OUR BIRTH ASSISTANTS

Delilah Jaeger, RN, BSN
I truly believe that when a woman's life is improved, it radiates to her family and acts as a catalyst for improving generations. I have a passion for improving the health, education, and overall well-being of women. Over the years, I feel blessed to have had so many experiences which have impacted the lives of women and their families within my church and community. By supporting my husband's career in the U.S. Navy for the past 22 years, I have gained an understanding and appreciation of the unique struggles our military families face. I recently completed my Bachelor of Science in Nursing, bringing me one step closer to my ultimate goal of becoming a Nurse-Midwife and Family Nurse Practitioner. I am a mother of four beautiful children, three daughters and one son, and have been privileged to experience midwife-assisted natural birth. I feel extremely fortunate to work at Best Start Birth Center along with our team of dedicated professionals who give women high-quality choices, satisfying experiences, and healthy outcomes. 

Jessica Holder, RN, BSN
I was born and raised in east county San Diego and now live in Ocean Beach with my husband Pat. I am a Registered Nurse with a BS in Nursing from the University of Oklahoma and a BS in Biology from UCSD. My first working years were spent teaching English in the Marshall Islands and Biology at San Diego High School. After these rewarding experiences, I needed a change. I was dancing samba when I met my friend Brooke Ray, (Certified Nurse Midwife), who introduced me to the world of childbirth and midwifery. Her stories inspired me and I was drawn to this new path. I went to nursing school, volunteered as a doula, then, once graduated, began working with midwives at home births and also here at Best Start. Now here I am, feeling extremely fortunate to have found my passion and begin my career with the wonderful group of women at Best Start. I feel honored to attend each birth, supporting mother, baby, midwife and all others involved, as we witness one of life’s true miracles.

Felicity Esquinas, RN
From the time I was 10 years old and was at the birth of my little brother I knew I wanted to be a labor and delivery nurse. I was born in San Diego, raised in Ohio, and returned home to San Diego after graduating with my BSN, RN degree from Otterbein College (now Otterbein University). While in OH I worked 2 wonderful years at The Ohio State University Medical Center on the Labor and Delivery and High-Risk OB Unit. I loved every minute and got to experience many different types of birth. My dream has always been to open my own birth center, so when I moved back to SD and found Best Start I knew I was in the right place! I absolutely love coming to work and am so happy to be a part of little miracles coming into the world. I love being able to help encourage and empower the moms who are going through such a hard process—which becomes the most rewarding and beautiful ending—a new baby in their arms. I know that I will be involved in the birth world for the rest of my life, and look forward to many more memorable moments with the Best Start team and families.

Amy Donahue, LVN
From childhood on, I knew when I grew up I wanted to work with babies. I babysat and nannied throughout my teenage years. Then I obtained my LVN license. When I gave birth to my daughter in the spring of 2004 my desire to work in the field of maternity became even stronger. My early career has been mainly in a hospital setting working primarily with mothers and babies. Then in summer of 2009, I relocated to San Diego from Los Angeles and worked in the fertility field. I have since joined Best Start in the fall of 2009 and am honored to help mom's participate in the natural birthing process. 

Heather LeMaster, LM, CPM, Monitrice
- I truly believe that birth is natural and one of the most special times in a woman's life. It was my own positive and empowering birth experience that motivated me to be a Midwife. I’ve been a doula since 2003. I began my Midwifery education with a hands-on apprenticeship in 2006 and joined Nizhoni Institute of Midwifery in San Diego in 2007 and graduated in 2010. I’m licensed as a Midwife by the Medical Board of California. I’m also a Certified Professional Midwife with the North American Registry of Midwives.

Tracy Wery, CPM
- I was born and raised in San Diego and am the mother of 6 beautiful children- 1 hospital birth, 2 born at Best Start, and 3 at home! I LOVE birth and feel it is the most powerful experience a woman can have in her life. Even as a young girl, I loved it and my desire was to deliver babies. When I was a teenager my sister gave birth to her first baby at Best Start. That experience opened my eyes to the added strength and glory that comes from natural childbirth. Because of that I became a homebirth midwife. I began my training in 2003 and graduated from Midwives College of Utah as a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) in 2008. I also work as a part time birth assistant at Best Start and love doing it. I really feel it is an honor to assist families during their sacred moments of birth. 

Karly Nuttall, LM, Birth Assistant, Home Visits, Assessments, Nutrition Counseling 
I was born and raised near Portland Oregon after which I traveled a bit, interned at a birth center in El Paso, Texas and then participated in home births as I finished midwifery school in Utah. I moved to San Diego where I became licensed as a midwife in the Summer of 2005, beginning my career at Best Start Birth Center in the Summer of 2006. In 2008 I began a home birth practice but continue to work part time at Best Start, and I feel lucky that I am able to participate in such a happy and life-changing experience with so many Best Start families! 
Visit: African Birth Collective

Sunshine Chrispeels, LM
My path into the birth world began 21 years ago with the birth of my 1st child and blossomed into a career with the transformational birth of my 2nd child 14 years later. The contrast of the 1st experience with the births of my 2nd and 3rd children under midwifery care was what opened my eyes to the transformational power of birth. I now have been involved in birth work for over 5 years now and love every minute. I have 3 children, two born with midwives and now I am a LM, (Licensed California Midwife). I am also an advanced Birthing From Within, Mentor. I would love to see you in classes that I am now teaching at Best Start! Every time that I attend a birth, a prenatal appointment or a family visit, I feel blessed to have a job where babies are born and families are created.

Sarah Davis, LM
I am honored to be a part of the births at Best Start as a birth assistant, and enjoy seeing families again at the home visits. I have been working around birth for the past six years as a doula, Licensed and Certified Professional Midwife and Birthing From Within childbirth preparation mentor. I was born and have lived most of my life in San Diego. I am an activist in several community organizations and I love to witness the births of new little San Diegans!

Office | Midwife | Birth Asst | Med Asst | Specialty