My preference is to have two assistants (sometimes one is a student) with me at a birth. This enables things to flow smoothly, and provides help during the rare occasion when both mama and baby need attention at the same time. Midwifery is a skill that has been traditionally handed down via the apprenticeship model from one generation to the next. Having benefited from the midwives who trained me, and from the families who graciously allowed me to be part of their births, it’s my desire to help in training more midwives who can in turn serve others. For those wondering, the assistant fee is covered in the total price for services, so there’s no additional cost for clients. I am also thankful to work with a back-up midwife, so you can rest assured that during the rare times I am unavailable (such as when two babies decide to come at once) or out of town, you will still be competently cared for!

Current Assistants:

Lanna Yarrison:

Lanna joined Gentle Delivery in Spring 2021 as an assistant with the interest of possibly pursuing midwifery training. With family members who have used midwives for maternity care, Lanna is familiar with the philosophy of midwifery care, and my clients have loved having her support and sweet encouragement at their births! Besides her interest in midwifery, she also has a love of farming and enjoys being a wonderful auntie to her many nieces and nephews. 

Yoanna Martin:

My own daughter has had interest in midwifery training and birth work for quite some time, and has now begun adding midwifery studies to her highschool work with hopes of eventually being a consistent assistant for Gentle Delivery. She attended the births of her youngest two sisters, and then was invited to attend a birth the summer of 2025 which has added to her interest! Yoanna will be taking some additional training over the next year, and will be attending births as the opportunities arise.

I also work with a number of other birth assistants, depending upon scheduling and availability. Due to intentionally keeping my practice small, I rely on a pool of capable and caring ladies to help assist, and sometimes this varies according to the time of year and other factors. You can be assured that no matter who your birth team includes, it will be a group of women who are dedicated to providing you with the best and safest experience possible!

Occasional assistants may include Emily, Janine, Christine, Lynelle, or others. Here’s a few of their faces:

Backup Midwife Information:

Occasionally there are times when I will be off-call for family events and/or trips, or there are the rare situations when two clients are in labor at the same time, requiring the help of a back up midwife. And once in awhile we have a planned birth with higher risk factors, such as a twin delivery. When these situations arise, I’m grateful for a community of skilled midwives who are willing to help each other out! Whether it’s RoseMarie Spicher, Hannah Jantzi, Deane Vigilante or another midwife, you can rest assured that you will be well cared for in my absence. Here’s some photos to “introduce” some of the midwives I have been blessed to team with:

“Kelsey was the assistant at my daughters birth and we absolutely loved her. So very capable, thoughtful, and kind. We highly recommend her.” Ruthie