Our Staff

Teresa and Paula have been working together for 15 years.

Teresa Acheson, Certified Professional Midwife, is nationally certified through the North American Registry of Midwives. She is also licensed as a midwife by the state of Oregon. She was trained through apprenticeship and formal study. For several years she worked at a women's health center in Chico, California. She has attended over 700 births in the Treasure Valley area during the last 28 years. In addition to her midwifery training, Teresa has a B.A. from UCLA and elementary teaching credentials. She is a member of the Idaho Midwifery Council and the Midwives Alliance of North America. Teresa has two children, both born at home, and two stepchildren.

Paula Wiens, Certified Nurse Midwife with a Master's Degree in Midwifery, is a Certified Professional Midwife through the North American Registry of Midwives. She is also licensed as a registered nurse. In addition to her midwifery training, Paula has a B.A. from Colorado College. She has been attending births in the Treasure Valley area since 1992 (over 500 births) and is a board member of the Idaho Midwifery Council and a member of the Midwives Alliance of North America. Paula has two children, both born with the support of midwives.

Megan Kirsch, Intern Midwife, has been studying midwifery for three years through the National College of Midwifery and Mercy In Action. She will sit for her Certified Professional Midwife exam as well as earn her Associate's Degree in Midwifery in August 2008. Megan also has a B.S. from Colorado State University in Health and Exercise Science. She has been attending births for more than three years including work at a birth center in Manila, Philippines. Megan is married with two children, both born with the support of midwives.

Carol Birdzell, Apprentice Midwife, is working toward becoming a Certified Professional Midwife. She has a B.S. from Boise State in Health Science Studies with a minor in Psychology. She has completed one year of didactic work from Seattle Midwifery School and has been trained by DONA as a doula. She has been training and attending births with us for one year.

Shelley Spurlock, Intern Midwife, loves midwifery and is working to become a Certified Professional Midwife. She has studied and attended births with us for several years and has been trained by DONA as a doula. She has one daughter, Willow, who was born at home.

Jill Henggeler provides labor support and post-partum care for births at the birth center. She has been trained by our midwives and interns and looks forward to apprenticing as a midwife. Jill is also our office manager and has been working with us since January 2008. She is married and has one daughter, Amelia.

Robyn Titmus is certified in pregnancy massage. She is also a certified doula (DONA) and is a certified HypnoBirthing instructor. She teaches HypnoBirthing classes at the birth center and does pregnancy massage. She also assists at births. Robyn has 5 children and 8 grandchildren.

Erin McCarter, RN, IBCLC, is a certified lactation educator. In addition to working as a Labor and Delivery nurse at St. Alphonsus, she teaches our breastfeeding class and offers breastfeeding support after the birth. She has two children, one born at a birth center and one born at home.