Kip has been a midwife for more than 18 years, and involved in alternative
women's health care in Lansing for more than 20. She has attended women
at home and in hospital.
Kip believes that birth is a job and a joy that works best when women
are cared for and protected from unnecessary interference. Midwifery provides
the framework for this kind of experience, and the birth center provides
a place for midwifery to be practiced fully. "The Greenhouse Birth Center
is a dream long in coming and a gift from our hearts and hands to Lansing
families."
Kip lives with her husband on a farm in Laingsburg. They have 4 grown
children and 7 marvelous grandchildren, and the most recent five are featured
on the "babies" page! (Ambrose,
Jessica,
Alison,
Nandi and
Dona).
Clarice
A. Winkler, RN, BS, CNM, Director of
Midwifery Services
Clarice has been working with birthing
families for more than 29 years. She is a graduate of Western
Michigan University, 1978 and the University of Medicine and
Dentistry's Nurse-Midwifery Program in 1984. She has worked in a
variety of settings including hospital birth, homebirth, and
birthing center.
"I believe in the power and strength of women and in their ability
to give birth as God and nature intended. All they need is
confidence in themselves, a safe and protected space, and be
surrounded by the people who love and care for them."
Clarice lives with Sophie, her dog, as well as Zoë, Henry, Olivia
and Lucy, her beloved cats. Her other loves include knitting, paper
art and making jewelry. She is a Master Gardener with a particular
interest in organic gardening.
Shelie Ross, RN, BSN, CNM, MS
Shelie has worked with moms and babies
for the last 19 years as a RN and recently as a midwife. She
graduated from Philadelphia University’s midwifery program in
2005. She is honored to be able to support women through midwifery
and to be a part of the birth center.
She is married and the mother of four
children. Her last three children have been welcomed into the world
by Kip and Clarice, who motivated and encouraged her to become a
midwife. Her daughter Rachel is a GBC sprout, June 2005.
She works part-time while her children
are young and in her spare time she enjoys reading, sewing and
photography.
Audra Post, Graduate Midwife
Audra has been with the Greenhouse for
several years. She began as a volunteer, soon advanced to
postpartum doula, and then midwife apprentice. She completed the
didactic program through Michigan School of Traditional
Midwifery and clinical portion through the Greenhouse Birth Center.
She has passed the first half of her exams toward becoming a
Certified Professional Midwife.
She respects that midwifery is a tool
of assistance not only for the birth, but for the transformation
into becoming a parent.
Audra is blessed with a loving family,
who have been a wonderful support. She lives with her husband, her
dog Purple, cat Fellini, and has two dear step children.
Mitzi
Montague-Bauer, Doula and Office Staff
Mitzi is the mother of
three; one bonus child and two biological children. Breaha, her
oldest was born in the hospital, while Journey, her youngest was
born at home.
Mitzi has been a labor
doula and childbirth educator in the Lansing area for 25 years,
supporting over 100 births. She has attended many home births, but
the majority of the families she supports give birth in the
hospitals.
She facilitates many women's gatherings including
the Newborn group
(which is hosted at the GBC), weddings and Blessing Ways for the
community.
Mitzi also has 15 years
of experience as a homeschooling parent and loves sharing her
knowledge with others.
Molly Kozlowski, NCMT
Molly graduated with honors from the
Boulder College of Massage Therapy in September of 1999. She has
training in several modalities of massage including Swedish, Deep
Tissue, and Pregnancy Massage. She was Nationally Certified in 2000.
Since graduation Molly has touched the
bodies and hearts of hundreds of clients with the intention of
providing support and healing. She feels that massage came into her
life so that she may practice the kind of healing that is natural to
her. She enjoys helping others to help themselves, and be present in
their hearts, minds, and bodies.
Molly offers her extensive knowledge
of massage not only to pregnant women but to all of the community.
Susan Pelkey, Massage Therapist and
Bookkeeper
Susan has been with the GBC since 2007 working as the bookkeeper as
well as a massage therapist. She likes to balance both sides of her
brain, hence the dual role!
When she is not at the birth center
she enjoys spending time with her husband Ric, three kids and two dogs
hiking, biking and spending time at the library.
