OUR BIRTH ASSISTANTS

Racheal Rivera, RN
I've spent 12 years in the Health Care setting and I have served many different roles, in the U.S. and in Japan. My first experience with Labor & Delivery happened by surprise: I was working as an EMT in Japan and we happened to get a call for a woman who had gone into labor earlier that day. She had only been in very early labor, so the hospital sent her home to labor comfortably until she was a bit closer to delivery. She did go home and after enduring two hours of contractions, she decided to get into a warm bath. She ended up falling asleep and, during that time, her water broke in the tub! She didn't know what had happened, but she woke up to very intense contractions. Her husband was concerned and called 911. When we arrived, we helped her out of the tub and into the living room. She was at 10 cm! We weren't going to make it to the hospital, it was too far... We called in to let the Dr. know her status and 7 min later we helped her deliver her baby. Mom did great, & gave birth to a healthy baby girl with a strong set of lungs! Since that moment, I have known that I wanted to be a Labor and delivery Nurse, and perhaps someday, a Nurse Midwife. I look forward to being part of your miracle as well, and I'm so glad to be a part of Best Start Birth Center.

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.

Kathleen Wirtz, BSN, RN
Working at Best Start Birth Center is an absolute dream for me. I had always desired to birth in a place like Best Start but in my community I could only read about such places. I am a recent BSN, RN, graduate of Linfield College in Portland, Oregon, and have transplanted to San Diego while I pursue my masters education to become a Certified Nurse Midwife, Women's Health Care Nurse Practitioner. My home is actually in Kelso, Washington, the foothills of Mt. St. Helen's, and I return home as often as possible to visit my 5 adult children, their spouses, and 5 precious grandchildren. The two baby girls in the picture are cousins, born the summer of 2008. I have been blessed with taking the "grandmother" role while attending all 5 of my grandchildren's births. I am a strong believer in the power of a woman to birth her baby without interventions and am passionate about mother baby togetherness, breastfeeding, and bonding for mom, dad, and baby. I teach Bradley® Childbirth classes and love seeing a couple grow closer through their pregnancy and childbirth. I find each birth to be unique and special and marvel at the wonderful families who come to Best Start.

Laura Grant, LVN
I grew up in San Diego, and returned here in 1992 after living throughout the US and Europe as a Military Wife. I have been a LVN since my return, and have worked in a variety of settings. Since joining Best Start in the spring of 2008, I feel that I am truly where I belong. 
My 3 daughters were all born in Military hospitals in the 80's, and I was fortunate to have Midwife assisted natural births, even in the hospital setting. I feel so proud to have joined a group of women in a safe and nurturing environment, where we can offer you peaceful care and support as you welcome your new baby into your lives. What an honor it is for me to be able to share this amazing time with you!

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!

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

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. 

Bridget Frese, RN
I have worked as a maternity nurse since 2004 and am currently studying to be a nurse midwife at San Diego State University. I grew up outside of Cleveland, OH and spent most of my adult years living in Washington, DC. I moved to San Diego in the Fall of 2008 to begin graduate school. Prior to Best Start, I worked in several birth centers and on the maternity ward at the hospital. Although I appreciate what hospitals have to offer, my heart lies with the birth center community. I am thrilled to be part of the Best Start team and consider it a true honor to share in the birthing experiences of our families. 

Office personnel | Midwives | Birth assts. | Specialty staff