Empowering families one birth at a time!
Our team
Ildiko Baugus CPM, LM
My interest in home birth began long before I became a midwife. I am the mother of 4 children ranging in ages from 16 to 27 and with each one I did a little more research and investigated my options, especially after some very disappointing and frustrating hospital births. By my fourth child I had decided there was a better way, a way that respected my wishes and desires to make my birth a beautiful experience and not just an industrial exercise. This meant giving birth at home and in water. As it turned out, the labor and delivery was so relaxed and comfortable that our 12-pound baby came very quickly; it was my fastest and easiest delivery by far. If I can do it you can too and Meraki Midwives is here to help.
The other significant event in inspiring me to become a midwife was our trips to Africa. My husband and I have made two trips to Africa; one to Uganda in 2012 and then to Malawi in 2015. After seeing some of the conditions people are living in and the scarcity of medical services, especially for pregnant women, I decided I had to do something to help, especially since our involvement in Africa was only going to increase over the next few years.
Soon after my return from Malawi, I got in touch with Chrissy from Evahomebirth and the rest, as they say, is history. I began my formal Midwifery training in February 2017 and finished in the Fall of 2019. But that is not all, during my training I have become certified in NRP and CPR. I have attended seminars on breech birth, water birth, postpartum hemorrhage and am getting certified in The Body Ready Method, FEMM and SymptoPro. I am also certified to offer Homeoprophylaxis. Matthew 6:33
Brittney Westbrook CPM, LM
Hi! I am a graduate of Mercy In Action’s College of Midwifery with a Bachelor’s of Science in Midwifery. I completed my clinical experience and training with Bella Donna Midwifery and EVa Homebirth. The knowledge and skills obtained through MIA’s program as well as the midwives, colleagues, and clients within those practices has shaped me into the Midwife I am today. I honor those relationships and experiences by remaining committed to being a life long learner. I am continuously working on trainings and certifications in an effort to better serve our clients with whole, current, and evidence based care.
My journey into midwifery is rooted in a love for serving others and a belief that how women are cared for during pregnancy and birth has life long effects on the family as a whole. For me, being a Midwife is not about holding babies. It is about having the honor of holding women as they transition into mothers through the process of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
Being a midwife is magical but my greatest joy is found in being a wife and mom. Without my families support (and coffee) this beautiful work wouldn’t be possible.
Maika Schneider, Student Midwife
Becoming a midwife has always been one of my biggest dreams and it is finally happening after getting accepted as a student midwife in the fall of 2023 with first EVa Homebirth and then Meraki Midwives. It has been a great experience learning from wonderful and experienced midwives but also all the families in our practice so far.
I was born and raised in Germany and their maternity care system and holistic approach to pregnancy, birth, and postpartum have shaped and influenced the way I have worked as a doula with Blissful Baby Steps and how I want to work as a future midwife.
My three kids and their births' (2 hospital, one at home) have taught me a lot about the importance of evidence-based and family-centered care, and it is my goal to educate other families about those elements in classes or prenatal appointments as well.
Aside from being a student midwife, I am a certified birth doula, childbirth educator, and Body Ready Method Pro.
It is an honor to be present at births; walking alongside families during this transformation and truly magical time in their lives.