Lenny Sue Tinseth
Serving birthing families in the South Lake Tahoe, Reno, Carson Valley, and surrounding areas since 1986. At Alpine Midwifery, we see ourselves as lifeguards for healthy women during the natural process of pregnancy, labor, and birth. We do not deliver babies from their mothers bodies, but assist, encourage, and monitor women as they give birth.
Camila Santiago
I was born in Brazil and moved to Las Vegas in 2007 as a Newborn Specialist. Brazil ranks the highest rate of c-sections in the world - 56% public sector and 84% private sector - and even higher statistics of obstetric violence experienced by several generations of women, including in my own family. This being part of my culture and possibly my fate as a Brazilian woman, I knew I wanted to contribute to change this sad reality and break the cycle of iatrogenic violence in childbirth.
I've served postpartum families from 2007-2016 and as a Birth Doula from 2013-2019. Started my midwifery studies in 2014 and obtained the CPM credential + Midwifery Bridge in Jan 2020.
My recent and most important achievement? Becoming a mother of 3 daughters, all of them born through empowering and transformative home births.
After my own home birth experiences and after working with so many mothers and families through childbearing years and phases, I felt the urge to advance my career in midwifery and serve families through a model of care that only midwives can offer.
Serving the Las Vegas area and surroundings.
Portuguese and Spanish speaker.
Tiffanie Gonzales
ABOUT
Tiffanie Gonzales, CPM
I started this journey after being a stay-at-home mom for 14 years. I knew from a very young age that I wanted to be a mother, luckily enough for me, I found a partner who was on board with having a big family, and together we have five daughters and two sons. My husband Michael and I have been married for 29 years, and I would not have gotten into birth work had it not been for his constant support of my dreams.
In addition to my seven children, I am grandma to 12 grandbabies here on earth, and one angel grandbaby in heaven. Being a grandmother is my favorite season so far. The Gonzales household is filled with constant belly laughs and tiny handprints on the walls and I would not have it any other way. I had the privilege of being the midwife to all five of my daughters as they welcomed their precious babies earthside. Memories I will cherish forever.
MY APPROACH
I'm a natural-born caregiver, and it truly fills my cup caring for my family and the women that I serve every day. I became a doula in 2007 and haven’t looked back since. After two years of being a doula, I felt a strong desire to become a midwife. In 2009, I went to The Farm in Tennessee, where I received my Midwifery Assistant Certification under the instruction of Ina May Gaskin. The enduring knowledge I gained from attending The Farm solidified my passion to make this my life's work.
Upon completing my certification, I apprenticed for about four years with two certified professional midwives in Las Vegas. In 2012, I became a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) with the North American Registry of Midwives, NARM.
To ensure I provide the highest level of care for my clients, I complete 32 CEUs every three years to recertify. This means I'm up to date on neonatal resuscitation, birth emergency skills, and CPR training. You can never have too much education when it comes to birth! I have also been trained in lactation counseling and support. I follow the Midwifery Model of Care, which is a client-centered approach to pregnancy and birth. This method is proven to reduce instances of birth injury, trauma, and cesarean section.
Rebecca Wells
I have been attending births in the Las Vegas area since 2003, first as a birth doula, later as an apprentice midwife and then as a midwife. I received the bulk of my training from two highly experienced Las Vegas midwives, Kaye Bullock and Margie Dacko between 2007 and 2010 and have been taking my own clients since 2010.
I became a midwife because I believe in the innate ability of a woman to birth her own baby by her own power. I believe that childbirth is a private, spiritual event and desire to support families in welcoming their children into the world in the comfort of their own homes.
I believe that childbirth proceeds most safely when mothers feel safe and supported and when caregivers intervene only when there is an indication of a problem. Not all births can be safely accomplished at home and part of my training is to identify those situations that deviate from normal and to get medical care for the mother and baby in a timely manner when it is needed.
I am blessed to be married to a wonderful, patient man who fully supports me rising in the night to go assist at a birth and covering for me at home until I am able to return, whether it is hours or days. Together, we have ten amazing children who have taught me of the beauty of birth and motherhood. One of our daughters passed away just before birth and she taught me of the power of supportive midwives and was the catalyst that propelled me into this calling.