director of Haven Family Chiropractic. He has a big heart for serving families in the Ft. Bend, Harris, and Waller county areas. He is Webster certified through the International Pediatric Chiropractic Association (ICPA) to safely care for all the mommas through their pregnancy and beyond. He is a Certified SOT Pediatric Practitioner that specializes in Craniopathy or chiropractic cranial adjusting to care for kids with latch and feeding issues, tongue ties or tethered oral tissues, and plagiocephaly among other struggles. He is the only Focus Academy Certified Doctor in Houston specializing in caring for kids with complex conditions and neurodevelopmental disorders like autism, ADHD, cerebral palsy, developmental delays and seizure disorders. When he’s not in the office, you can find John with his wife and son, Warrick, at summer moon grabbing some to-die-for coffee or at My Gym watching their son explore and play. Dr. John is incessantly working to advance his education with courses and certifications to provide the highest level of care for families in Katy and surrounding areas.
https://wholemothershow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/kpft_230306_200000wholemother_trimmed.mp3Julie DeNofa, Addition Defined
Julie DeNofa dives deep into defining addiction, what to do if someone you know needs help, where to go to get help, and what treatment looks like. Excellent information for us all, especially if we are worried about a loved one.
Julie DeNofa is a President of Positive Recovery Centers. Julie has over 30 years of related work experience in medical, clinical, operations, and creating a culture of success.
Julie began her career in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the early 1990’s as a Certified Addictions Registered Nurse (CARN) with her specialty in substance use disorders and psychiatry. Her extensive clinical background, coupled with her business acumen, have been a large part of her ability to developing and implementing high quality programs across the country. Her dedication is also evidenced by her volunteerism with Addiction Policy Forum, Houston Area Treatment Providers and is an advocate for the Texas Peer Assistance Program for Nurses (TPAPN) and a community partner with numerous other entities. Julie is also a former board member for the Texas Association of Addiction Professionals(TAAP).
Julie is dedicated to helping others heal, nurtures growth and self-awareness and will tell you her biggest joy is being Mom to her three adult children, Chelsea, Gia and Desi.
https://wholemothershow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/kpft_230227_200000wholemother_trimmed.mp3Debbie Hull
Debbie Hull began learning about birth in 1996 after the birth of her first baby and has been serving Houston area families as a childbirth educator and labor doula since 1999. She is certified with CAPPA as a new parent educator, labor doula, and childbirth educator and is honored to be on a CAPPA faculty for both labor doula and childbirth educator. Debbie has been privileged to attend several hundred births in homes, birth centers, hospitals and, on one memorable occasion, a grocery store parking lot! She believes that it is the most precious and sacred of honors to be invited to care for a family during their childbearing season and is very proud to have the opportunity to speak into the work of the next generation of birth professionals. Her work has taken her places she never expected to go, including becoming a talk-radio guest-host (listen at wholemothershow.com). She also portrayed Jillian in all of the Houston productions of Karen Brody’s play, Birth, but only with the fingerprints of her beloved midwife/friend all over her back. They say the birth sounds she made there, on a stage, in front of hundreds of people, sounded real. She profoundly hopes so. Debbie designed and developed the curriculum for an innovative, interactive childbirth class and offers classes that even dads report enjoying!
Her minor in training and development and experience as an American Sign Language interpreting mentorship program manager perfectly prepared her for mentoring doulas and childbirth educators. She believes that we learn best when we are laughing, so her training is designed to be enjoyable and memorable. It should be noted that there have also been tears in training when groups dive deep into the emotional side of birth work. Debbie is most proud to be the mother of two amazing, formerly breastfed and home-schooled young adults, the youngest of whom has been on a 21-year nursing strike. When she is not working on her feelings about that, Debbie enjoys movies, reading, and game nights, even when she loses. www.debbiehulldoula.com
https://wholemothershow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/kpft_230220_200000wholemother_trimmed.mp3Dr. Caroline Long
Dr. Caroline Long is a pregnancy and pediatric focused chiropractor and the founder of West U Wellness. Born and raised in Houston, she graduated from Spring Woods High School before pursuing her Bachelor of Arts at UCLA. While at Texas Chiropractic College, she learned more about chiropractic care for children. She discovered that chiropractic care could help with scoliosis, ear infections, colic, reflux, latch issues for infants, and more. While still a student, she heard expectant moms complaining of back pain during pregnancy and thought there must be a way to help women with pregnancy aches and pains who wanted a more natural labor. Dr. Long was one of the first chiropractors to be certified in pediatric and perinatal chiropractic in the Houston area.
When she started her clinic, West U Wellness, almost 20 years ago, she wanted to build a practice that offered customized, not cookie cutter, treatments for patients. In addition to chiropractic services, they offer acupuncture, dry-needling, cupping, functional medicine testing, nutritional counseling, decompression, physical therapy modalities, as well as multiple types of massage therapy. In fact, West U Wellness has more pregnancy and pediatric trained chiropractors than any other small business in Texas. Since 2000 she has built her reputation as a caring and compassionate chiropractor for patients as young as 1 day old all the way to a patient who was 106 years old. She and her husband Patrick have two daughters, Katia (14) and Victoria (16).
https://wholemothershow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/kpft_230213_200000wholemother_trimmed.mp3Catrice Harris
Encouraged to support women after the birth of her own daughters, Catrice Harris has been helping families with childbirth education, labor & birth, postpartum and lactation support since 1992. From day one, she loved being a mom, but before the birth of her two girls, she was not sure of what to expect in this new role. Because of that, it became very important to help educate others who felt the same way. Her initial Lactation training was through the University of Texas Health Science Center and City of Houston WIC Programs. Childbirth Education came next as she began teaching Lamaze classes to expectant families, birth moms, and adopting parents.
In 2012, she was able to take the leap away from Corporate America, and focus full-time attention on caring for women; it was no longer just a part-time venture. Bridging the gap between Childbirth Education and Breastfeeding support, she began working as a Birth and Postpartum Doula, becoming certified through DONA and ICEA. Learning more about the wisdom of women’s bodies, Catrice realized there is yet so much more to learn. In that quest to learn more, she began the journey toward becoming a Midwife. She has been fortunate to learn from many midwives in the Houston area through births at home, in birth centers, and hospitals as well. As of December 2021, she finished her formal Midwifery education through the National College of Midwifery and looks forward to taking the national licensing exam in early 2023.
While working toward that long-awaited goal, Catrice supports aspiring birth and postpartum doulas as they complete training, and currently works as doula mentor with a non-profit organization in Houston whose goal is to make doula support available in under-served communities, and improve postpartum outcomes. Having supported over 350 women with the births of their babies as of early 2023, and countless more with breastfeeding and postpartum care, she is truly grateful that this work found her!
https://wholemothershow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/kpft_230206_200000wholemother_trimmed.mp3Dr. Valerie Akinwande, Pelvic Floor Health and Therapy
Dr. Valerie Akinwande is the founder of WomansDPT, a telehealth and mobile (concierge) pelvic floor practice. She earned a Doctorate in Physical Therapy, a Master of Science in Biology and Biochemistry, and a Bachelor’s in Biology. Dr. Akinwande also taught for several years as a college professor and is a certified clinical instructor. She continues to teach, as a Lead Women’s Health Educator for the Pelapy YouTube Channel and in group class settings around the Houston area. She began working in pelvic floor rehabilitation after having her first child over 8 years ago. Dr. Akinwande earned Certificates of Achievement in both Pelvic Health and Obstetrics from the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and is a Postpartum Corrective Exercise Specialist (PCES). She is a wife and mother of three school-aged children, all born via un-medicated (natural) vaginal births. So, she is personally familiar with the challenges that women face during pregnancy and postpartum. For example, she healed her own diastasis recti, or separation of abs, after giving birth. Dr. Akinwande is passionate about educating and empowering women to thrive through pregnancy, postpartum, and every life transition, especially in their most intimate areas.
https://wholemothershow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/kpft_230130_200000wholemother_trimed.mp3Susan Wildin, M.D., CPC, Nonviolent Communication
Susan was trained as a developmental and behavioral pediatrician, leaving medicine to raise her son. Susan started attending Nonviolent Communication (NVC) workshops in 2007 and became passionate about using and sharing NVC with others. NVC gives Susan hope that humanity can learn to live in harmony, partnering with one another to meet the fundamental needs of all people. She became a Certified Professional Coach in Coaching for Transformation in 2012 and completed a year-long course in facilitation in 2014, both at Leadership that Works. Susan also served on the board of Houston NVC from 2011 to 2020. Susan’s workshops can be found on the Houston NVC website (www.houstonnvc.org). Susan can be contacted at www.wildins.net.
https://wholemothershow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/kpft_230123_200000wholemother_trimmed.mp3 Angelique Geehan, Udoro, Milan and Nora
Milan and Nora
Nora and Milan are 14 and 14 years old and not white. They are in 9th and 10th grades attending Westside and Lamar High Schools. You can find them doing a number of things for fun: Nora enjoys photography and reading; Milan enjoys doing theater at Lamar and working out (getting RIPPED) at the gym. Both of them love doing art (Milan prefers digital, while Nora prefers traditional) and writing. They met in 2020 via email, but never really clicked. In April of 2022 their families met at a park — the first time they met IRL — but the real event driving them into friendship was a slightly poorly conducted joint interview. Ever since then, they’ve been good ol’ pals.
Udoro
I am a human who desires to see other humans, God’s lovely creations, live in their wholeness. I am Udoro Ekpin, and I have the pleasure of wearing some meaningful hats: A Mother of Three, A Sister to Four, A Friend to a Select Few, and A Child of One. Raised in Houston, TX, I am a Nigerian-American who is proud to be a graduate from Texas schools. From my formal teaching years to my consulting work through Restorative Empowerment for Youth (REY), I remain a life-long learner. My background in restorative justice (RJ) processes lends to my understanding about others and the world around me—making certain being seen and heard is not simply a cliché—moving from conversation to action.
Angelique Geehan
As a consultant, facilitator, and organizer, Angelique (any pronouns) works to support and repair the connections people have to themselves and their families, communities, and cultural practices. She builds intergenerationally, with colleagues across disciplines, to question and depolarize the beliefs and practices that can lead to isolation and feelings of powerlessness — co-creating or reclaiming ways (like carrying children in fabric close to their caregivers) that can promote resilience and healing from historical and social harms. A queer, agender, asian mother, she coaches individuals and groups; trains community and health care workers and educators; and offers lectures, classes, and workshops on topics including consent, cultural awareness, community building, relationships, parenting, and conflict and communication, in alignment with social justice and transformative justice frameworks. She invites you to connect via her website: angeliquegeehan.com.
https://wholemothershow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/kpft_230116_200000wholemother_trimmed.mp3Midwifery Journey
Seven midwives talk about their journey to becoming midwives. What was hard, what advice for others and for the community.
https://wholemothershow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/kpft_230102_200000wholemother_trimmed.mp3Alex Barrera, Struggles in Marriage and Fatherhood
Alex Barrera is a men’s life coach that is passionate about helping men build lasting relationships at home with their wife and kids, by focusing on relationships, communication, and confidence. As a husband and father of three, he is aware of the struggle that many men (himself included) face when entering fatherhood. Alex is co-host of the Men of Conviction podcast that talks all things men and Alex can be found online at thealexbarrera.com
https://wholemothershow.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/kpft_221226_200000wholemother_trimmed.mp3Mary Love, Clinical Director, CNM, FNP
Mary’s first encounter with a midwife was on the night she was born as she slipped into her mothers awaiting hands. It was in her early twenties that she heard the call and set out on her own path to become a midwife, first attending workshops and assisting Pamela Hunt and the other midwives at The Farm. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing Science from Tennessee State University and her Masters in Nursing from Vanderbilt University. In addition to being a Certified Nurse-Midwife she is also a Family Nurse Practitioner with experience in pediatric primary, urgent, and emergency care. When not catching babies or thinking of ways to fix a particular problem, Mary enjoys cooking, gardening, sewing, and folding laundry. She is married and shares four wonderful children with her husband. https://www.heartofhoustonbirth.com/
https://wholemothershow.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/kpft_221219_200000wholemother_trimmed.mp3William Green
William Green is a lifelong student of psychology and esoteric sciences. He holds a degree in Psychology, with an emphasis in Religious studies. He is a board certified Structural Integration Practitioner and currently has a private practice in Houston, Texas. He is a father of three children as well as a grandfather. He has directly supported midwives and doulas for over 25 years. He is a certified health and wellness coach and has been supporting fathers and fathers to be for the past three years on his platform – masculinemedicine.com
https://wholemothershow.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/kpft_221212_200000wholemother_trimmed.mp3Lynn Schulte – Pelvis Healing
Lynn Schulte is a Pelvic Health Physical Therapist for over 30 years, and she is the principle instructor at the Institute for Birth Healing. She has successfully healed thousands of women from all the issues women experience after birth and is now teaching courses to body-workers to help them do the same. She found a common birth pattern that shows up in the pelvis after birth and knows how to effectively release these patterns. Knowing we are more than just our bodies, Lynn works on all levels, physically, energetically, and spiritually with women to help them access their full potential. She also teaches body-workers how to work with the energy of the body and how to access and use your intuition in your bodywork sessions. She offers a certification process to help birth professionals become Birth Healing Practitioners. Lynn holds a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy from St. Louis University, St. Louis Missouri.
https://wholemothershow.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/kpft_221205_200000wholemother_trimmed.mp3Rowan Two Sisters, Max the Doula, and Joanna Zepeda
Hottie Hooper Healer – Rowan became a CPM in January 2019 and has extensive birth center and home birth experience. Prior to earning midwifery boards, they worked as a doula and a birth assistant. They also are a licensed massage therapist with certifications in Arvigo Maya Abdominal Massage, a Spinning Babies Aware Practitioner and is pursuing certification for scar remediation (STREAM). As a trauma informed provider, they are great all around at helping you feel more at home in your body. A co-founder of Preggers Can Be Choosers, all-in-all they have more than 25 years of experience with all things birth and healing. Their side passions are pool crashing, flow arts, and making something from nothing.
Max is an LGBTQ2S+ affirming birth doula who brings a unique perspective to the pregnancy and laboring experience. His background in body work and physical therapy gives a distinctive understanding of how to apply skills as a doula to physiological birth. He is passionate about empowering all pregnant and birthing people. Strengths are adaptability; allowing for fluid support for families in their choices. He is a homebirth parent, runs a suburban goat farm and has two giant fur babies that try to steal his bed. He enjoys dad jokes, puns, and free books. He identifies as a transmasc, nonbinary human, and uses they/he pronouns.
Joanna Zepeda is a childbirth Educator, placenta encapsulater, Dancing for Birth Instructor and birth assistant. She offers Birth Story Listening for people who are navigating trauma, and is a steady voice in a sea of noise. JZMindfulbirth.com
Frances Coleman, Andie Wyrick, and Jaelin Stickels – Nutrition and Placenta Health FRANCES COLEMAN, MPH, LM, CPM Mrs. Coleman is owner of Full Circle Family Services in Houston, Texas. In addition to being a Certified Professional Midwife, she holds a … Continue reading →
Dr. Eric English – Technology and Babies Dr. Eric English is a clinical psychologist licensed in Maryland. He received his PhD in psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1981, after completing a Masters degree at UW-Madison in physiological psychology … Continue reading →
Thermography Rebekah Stump is a certified clinical thermographer and Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner. She owns Thermography of Houston, with the main office located in Northwest Houston, and mobile locations in Katy, Kingwood, River Oaks, The Woodlands, Missouri City, Lubbock, and … Continue reading →
Birth Centers – COVID-19 Jami Hain is a certified nurse midwife and owner of Nativiti Family Birth Center in The Woodlands, Texas. She has been a nurse for 28 years and worked as a birth assistant and birth doula for … Continue reading →
Diane S. Speier, PhD, Transition into Parenthood Diane S. Speier, PhD, practices psychotherapy and hypnotherapy, specializing in perinatal psychology, perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, as well as recovery from birth trauma. Diane is also a celebrant, co-creating ceremonies with her … Continue reading →
B.I.R.T.H. Fair 2022 Suzanne Juel, IBCLC, has been working in the lactation field for 19 years, primarily in private practice. She is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and has supported thousands of families. With her background in engineering and … Continue reading →
Dr. Amy Luedemann, Pediatric Dentistry Dr. Amy Luedemann is a native Houstonian. She opened Kidstown Dental in Katy, Texas, in 2012. Kidstown Dental was the third dental office in the United States to create an in-office interdisciplinary team to treat … Continue reading →
Dr. Whitley Jagnanan Caruso, Chiropractic/Craniosacral Therapy Dr. Whitley Jagnanan Caruso is a family wellness, vitalistic chiropractor in Houston. She is the owner and founder of Vital Family Chiropractic, located in the Heights where she practices with her husband. Dr. Whitley … Continue reading →
Pregnancy Loss and Grieving Anna Noto is wife to Jeffrey and mom to four living children and their angel baby, Lillian Belle. She is currently a homeschool mom and former elementary school teacher. She is an avid DIYer and loves … Continue reading →
Addiction Series: Santa Maria Hostel and MPAT In an effort to encourage discussion of addiction and its effects on families, Whole Mother began our Addiction Series in July of 2018. We planned to do three shows. Fifty shows, four years … Continue reading →
Patricia “Trish” Perkins Patricia “Trish” Perkins RN, CNM, is a Certified Nurse Midwife who began her career as a labor and delivery nurse working with the Baylor Midwives. After raising her own family, she realized her lifelong dream of studying … Continue reading →
Breastfeeding Celebrating World Breastfeeding Week Suzanne Juel, IBCLC, has been working in the lactation field for 19 years, primarily in private practice. She is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and has supported thousands of families. With her background in … Continue reading →
Dancing for Birth Stephanie Larson, is a leading world expert on supporting birth through movement and instinct. She is the visionary founder of Dancing For Birth™. Stephanie created the Dancing For Birth childbirth method, and Dancing For Birth class ― … Continue reading →
Darlene Scrivner Darlene Scrivner is a Certified Professional Midwife who holds both state and nationally recognized licenses and has been in private practice since 1992. She continued her education with EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) training in 1997. She remains current … Continue reading →
Sherry Duson and Colleen O’Grady Sherry Duson and Colleen O’Grady talk about Colleen’s new book Dial Up the Dream: Make Your Daughter’s Journey to Adulthood the Best for Both of You and her previous book Dial Down the Drama: Reducing … Continue reading →
Jackie Griggs, Trish Perkins, Patty Ghaly Jackie Griggs, RN, CNM, has been a Nurse Midwife in the Houston area for the past 30 years. She is a mom of five sons, three born at home with the help of midwives. … Continue reading →
Susan Wildin, MD, Nonviolent Communication Susan was trained as a developmental and behavioral pediatrician, leaving medicine to raise her son. Susan started attending Nonviolent Communication (NVC) workshops in 2007 and became passionate about using and sharing NVC with others. NVC … Continue reading →
Eleanor Prado Eleanor Prado joins Debbie Hull to discuss a variety of topics, including doulas, labor, and postpartum.
Charis Thornton, Lady Power Inc. Charis Thornton is a wife, mother, activist, and the founder of Lady Power Inc. nonprofit. Her journey began with hearing her grandparents’ and parents’ experiences of prejudice and racism, especially within healthcare, then having traumatizing … Continue reading →
Megan Drake, Sarah Spanier, Katie Rogers Hospital and out-of-hospital birthing stories: Megan Drake lives in Montgomery, Texas. She had a home birth with midwives last year in April and this was with her second child. Her first was a hospital … Continue reading →
Joanna Zepeda Joanna Zepeda is originally from Houston and has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Arizona and an Associate in the Arts from Houston Community College. While her first calling was classical dance, over time she … Continue reading →
Lynn Schulte, Pelvic Health Lynn Schulte is a pelvic health physical therapist for over 30 years and founder of the Institute for Birth Healing. She has been helping moms heal from all the issues women experience after birth and is … Continue reading →
Becky McKimmey and Lindsey Smith, Midwives at Willowbrook Becky McKimmey and Lindsey Smith, both Houston CNMs, discuss how midwifery care differs from the typical American birth, midwifery services beyond care during pregnancy, their practice’s new birth suites and the service they … Continue reading →
Suzanne Juel, Breastfeeding Suzanne Juel, IBCLC, has been working in the lactation field for 19 years, primarily in private practice. She is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and has supported thousands of families. With her background in engineering and technology, … Continue reading →
Catrice Harris, Midwifery Encouraged to support women after the birth of her own daughters, Catrice Harris has been helping families with childbirth education, labor and birth, and lactation support since 1992. From day one, she loved being a mom, but … Continue reading →
https://wholemothershow.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/wholemother_220124.mp3 Barbara Harper, Water Birth
Barbara Harper is an internationally recognized expert on water birth and gentle birth, a published author who founded Waterbirth International in 1988, with one goal in mind – to ensure that water birth is an “available option” for all women. During the past four decades, Barbara has worked as an obstetric and pediatric nurse, midwife, midwifery instructor, childbirth educator, doula, and doula trainer and has used her vast experience to develop unique seminars which she teaches within hospitals, nursing schools, midwifery, and medical schools and community groups worldwide. She was recognized in 2002 by Lamaze International for her contributions in promoting normal birth on an international level. Her bestselling book and DVD, Gentle Birth Choices, has been translated into nine languages, including a 2016 Mandarin Chinese edition. She is working on a new book this year, Gentle Birth Wisdom. Known for her award-winning website and online Waterbirth Certification Courses, Barbara has dedicated her life to changing the way we welcome babies into the world. She is the mother of three adult children, two of whom were born at home in water, and grandmother of a college student and a 4-year-old. She lives in Boca Raton, Florida, where she is active in the community as a volunteer and a midwifery and doula mentor. Her website is www.waterbirth.org.
https://wholemothershow.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/wholemother_220110.mp3 Bonnianne Ratliff and Angie Sonrode
Bonnianne Ratliff is an autistic activist committed to intersectional feminism. She is a single mom to two teenagers in Southern California. She graduated from San Diego State University in 2018 with a degree in English and a minor in Women’s Studies. She started The Shape of a Mother in July of 2006 because she saw that there was a distinct lack of representation of realistic postpartum bodies in the media at the time. She realized that if people were able to see photos of real, unretouched pregnant and postpartum bodies, it could heal some of the unnecessary shame held by the unrealistic expectations society demands. Bonnianne wants people to know that, above all, bodies are functional and that beauty is a construct; all bodies are good bodies. In addition to The Shape of a Mother’s original user-run project, Bonnianne also uses the site as a platform to educate about feminism and related topics through her series on Badass Bitches From History and her educational infoposts and flyers. In her free time, Bonnianne likes to play Animal Crossing way too much or give her teens a cultural education by making them watch old John Hughes movies.
Angie Sonrode is the co-founder and president of Mid Drift Movement. She is a birth/postpartum doula, feminist, lactivist, breastfeeding counselor, parent educator and cheerleader of parents everywhere. Since becoming a mother herself almost 15 years ago, she has been dedicated to finding ways to build circles of support around parents and families, including working with several local nonprofits. Mid Drift’s roots were planted when Angie started looking at the realities of the body she has after having given birth to her four kiddos and the realization that things are a bit…um different. As a body love supporter, the fact that this was intuitively interpreted as negative was a shock. Where were these ideas coming from and why were they so prevalent? With the love and fervent support of her sidekick and partner Mike, she set out to question these things and search out some answers, while along the way helping other people learn to love their bodies wholly.
https://wholemothershow.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/wholemother_220103.mp3 Jackie Griggs and Trish Perkins
Jackie Griggs, RN, CNM, has been a Nurse Midwife in the Houston area for the past 30 years. She is a mom of five sons, three born at home with the help of midwives. Jackie owns two birth centers, one in the Houston Heights and one in Beaumont. She helps with babies at home and birth center. She is also on the Board of Directors of the American Association of Birth Centers.
Patricia “Trish” Perkins, RN, CNM, is a Certified Nurse Midwife who began her career as a labor and delivery nurse at Jefferson Davis Hospital. She is the mother of four children all brought into this world into the hands of midwives. The first two were born in the hospital and the last two at home with Pat Jones! After raising her own family, she realized her lifelong dream of studying midwifery. She worked as a midwife at a freestanding birth center and for Baylor College of Medicine at The Centers for Children and Women. Her experiences also include working as a lactation consultant at St. Joseph’s Hospital, helping them achieve Texas Ten Step status. She is now the owner of a beautiful freestanding birth center just north of The Woodlands, Bliss Birth Center. Trish is passionate about providing quality, woman-centered, compassionate care and has the unique knowledge, skills, and experience to provide comprehensive, evidence-based midwifery care that women deserve.
https://wholemothershow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/wholemother_211227.mp3 Heart of Houston Birth Center
Meet the team of Heart of Houston Birth and Wellness Center
Mary Love, APRN, CNM, NP-C
Owner, co-founder, clinical director, nurse-midwife
Mary Love’s first encounter with a midwife was on the night she was born as she slipped into her awaiting hands. It was in her early twenties that she heard the call and set out on her own path to become a midwife, first attending workshops and assisting Pamela Hunt and the other midwives at The Farm. She received a bachelor’s degree in nursing science from Tennessee State University and her master’s degree in nursing from Vanderbilt University. In addition to being a Certified Nurse-Midwife, she is also a Family Nurse Practitioner with experience in pediatric primary, urgent, and emergency care.
Mary believes in a person’s right to make their own decisions regarding their health and well-being and believes how a baby is born, whether it be an “natural” birth or one with all the bells and whistles, is not as important as the way the birthing person internalizes the experience. After giving birth a person should feel strong, proud, empowered, and confident, because this sets the tone for what comes after – the long hard task of parenthood.
Mary also believes collaboration between professionals and systems is vital. Developing collaborative relationships that optimize client care and strengthen professional relationships is key to improving maternal and neonatal outcomes. Building respectful relationships and bridges across professions at the heart of her work. When not catching babies or thinking of ways to fix a particular problem, Mary enjoys cooking, gardening, sewing, and folding laundry. She is married and shares four wonderful children with her husband.
Jessica Gonzales
Co-founder, director of operations and programming, birth assistant and certified doula
Jessica Gonzales has worked in the field of women’s health for over 20 years. The midwives who mentored her taught her that pregnancy and birth should not be treated as an illness, but embraced as a transformative life event. Her passion for birth has fueled her love for educating, supporting, and empowering families.
Her experience includes medical office and lab administration as well as medical business startups. She trained as a midwife’s assistant in Summertown, Tennessee, with the midwives at The Farm. Jessica founded Village Birth and Babies, a full-service doula service for families in the Houston area. Jessica has facilitated support groups for new and expectant people for over a decade and is passionate about creating lasting connections and strong communities.
Jessica and her wife Amanda are parents to two incredible little girls conceived via IVF and Reciprocal IVF. She is committed to reducing the maternal mortality rate in Houston by improving access to evidence based care for BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities. Every family is unique and every family deserves support before, during, and after birth.
Bethany Horton, APRN, CNM
Certified Nurse-Midwife
Bethany Horton has been immersed in the birthing world from a young age. Growing up with a labor and delivery nurse mother, hearing birth stories at the dinner table and talks of “birth goo” and placentas were normal occurrences. But it was at the age of 16 that Bethany first felt the calling to be a midwife as she watched her best friend go through pregnancy and give birth for the first time. She received her Master of Science in Nursing from the George Washington University and her Post-Master’s Certificate in Nurse-Midwifery from Shenandoah University in 2019.
Bethany has a passion for family-centered care that focuses on empowering each person to be an active participant in their health care decisions. She believes that most pregnancies and births are normal life events and should be treated as such. She is excited to provide care in a place where birth is viewed as a natural process that is not unnecessarily interrupted. Bethany is a proud mom to one daughter, who was born in a birth center. Bethany and her family are new to Houston and looking forward to exploring all this great city has to offer.
https://wholemothershow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/wholemother_211213.mp3 Lynn Schulte, Postpartum Health
Lynn Schulte is a Pelvic Health Physical Therapist for over 30 years and founder of the Institute for Birth Healing. She has been helping moms heal from all the issues women experience after birth and is now teaching courses to bodyworkers to help them do the same. She found a common birth pattern that shows up in the pelvis after birth and knows how to effectively release these patterns. Knowing we are more than just our bodies, Lynn works on all levels, physically, energetically, and spiritually with women to help them access their full potential. She also teaches bodyworkers how to work with the energy of the body and how to access and use your intuition in your bodywork sessions. She offers a certification process to help birth professionals become Birth Healing Practitioners.
https://wholemothershow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/wholemother_211206.mp3 Andie Wyrick, Jaelin Stickels, Shanna Willis
Andie Wyrick, CNM, DNP
A certified nurse midwife and doctor (she is so fancy), Andie has been in the Houston birth community for over 15 years. Her experience includes elementary school nursing, hospital L & D, birth center, and home birth. Andie is confident in a person’s ability to grow and birth their baby. She feels a partnership in care is empowering and hopes to foster that relationship with families. She has been joyfully dating her husband of 20 years since junior high and has five children. Her passions beyond bellies, birth, and breastfeeding are mission work, reading, and movie theater popcorn.
Jaelin Stickels CNM, MSN
A certified nurse midwife and women’s health nurse practitioner who is honored to work with women and their families as they experience pregnancy, labor, birth, and the postpartum period. Jaelin followed her passion into midwifery and has been practicing with women and babies since 2010. She has spent the last 36 blissful years married to her high school sweetheart. She has three children and one grandchild. In addition to her passion for women’s health; she loves quilting and spends her spare time enamored with her granddaughter. She is currently pursuing her doctoral degree.
Shanna Willis CNM, MSN
A certified nurse midwife, Shanna attended Frontier Nursing University for her master’s degree in midwifery. She has been part of the birth community for many years and carries with her an intimate knowledge of midwifery care. She has worked in all three birth settings (home, birth center, and hospital). Her model of care and philosophy of birth melds with the familiarity of HHH and she is a perfect fit. Outside of midwifery she has four kiddos and a supportive hubby. She has had her own homebirths with midwives. She works hard for a close-to-her-heart nonprofit, Brennan’s Buddies. She is a chicken lady and spooky stuff is her jam. She can whip up homemade goodies (lip balm, laundry detergent, vanilla extract, bath bombs, etc.) like no one else. Her heart is big. Her laugh is contagious. She has a one-eyed pup named Pirate. Her adoration for supporting families is second to none.