Midwives – MidwivesCare, LLC

**Colleen Marotta: APRN, CNM.** Former IBCLC, former CPM. Taken Birth Emergency Skills Training, STABLE, NRP, ACLS/BLS, Spinning Babies and Breech without Borders. Colleen has been attending home births in Illinois for 20 years. She first became acquainted with home birth during her community health rotation in the United Kingdom with the NHS. The connection of care into the community via midwives and home birth made a huge impression on her. When she graduated from nursing school she began working in medical and then critical care units. After working as a full time labor and delivery RN, she began attending home births with Homefirst as an RN. Colleen will always treasure her time learning from MDs that had attended home births for decades. She worked for two local hospitals on staff as a CNM before returning to home birth where she is providing the care that has the freedom and flexibility that is not available in the hospital setting. Colleen is well versed in homeopathic remedies and herbal remedies for pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. She has delivered hundreds of babies in the Chicagoland area, and loves serving families one at a time in home birth.
Colleen has given birth to all four of her children at home, two with Homefirst and two with home birth CNMs. She enjoys volunteering for her church and activities for her children.

**Teresa Ayers**: CNM APRN has taken BEST, STABLE and Spinning Babies and is NRP and CRP certified. Breech without Borders July 2024. Teresa’s nursing experience includes neonatal nursery and postpartum floors. Teresa did most of her births for graduation with MidwivesCare LLC. Her experience contrasted with her hospital experience was an epiphany. Home is where she wants to serve families. Teresa has seven breastfed children born with midwives. Teresa will provide 35-37 week home visits as well as limited office days. Currently she is our main birth assistant summer and weekends. In 2025, Teresa will help us by taking call two weekends a month and covering vacation time. Photo: Anastasia Harris

Photo: ShepleyPhotography

Rachel Harris APRN, CNM: Rachel has taken ACLS/BLS, NRP, STABLE, Birth Emergency Skills Training, Breech without Borders and Spinning Babies multiple times. Rachel’s first memory of home birth was watching her sibling welcomed at home, surrounded by love. She decided when she was young that she wanted to be a nurse and work with babies, and home birth is a true dream for her. Rachel was homeschooled and was raised in a family a service, with her Dad as a pastor of a local church. This is seen as she serves the home birth community with commitment and service. Rachel has owned Midwives Care LLC for nearly a decade, and it is now a well known and established practice. She attended UIC for nurse-midwifery and went directly into the home birth community after graduation. Before becoming a CNM, she worked full time as a labor and delivery RN. Rachel believes in the highest standards in delivery of care. She has the lowest transfer rate for a home birth practice in IL. When needed, she collaborates with local MDs to coordinate care and deliver at home whenever possible. Rachel is very experienced with herbs and homeopathic remedies for prenatal, birth, and postpartum. She has all staff attend regular trainings including Spinning Babies and Breech without Boaders.Rachel currently homeschools her children, and enjoys volunteering for her church and local co-op. She has had two home births with Midwives Care, and she treasures her experiences.

Emily Baldridge CNM, APRN. CPR, NRP certified. Has taken STABLE, Breech without Borders and Spinning Babies classes as well as BEST. Emily has worked as a nurse in the ER setting and also in-home care for high risk postpartum clients. She also provided doula services in the hospital setting. Emily uniquely understand the high-risk woman as she herself required Cesarean deliveries for her biological children. She breastfed all three of them. Emily has worked for four years as a home birth and postpartum assistant for MidwivesCare LLC and attended over 200 deliveries. Emily has three biological and two adopted children whom she homeschooled. Emily is excited to continue her service to the homebirth community with a new credential: Certified Nurse Midwife! Photo: BridgitLira

Elena Zubaite: Elena Zubaite, CNM, APRN has taken BEST and is NRP and CPR certified. She took Breech without Borders July 2024. She has taken STABLE and Spinning Babies. She was a doula prior to becoming a nurse-midwife. Elena was also a registered nurse working on a medical surgical floor for a year. She has four children born with midwives. Elena did much of her clinical time at Hinsdale Hospital but also did clinical time with us. She states that providing home birth is her life’s dream. It’s been a dream to have her!