Kristen Klein, Director of Midwifery
– Credentials: LM, CNM
Kristen was first inspired to support women in birth after hearing about doulas following her training as a massage therapist. However, she didn’t start to take steps into the birth world until after the birth of her first child in 2002, when she realized that her birth experience could have been significantly better if she had been given the information and support she had needed. She started attending births as a DONA trained doula in 2005 and by 2008 realized that she needed to continue on this path and take the next steps in supporting families as a midwife. The first step was nursing school, which she finished in 2011 and then began working as a birth assistant in the home setting for another local midwife. She went on to attend Frontier Nursing University for her Master’s degree in midwifery and has been practicing in the capital district since graduating in 2018. Kristen has attended over 500 births in primarily the home setting, but also the hospital as well. Informed consent is at the foundation of her care model and supporting families through the most important moments of their lives is what drives her passion for this work. She is excited to be offering services in her community for many years to come!
Heidi Back
– Credentials: LM, CNM
Heidi’s midwifery journey started when she had her son and moved to Wisconsin from England. She was looking for support in breastfeeding and could not find any in her new town. To solve this, she created a breastfeeding playgroup that led to her certification as a Breastfeeding Educator. They had weekly breastfeeding support group meetings, and Heidi assisted parents with breastfeeding at home. Soon, people started telling her their birth stories. Some were beautiful, but others were stories of birth trauma. Hearing about the emotional aftermath of these births sparked her call. She felt strongly about helping new mothers feel empowered to make informed decisions about their births, bodies, and family. In 2000, Heidi became a Certified Doula through DONA and attended births for 10 years. Through her doula work, she was exposed to home birth. Watching mothers birth in their own homes fueled her desire to become a midwife. Heidi’s own birth stories also impacted her future life decisions. Her first birth was in a military hospital with a midwife, second was with an OB in the hospital, third with a family medicine doctor in the hospital, and her fourth was a beautiful, healing homebirth. Professionally, Heidi was attending births as a doula and, in 2005, became a labor and delivery nurse. During that time, she wore many hats in the hospital: labor nurse, lactation educator, and pediatrics nurse. After many life changes, Heidi finally started her graduate degree and became a Certified Nurse Midwife in 2018. Kristen Klein was the first person Heidi met at the airport on the first day of midwifery school. They have been each other’s support, and friends though it all. Heidi’s first midwifery position was working for Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire, Wis. While she learned so much during this position, her heart remained in helping provide home births. Heidi feels blessed to be working at Southern Adirondack Midwifery, alongside a friend. She looks forward to providing evidence-based midwifery, trauma-informed care, LGBTQI+ healthcare, all with a focus on shared decision making and informed care. South Boston is her hometown, so she is very excited to be coming back to New England!
Cara Finkle
– Credentials: CLC, RN, BSN
Cara Finkle, RN, BSN is a birth assistant for Southern Adirondack Midwifery. She has been interested in birth since she was a young child but became even more passionate with the birth of her daughter. Cara worked at Burdett Birth Center in Troy for 6 years but alway felt called toward the home setting and was eager to make the switch to supporting women and families at home when the opportunity arose. Cara is pursuing further education to become a Certified Nurse Midwife and is also a Certified Lactation Counselor. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family, camping, gardening, reading and cooking/baking.
Hannah Gregory
– Credentials: RN, Certified Doula
Hannah Gregory, Birth Assistant, is a Registered Nurse and Certified Doula who has been involved in midwifery training and birth work for the past four years. It became a passion for her after shadowing at a labor and delivery ward at a hospital in Togo, West Africa. Hannah grew up in a family of 9 and has always loved caring for growing families through many outlets including nannying and postpartum doula support. She is excited about being part of a community where informed decision making, comprehensive pregnancy care, and holistic wellness are supported and fostered. She enjoys spending time with her nieces and nephews, camping, hiking, spending an afternoon in a coffee shop with a friend, and traveling to new places. Hannah plans to continue her education with the goal of becoming a Certified Nurse Midwife.