Lindy Myers, MS, CCC-SLP, pediatric speech-language pathologist (SLP) and Clinical Lead at Coral Care, discusses the first few weeks of newborn life and how SLPs, occupational, and physical therapists can help families as they adjust to their new normal, including bringing home babies who have spend time in NICU.

Lindy Myers, MS, CCC-SLP

Natanya Champney is a dedicated midwife with over 17 years of experience, transitioning from a thriving practice in rural New Hampshire to her current role as the Staff Midwife and Clinical Director at The Addice Birth Center in North Houston, Texas. Throughout her career, Natanya has passionately provided compassionate care and support to families, helping them navigate the profound journey of childbirth.

Before moving to Texas, she founded and operated As It Was Midwifery in Littleton, NH, where she served over 300 families, gaining invaluable insights into the unique challenges and rewards of rural midwifery. Although Houston is vastly different from the life she led in Northern NH, Natanya and her two sons are thriving here in Texas. She is amazed at how seemless the transition has been.

Natanya is also an emerging author, currently writing a book about her journey into and through midwifery. This work seeks to illuminate her experiences, challenges, and reflections as she adapted from a rural practice to a bustling urban environment, offering inspiration and insights for fellow midwives and those interested in maternal health.

Natanya Champney

Charis Asher is a Business Operations and Leadership Strategist, Certified Christian Counselor, and Founder of Lady Power Inc., a nonprofit supporting underserved mothers through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care. With over 17 years of experience and a background as a former Montessori school director, she helps organizations and families thrive through strategy, structure, and community-centered support. Her work is rooted in faith and lived experience, inspired by her own empowering birth supported by a midwife who was first a doula. Today, she leads a team committed to ensuring every mother has access to compassionate care and support.

Charis W. Asher, Black Maternal Health Week

Zulgeil Ruiz-Gines is a midwife, educator, and advocate for culturally safe midwifery care and education. She holds licenses as a Licensed Midwife in the states of California and Florida, serving in community birth settings. Born and raised on the magical island of Puerto Rico, she earned her BA degree in Humanities from the University of Puerto Rico. Zul‘s journey into midwifery education began in Temixco, Mexico, where she spent nine months learning from an indigenous midwife who opened her vision, spirit, and heart to the world of midwifery.

Zul is deeply committed to the education and training of midwives and recognition and sustainability of midwifery. Her dedication has led her to various roles, including Midwifery Instructor at the Midwifery Program at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College, Midwifery Education Consultant, founder of KIBI Consulting, Research and Education and Executive Director of Commonsense Childbirth School of Midwifery founded by Jennie Joseph. CCSM is a national program that provides quality, practical, culturally-sensitive training and education that is integral to maternity health care systems in United States.Currently Zul is pursuing her masters degree in Oregon State University in Applied Medical Anthropology under Dr.Melissa Cheyney, PHd,LDM as her advisor. Her research focuses on the growth and sustainability of the accredited Midwifery programs for community midwives in the United States.

Andie Wyrick, CNM, DNP, is a certified nurse midwife and midwifery instructor. Andie has been in the Houston birth community for over twenty years. Her experience includes elementary school nursing, hospital L & D, birth center, and home birth.

She has been joyfully dating her husband of 24 years since junior high and has six children. She is the owner of Shire Midwifery. Andie is confident in a women’s ability to grow and birth their baby. She feels a partnership in care is empowering and always hopes to foster that relationship with families. She has done extensive work in birth after trauma and continues to bring light to informed decision making and autonomy. She is the owner of Shire Midwifery. Her passions beyond bellies, birth and breastfeeding are drooling over her hottie of a husband, reading period pieces and being a glutton for movie theater popcorn.

Zulgeil Ruiz-Gines & Andie Wyrick, CNM, DNP

Anna Demetra Badoian of Earth Holistic Care and Of the Earth Botanicals. Her background includes a decade of work in the Rolf Method of Structural Integration, Scar Work, Maya Abdominal Therapy, Yoga/Functional Movement and Energy Healing. She works with plant energetics, herbal medicines, sound healing and ceremony. You can reach her at www.annademetra.com or www.oftheearthbotanicals.com

Anna Demetra Badoian