Meet our Advanced Nurse Practitioner

Heidi Kim - "I am originally from Missouri. I graduated from University of Missouri with a Bachelor in Nursing. I also met my husband there. I was a nurse in the Air Force for 6.5 years, and worked for the Air Force as a civilian after that. I have 2 beautiful, energetic children, boy and a girl. They keep me busy.

I have worked in a variety of settings as a nurse; from the hospital, to clinics, to home visiting. My focus has been in maternal child nursing. I have worked expecting mothers and newborn babies. I have taught breast-feeding classes, childbirth classes, infant massage classes, and newborn care classes.
I graduated from Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing with a Masters in Nursing. I am a board certified Women's Health Nurse Practitioner. As a WHNP I can provide prenatal care, postpartum care and well women care. I can perform annual exams, and routine and problem gynecological visits.
I assist the Midwives in providing their clients the best prenatal care possible. I also assist in continuing care past the postpartum period as the woman so chooses."

MEET OUR MIDWIVES

The Midwife is a direct-entry midwife, certified by the State of Alaska . She provides care for women wishing to give birth out of the hospital.

Kirsten Gerrish - "Before starting as a midwife, I worked both as a doula (www.dona.org) and as a Bradley Natural Childbirth Educator (www.bradleybirth.com). My goal is to help women birth in whatever way they wish, with the least amount of intervention possible. I believe women should birth surrounded by people who love them and in an environment and atmosphere that the woman chooses. This allows the woman to fully relax and let the birth unfold as it needs to."

Breanne Shults - "I am a wife and mother of 3 beautiful children born out of hospital, all 3 water births, I often say "I just don't know how to give birth on land!".  I first felt drawn to midwifery with the birth of my first child.  I began serving families as a doula after the birth of my second child. I believe the journey into motherhood involves learning to trust your body, preparing yourself mentally, keeping your body healthy and strong and educating yourself with your options. I believe the transformation into motherhood is not just "pushing out a baby." This transformation begins at conception and continues through pregnancy. I believe the things in life we cherish the most are the things we have worked the hardest for. I believe childbirth, comes with pain that has a purpose. It might be hard, but you were made to do it. I absolutely love it when a mom triumphantly states after birthing her baby "I did it!" I am in awe so often at how strong and beautiful women are when they are in labor. When they open their bodies and surrender to the energy of birth to allow a new life to be born, it's a miracle and it still takes my breath away. Being a Midwife is such an incredible blessing to me. I know that I was made to be a midwife, and it feels awesome to have grown into myself and my calling."

Kinsey Ward- I have 3 amazing kids with  my husband Phillip.  The first two were born in hospitals in Texas, leaving me looking for an alternative birthing option.  By my third pregnancy, we have moved to  Alaska and were introduced to midwifery care. I had an amazing experience!! It was so different from anything I had experienced with my other pregnancies, and I have been an advocate for midwifery care ever since.  My life goal is to start birthing centers and orphanages in the poorest countries of the world.  It is my hearts desire to bring respect, care, and love to women and children in places where they have so long been neglected and felt unwanted.  Until that day comes, I feel blessed to be in  Alaska and work in a community of midwives that are well educated and devoted to bringing quality care to women.

Peggy Halsey -"I am married to a wonderful husband. We have raised four lovely children.  I have been very interested in pregnancy, birth, and newborn care my whole life. I feel that I was called to be a midwife from my youth. After having my children I became a childbirth educator through three different methods, a doula and a doula trainer and also worked at an Early Head Start with expectant and new parents.   I found helping expecting couples to be very satisfying work and it led me to becoming a Certified Direct Entry Midwife, I have deeply enjoyed this work. I am especially interested in the psychological impact of birth for both parents and the newborn. I believe it is very important that mothers, fathers, and babies be treated in the most respectful way possible regardless of the turns their births may take. I know that Birth Matters! Parents should be empowered to make informed choices as they choose how they will birth. I am happy to meet with families to explore all the options they have available as they embark on this peak life experience. My work and joy is helping parents and families begin!"