YOUR AUTHENTIC TEAM
Through individual midwife visits, a collective of resources to help you along your journey, and a community of support, the entire staff at Authentic (from administrative staff to midwives to class instructors to postpartum doulas) is committed to providing you with high quality compassionate care.
Midwifery Model of Care
We are midwives because we truly believe in the natural process of birth and that women’s bodies were created with the innate ability to bring life into this world. We believe in the spirit of a woman and in her deep inner strength and beauty. And we believe in the power of motherhood, with all its joys and challenges. By walking alongside expectant families through pregnancy and childbirth, there are endless opportunities to help parents discover their true strengths and abilities. And by continuing that journey into the weeks and months postpartum, we have the honor of offering care and encouragement to nurture and support growing families.
Call the Midwife!
If you are concerned, we are concerned. Rather than have you worry about a new symptom or stress about something that doesn’t seem right, or worse, diagnose a problem using the help of "Dr. Google", we have an on-call number that is available to you 24/7. Once you become an established client, you will have access to the On Call Midwife Line and be able to speak directly with a midwife about your urgent questions or concerns. You will also use this line to report signs and symptoms of labor.
MIDWIFE BIOS
Becky Coolidge
Certified Professional Midwife MidwifeBecky@AuthenticBirthCenter.com
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I jumped into the birthing world in high school when I supported a friend during her birth. Since then, I have been drawn to the energy of holding space for women as they bring their babies earthside.
I regard a woman’s pregnancy and birth as a sacred space, designed to be guarded and nurtured as she follows her own body’s path for growing and bringing her baby into the world. The innate wisdom for navigating this unfolding time is the cornerstone of the midwifery model of care. While the physiological birth process works beautifully most of the time, there are a handful of scenarios that may benefit from a helping hand. As I come alongside you in your pregnancy and birth journey, my role is to be your helping hand when you feel you need one.
My pathway to becoming a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) has included an eclectic and exciting mix of experiences: a homebirth apprenticeship, birthing center internship, Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) and CPM birth assistant, doula, CNA, and private homebirth practice. I received my associate degree in midwifery from Southwest Technical College, and after being licensed in two additional states, I am now helping to expand the licensing of CPMs in Illinois.
I currently serve as the President of the Illinois Council of Certified Professional Midwives, a chapter of the National Association of CPMs, and Vice President of the Midwives Alliance of North America.
I am first a mom to five grown-up children, as well as the ongoing project manager of one grandchild. Additionally, I enjoy knitting and am currently working on a complex genealogy tree.
Seong Kitsos
Certified Professional Midwife
MidwifeSeong@AuthenticBirthCenter.com
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I grew up trusting birth and seeing it as a non-medical and very natural event. The oldest of five, I come from a home birthing family and had the opportunity to experience my youngest three siblings’ births. I have given birth in the hospital twice, at home on land once and at home in the water twice. All were unmedicated and uncomplicated.
Shortly after the birth of my fourth child, I unexpectedly found myself on the path to becoming a doula. I completed doula training with DONA in 2014 and was shocked to realize how many people were experiencing traumatic births. I left that weekend with a fire in my heart to educate others about birth choices and promote the expectation of family centered birth.
I intuitively felt at home supporting birthing people and families. In 2018 I started on my journey to become a Certified Professional Midwife. I apprenticed with both private practice CPMs and a large home birth CNM practice for four years, attending around 400 births. I completed my apprenticeship, sat for my NARM exam, and earned my CPM credential in May of 2022.
I practice trauma-informed and consent driven care. I am passionate about home and community birth and helping to spread the word that it is a safe option for a low-risk pregnancy. I am passionate about recognizing the sacredness of pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum experience. My goal is to make sure all feel safe, supported, and respected during this special time.
Sarah Jones
Certified Nurse Midwife
midwifesarah@authenticbirthcenter.com
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I fell in love with birth at a very young age after witnessing three of my younger sibling’s births. Helping to deliver my own sister while in high school spurred my desire to be a part of the beautiful miracle of birth.
My journey towards midwifery started in Charlotte, North Carolina where I completed my bachelor’s in nursing. My college summers were spent in South Africa conducting breastfeeding research as well as two months in Takoradi, Ghana working on a labor and delivery floor. Following graduation, I began my midwifery studies at the University of Illinois at Chicago where I earned my Doctorate in Nursing Practice. Throughout graduate school, I spent three years working in home birth and found my place in the out of hospital world. During that season of life, I also married my wonderful husband as well as welcomed our son into the world in the peace of our own home.
My love of holistic and physiologic birth has only grown over the years and made working at the birth center an easy choice. I enjoy being a part of each and every prenatal checkup, postpartum visit, and birth story that I have the honor of attending.
Heather Mcullough
Certified Professional Midwife
CAPPA Faculty CLD, CPM, CPD, CLE, SbaP, SbPE,
Evidence Based Birth Instructor, HCHI
MidwifeHeather@AuthenticBirthCenter.com
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Hello! As a passionate, experienced, and innovative birth provider for over 25 years, I began this work when I was 19. Initially going into Pre-Med to become an OB-GYN, I was redirected to Midwifery and thus became a Certified Professional Midwife. I practiced in Portland, Oregon at the wonderful Adaluz Waterbirth center.
After moving back to the Midwest, I settled in Chicago. As co-owner of 312Doulas, we support 16-20 clients a month in Chicagoland while teaching classes a wide variety of in-services for families, doulas, and educators.
Authentic Birth Center offers the perfect space to support amazing families through their childbearing years. As a member of your birth team, I’m absolutely honored to be a part of your transformative journey as a family.
Hannah Lang
Certified Professional Midwife, Student Midwife Liaison
midwifehannah@authenticbirthcenter.com
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My journey into midwifery began several years ago after the birth of one of my siblings. A woman who brought us a meal suggested the idea, and I began researching routes of entry. Pursuing the Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) credential through the North American Registry of Midwives, I was accepted as a student at Authentic Birth Center in 2022.
I was blessed to attend over 100 births before receiving my CPM and Licensed Midwife credentials in April 2024. I am thankful for the opportunity to continue to work with the families giving birth here. It is a great honor to be invited into these spaces, where life is celebrated, and mothers work so hard to bring their little ones into their arms.
I believe that mothers' bodies are created to bring forth their babies in a powerful, beautiful way. While no birth is guaranteed a perfect ending, most low-risk, natural births follow this pattern. Even if the birth doesn't go “as planned”, I believe the woman should be allowed to give true informed consent to ensure she is the primary decision-maker for her care. This is important for every woman, no matter the setting in which she gives birth.
From the moment a baby is conceived in the womb, to the first breath after birth, the entire pregnancy journey is one of change, concern, excitement, anticipation, and
joy. My job is to encourage, assist, and support you in this journey. Truly, mothers and babies are “fearfully and wonderfully made!”
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
As an integral part of the Authentic team, our administrative staff ensures the seamless operation of every aspect of the birth center. From scheduling appointments and managing patient records to coordinating with the midwives and assisting families with administrative questions, they are the backbone of our center's efficiency and organization. With their dedication to providing exceptional service and support, our administrative team plays a vital role in creating a warm, welcoming environment for expectant families, guiding them through their journey with care and compassion.
Rebecca Musha
Vicki Bluhm
POSTPARTUM TEAM
At Authentic, nurturing support extends well beyond the birth. Our team of dedicated postpartum doulas is here to provide unparalleled care and support during the transformative hours following your birth. With a wealth of experience and a compassionate approach, our doulas offer personalized assistance tailored to each family's unique needs. From practical assistance with newborn care and feeding to emotional support for new parents navigating the joys and challenges of early parenthood, our doula staff is committed to ensuring a smooth transition into this new chapter of your lives. Trust in our expertise and let us support you as you embrace the next steps in your journey of parenthood.
STUDENT MIDWIVES
At Authentic, we are committed to training the next generation of midwives. By providing structured learning opportunities, mentorship from experienced midwives, and an opportunity to know and care for our clients, we empower students to develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to deliver excellent and evidence-based care to women and families. Our commitment to training student midwives reflects our belief in the importance of passing on knowledge, fostering a culture of lifelong learning, and ensuring that every individual has access to safe, respectful, and holistic maternity care. Plus, we think our student midwives are a whole lot of fun!
