Alisa has been with women and families during pregnancy and birth for over 19 years as a doula, childbirth educator/mentor and midwife. After completing a formal midwifery apprenticeship and academic program in 1993 she worked in many capacities – owning her own practices, as a partner in a group practice, and as a staff midwife at a busy birth center. Alisa's work is her life's passion and her warmth is contagious. She brings compassion and wisdom to each client visit and honors each unique birth experience, finding great joy in working with the beautifully diverse families that come into her life. In October 2009 she became the owner/director of the San Antonio Birth Center and is delighted to offer this alternative to women seeking birthing options in her community. In addition to her work as a midwife, Alisa is passionately dedicated to mentoring parents through unique and soulful childbirth classes as a Birthing From Within® Mentor through Bud to Bloom.

Jennifer has a deep faith in the pregnancy and birth process. For many years she supported families through their hospital birth experiences as a doula. As her own children grew older and the universe called out to her, she realized her passion was to completely honor and respect the wishes and choices of families. After completing her formal midwifery training, she began a home birth practice in 2005, providing parents the opportunity of giving birth in their own environment. She believes that with information parents are more able to move through fear and concern of the unknown, into a space of trust and are then empowered to make true informed choices about their care. We are thrilled to have Jennifer join us at the San Antonio Birth Center, bringing her gentle and patient manner to each encounter. Jennifer is the mother to 5 teenagers (ages 13 thru 17 – all born at home) who teach her, delight her and help her grow on a daily basis!

Salli says that “becoming a midwife has been an adventure that began with the births of my own six children.” After one hospital birth and one birth center birth, she had her next 4 children at home with midwives. After giving birth in the hospital she felt the need to take a more pro-active stance in childbirth. This birth made her realize how much she was responsible for her own birth. Salli embarked on a whole world of birthing education and nutrition, and subsequently began assisting women in birth as a doula and a childbirth educator. After 16 years helping women achieve their goals in natural childbirth, she felt the time had come to become a midwife. She received her licensed by the State of Texas in 2007 and shortly thereafter began her own homebirth practice. Salli he is excited to be of service in helping women in both homebirth and birthing at the San Antonio Birth Center.

Christy has been working at the San Antonio Birth Center for over a year. As a Pediatric Emergency Room Nurse (2+ years) and former Labor and Delivery Nurse (3 years), Christy brings a calm compassion to every birth and postpartum family she attends. In October 2009 Christy also began working as our Administrative Assistant. It is her kind smile that you will most likely see when you come in for your visits. Passionate about helping families have better birth experiences, she hopes to one day work with us as a midwife as well!

Jenny began her clinical training at the San Antonio Birth Center in August 2008. She has had the honor and joy of attending to over 80 birth center clients as they labored and birthed their new little ones. As a licensed massage therapist and doula she helps bring natural relief to laboring mothers as they journey through labor land. A self proclaimed people person, Jenny is always up for a good conversation, encouraging new mothers in her honest, open way. A proud military wife and mother, she has 3 beautiful teenage daughters who make her life exciting. She is looking forward to graduation in April 2010 and sitting the national certification exam in August 2010 and becoming a Licensed and Certified Professional Midwife.

Dana began her journey as a midwife apprentice in the summer of 2009. She is a student of the Association of Texas Midwives Midwifery Training Program and is working towards becoming a CPM and Texas Licensed Midwife in 2012. Her calm and gentle way puts parents at ease, and as a mother of four children, ages 18, 15, 12 and one on the way due September 2010, she is a great resource for new mamas! Families are able to get to know Dana at prenatal visits, and if they wish, invite her to be a part of their birth and help us train the next generation of midwives!

April's path to becoming a midwife was one step at a time, with no idea she would end up becoming one! She always knew she wanted to have her own babies at home and says she received the best care during her pregnancy, labor and post-partum days from her midwife. Even April's skeptical in-laws were very impressed with the services, equipment and personal treatment they witnessed at the births of their grandchildren, and now tell everyone they meet about the experience. When April's youngest was six weeks old she randomly asked about how to become a midwife and enrolled in the Association of Texas Midwives Midwifery Training Program nine months later. She looks forward to providing other women with the same care she was given, and client's are able to get to know her during their visits at the birth center and can invite her to be a part if their birth experiences if they wish.

Jen is a brand new student of midwifery and we are excited to welcome her to our birth center family. Enrolled in the Association of Texas Midwives Midwifery Training Program, Jen will be apprenticing with us for several years to come. One of Jen's passions in life is performing and teaching the beautiful art of belly dance. She danced her way through her first pregnancy in 2005 and her second pregnancy in 2008. It was her 2008 pregnancy that brought her into contact with the San Antonio Birth Center as a client. Excited to support families on their individual paths towards parenthood, you will have the opportunity to get to know Jen at prenatal visits, and if you wish, invite her to be a part of your birth.