As midwives we are blessed to witness many powerful, intimate and beautiful moments. We hear women talk to their babies with tenderness and fierce love in the depths of labor. We see women instinctively move their bodies to help their babies descend. We are present for tender acts of love and courage between couples when labor is long. We deliver babies in birth tubs and family beds, respecting what feels most natural and safe, and guide women and their partners in catching their own babies if that is their vision. We cherish the incredible moment when a baby takes their first breath in his or her mother’s arms.
​

Meet Our Midwives

Head of Midwifery

Barbara Belcore-Walkden, CD, CPM, LM 
Barbara is a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) and is a licensed midwife in the state of Wisconsin. She has been attending births professionally since 2006. Her related education includes professional doula training (ALACE & Midwest Maternal Child Institute) and a MEAC (Midwifery Education Accreditation Council) accredited degree from the National College of Midwifery.

​

​​She has attended births in diverse settings including hospital, birth center, and at home. Her midwifery care has been shaped and influenced by exposure to a variety of different disciplines; learning from certified professional midwives, traditional midwives, nurse midwives, family practice doctors, pediatricians, obstetricians, naturopaths, chiropractors, acupuncturists, massage therapists, herbalists  and others. She has lived in Illinois since 2000, and has enjoyed serving women and families in childbirth since 2010. She has two children of her own, the youngest born at home with midwives. The majority of births she has attended have been out-of-hospital.

Barbara's philosophy rests on her belief that childbirth is a natural process. She has a desire to build a community of strong, healthy families one birth at a time. She is committed to listening, encouraging, educating, and respecting each growing family as she builds relationships with them.
​

Midwives

Julie Banas, CD, CPM
Julie is a certified doula, birth assistant, and certified professional midwife. Julie has attended births at home, in a hospital, and birth centers all across the U.S. She has been attending births since 2009 with the majority of them out of hospital.

Julie graduated from the University of Alaska and received her Bachelors in Business Management.  She has taught various courses teaching birth workers essential birth  and business skills. 

She has four children of her own with birth experiences in a hospital, birth center, and homebirth. 

Student Midwives

Paris Morris, CD, CNA
Paris is a certified doula and midwifery student. She has experience in all birthing settings.

She is a Home birther and mother of three. Paris has a deep passion for serving families in midwifery.

Jessie Vargas, CD
​After working as a newborn care specialist for many families over the years Jessie had the honor to attend the births of some of her soon-to-be clients and it was life changing for her. Now as a birth doula Jessie hopes to help new families achieve a rewarding and positive birth experience while feeling confident in any choices they make. 

Jessie also has a passion for helping families prepare appropriately for their postpartum period. While birth is such an important experience and deserves focus and support, the postpartum period is huge as well. Jessie loves to help families have realistic expectations for their newborns and plan around those needs.