OUR TEAM

LAURIE BRAUNSTEIN, LM, CPM

Owner and Founder of Wenatchee Midwife Service in 1985, Laurie has devoted her life to helping pregnant people and their families through pregnancy, birth and postpartum. She completed her nursing education in 1975 and graduated from Seattle Midwifery School in 1985. She is an active participant on the Midwives Association of Washington quality management committee, and is the mother of three beautiful children. She is loved by many of the families in the Wenatchee Valley community. In her free time, she enjoys the great expanse of her garden, swimming, and skiing.

SONYA CHAMBERLAIN, LM, CPM

Sonya will be with Wenatchee Midwives through the end of June 2025 before moving on to other pursuits. She is a Washington native who moved to Wenatchee in 2021 after 16 years in the Midwest. The first home birth of her own daughter led her into childbirth education and doula work, which then blossomed into midwifery training in central Minnesota. She has been practicing midwifery as a solo practioner since 2014, primarily in the rural home birth setting, and has a training background that includes apprenticeships with both Licensed Midwives and Certified Nurse Midwives as well as midwifery training abroad in Senegal, West Africa. In addition to a deep love for midwifery work, Sonya is lucky to be married to husband Laurence and together they parent two college-aged children. She is happy to report that teenagers are as wonderful as babies! She is passionate about making good food, gardening, CrossFit, hiking and camping, international travel, and good books.

SUZIE ANDERSON, LM, CPM

EMMA
KIEKINTVELD, CPM

Emma joins WMS full time in June 2025!

Emma was born and raised in Alaska but has since resided in South Carolina and Georgia prior to moving to Wenatchee. It became clear that midwifery was the path she desired to walk upon learning about the human placenta in high school. As she went through training and school, she fell even more in love with midwifery through her passion for meeting people where they are and supporting individuals in tender moments of life. Emma attended the National College of Midwifery and apprencticed in various communities before becoming first licensed in South Carolina. A lover of nature, she enjoys spending her free time with her family outdoors. She also loves to bake and explore new places.

Born and raised in Washington state, Suzie fell in love with birth in 2011 when she participated in the home birth of a dear friend. She began attending births as a Wenatchee Midwife Service birth assistant in 2013 and couldn’t get enough. Once she had witnessed and assisted at nearly 100 births, the next step was clear. Suzie began her midwifery training at Midwives College of Utah and apprenticed as a student midwife at WMS. After 10 years in birth, her love for the work remains unchanged. She is continuously in awe of the power of birthing people and is passionate about providing babies a place to start their lives in peace. She feels honored to have the opportunity to be a part of such a transformative human experience.

When she is not catching babies, Suzie enjoys spending time with her family, gardening, dancing, and being in community

BIRTH ASSISTANT--ANNA

Anna currently serves as a birth assistant with Wenatchee Midwife Services. She has previously worked as a trained birth doula and used midwifery care for the birth of her own children.

Birth Assistants are present during labor, delivery, and your postpartum time at the facility, helping the midwives and also making sure you are well supported and comfortable throughout your experience. All WMS birth assistants are certified in Advanced Neonatal Life Support and CPR.

BIRTH ASSISTANT--SAM

Sam currently services as a birth assistant with Wenatchee Midwife Service and has found much joy in the work! She is skilled in labor support and is also a fantastic chef available for families interested in postpartum meal support.

ERICKA HUGHES

Ericka joined Wenatchee Midwife Service as our Office Manager in early 2023. She has a fond place in her heart for midwifery care after a wonderful experience with WMS midwives several years ago as she gave birth to her son. She is also studying to become an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, and is always ready to hold a baby!