Birthways Family Birth Center, Sarasota, FL

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Your Support Team consists of Licensed Midwife Christina Holmes, Childbirth Educators, Birth Assistants, and experienced mothers.

Welcome to the World! (click to view photo album).

Midwives

Christina Holmes
Mother, Midwife, Doula, Childbirth Educator, Massage Therapist, Birth Photographer, and Triathlete. She graduated from the Sarasota School of Massage Therapy in 1995 and began her work as a doula in 1997. She received her Doula Certification through Doulas of North America (DONA) in 1997.

Christina is a Florida Licensed Midwife and a Nationally Certified Professional Midwife. She graduated with highest honors from the Miami-Dade Midwifery program in 2002 with an Associates Degree in Midwifery specializing in home birth. She is certified in CPR and Neonatal Resuscitation. Christina lives in Sarasota with her husband (her sweetheart since middle school) and three children. Her first child was born 7 weeks early in the hospital with a doctor and spent 2 weeks in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). She chose a midwife for her second pregnancy and gave birth 5 weeks early. Her third baby was born full term in the water at HOME after a two-hour labor!!!

Christina Holmes has been serving and honoring Sarasota, Manatee, and Charlotte County families in homes, hospitals, and birth centers since 1997.Recognizing the need for more birth options for families in the Sarasota area, she opened Birthways Family Birth Center in 2007.Christina has volunteered with the Healthy Start Coalition of Sarasota, the Newtown Health Advisory Council, and she is a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church, the Manasota Track Club, and Sarasota Storm Tri Club. Call or email for more information or to schedule your free consultation with Christina.

Cheryl Hollifield, ARNP, CNM
Cheryl Hollifield is an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner and Certified Nurse Midwife with more than 30 years of experience catching babies, listening to women, & caring for their various health care needs. Not only can she assist you through a pregnancy, but she is here for women throughout their lifetime. From the first menstruation cycle, birth control, through menopause.

Cheryl has two beautiful daughters and an appreciated hubby. Gardening, kayaking, swimming and reading occupy some of her favorite moments of relaxation. Cheryl was privileged to catch Christina's daughter a few moons ago, was one of the Midwives Christina learned from and has loved watching Christina grow into an amazing woman and accomplished midwife. Cheryl is excited to be serving women in the Sarasota and surrounding communities as part of the Birthways Family!

Student Midwife

Kristen Schuchmann
Kristin is a student midwife working closely with Christina until she graduates in August 2012. She is currently enrolled in Commonsense Childbirth School of Midwifery in Winter Garden, FL, with the goal of becoming a Certified Professional Midwife licensed in both Florida and Virginia.

Kristin has served childbearing families as a childbirth educator and doula since 1989; and in 2003, she began fulfilling a dream to improve maternity care as founder and executive director of Charis Childbirth, Inc., an international school of midwifery with an emphasis on Christian missions and humanitarian work that also certifies childbirth educators and doulas.

Kristin grew up in Virginia Beach, VA, where she lived until 2007 when her family relocated to North Port, FL, to start a network of house churches. She and her husband are pastors of New Life Church of North Port. Kristin is married to her best friend, Todd Schuchmann, and they have four homeschooled children, one grown and three still at home. She gave birth to her first baby in a hospital while still in high school, but the other three were all peacefully born at home with traditional midwives. Two of them were water births.

Clinical & Office Assistant

Chelsea Anne Clarkson
Chelsea is a graduate of Hollins University in Virginia, where she studied Spanish, Gender & Women's Studies, and the Irish Folk Harp. She loves hunting for antiques, listening to hip-hop, and getting to chat with the other pregnant women here at Birthways.

Chelsea is planning to have her first baby at home in October with the Birthways Midwives and is enjoying participating in all of the fun classes at Birthways! Chelsea will gladly answer your calls, schedule appointments, and answer any questions you may have.

Renee Moss
Reneé has worked with children for over 16 years. At Birthways she hosts our Open House nights and teaches Baby Sign Language. She plans to continue her education by becoming a Montessori teacher beginning Fall 2011.

Childbirth & Parenting Educators, Doulas, and Midwife Assistants

Chantal Wilford
Chantal is a Certified Childbirth Educator (Bradley & Brio) and Birth Assistant with a Bachelors in Russian, French & Linguistics from the University of Durham in England with post-graduate training as a translator and interpreter. Chantal’s own experience to learn about birth led her to her passion of encouraging and inspiring others to take charge of their birth experiences. Chantal is a 4 time home birth champion with her largest baby weighing 11.5 pounds! Christina was honored to be her midwife for her 3rd & 4th babies! Our families love all the support, information, and knowledge Chantal shares with them each week. Her classes are open to the public; whether you birth with us or plan another location you’ll be part of our family!

Jodi Ballano
Brilliant Birth Assistant and Mother of 5, including a set of twins Christina had the honor of doulaing. Jodi will do anything for a laboring momma! We just love her!

Cheryl Kindred
Doula, Birth assistant, and mother of 1 homeborn son, whom Christina was privileged to attend! She's available as a birth & postpartum doula to families at the birth center, home, or those choosing hospital births. Cheryl facilitates the Baby Wearing group and is amazing with slings & wraps. If you want to learn how to wear your baby, she'll show you how!

Alison Ingram
In addition to being one of our great birth assistants since 2008, she's also a doula, and works in Labor & Deliver at Peace River Medical Center in Port Charlotte, Florida.

Julia Onnie-Hay, CHHC [AADP]
Julia has joined the Birthways Family as a doula, birth assistant, and facilitator of our monthly prenatal groups. She is a holistic health counselor certified by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners.

Julia works full-time for Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida and has a professional background in non-profit program administration. She is an aspiring herbalist, enthusiastic yoga student, and grassroots placenta encapsulator. Originally from the Turks & Caicos Islands, she first came to Sarasota to attend New College of Florida (where she earned a B.A. in cultural anthropology), has left many times to live other places, and now considers herself blessed to call Sarasota home.

Carmela Pedicini
Carmela is a Licensed Practical Nurse, Childbirth Educator, musician and baby hearing specialist. She’s been assisting Midwives & families in the Sarasota area since the late 90’s. When not assisting new families, you can find her on stage as Radio-Free Carmela playing with the Transmitters and with Passerine. To learn more about her musical side, visit RadioFreeCarmela.com . "I believe the majority of women have all they need within themselves to birth their children, I bless the midwives daily for reminding us of this with their loving support and guidance."