midwives
Candice jenkins,
lm, cpm
director/MIDWIFE
meet
Hello! My name is Candice Jenkins, I am the director of The Addice Birth Center. With the help of other passionate and gifted women, I have realized a long-time dream of opening a modern birth center in the Houston area. I desired to create a birth center and midwifery practice where women receive knowledgeable, individualized, and compassionate maternity care.
The kind of care I wish had been available to me when having my own children. I dream of seeing midwifery care and birth centers become mainstream; a world where midwives and the medical community work together to provide women professional, compassionate, and safe maternity healthcare. The Addice is a small contribution to that dream, we are working hard to reach and educate as many women as possible on why midwifery care is a safe option for healthy, low risk women.
Before becoming a midwife I worked in the world of design. By joining a love for beautiful and calm environments, community among women, and midwifery care, The Addice is striving to offer a new experience in birth! I hope women will come meet us, ask us any questions they have, and see, hear, and feel for themselves what maternity care can be.
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Hello! My name is Candice Jenkins, I am the director of The Addice Birth Center. With the help of other passionate and gifted women, I have realized a long-time dream of opening a modern birth center in the Houston area. I desired to create a birth center and midwifery practice where women receive knowledgeable, individualized, and compassionate maternity care. The kind of
care I wish had been available to me when having my own children. I dream of seeing midwifery care and birth centers become mainstream; a world where midwives and the medical community work together to provide women professional, compassionate, and safe maternity healthcare. The Addice is a small contribution to that dream, we are working hard to reach and educate as many women as possible on why midwifery care is a safe option for healthy, low risk women.
Before becoming a midwife I worked in the world of design. By joining a love for beautiful and calm environments, community among women, and midwifery care, The Addice is striving to offer a new experience in birth! I hope women will come meet us, ask us any questions they have, and see, hear, and feel for themselves what maternity care can be.
Hello! My name is Candice Jenkins, I am the director of The Addice Birth Center. With the help of other passionate and gifted women, I have realized a long-time dream of opening a modern birth center in the Houston area. I desired to create a birth center and midwifery practice where women receive knowledgeable, individualized, and compassionate maternity care. The kind of care I wish had been available to me when having my own children. I dream of seeing midwifery care and birth centers become mainstream; a world where midwives and the medical community work together to provide women professional, compassionate, and safe maternity healthcare. The Addice is a small contribution to that dream, we are working hard to reach and educate as many women as possible on why midwifery care is a safe option for healthy, low risk women.
Before becoming a midwife I worked in the world of design. By joining a love for beautiful and calm environments, community among women, and midwifery care, The Addice is striving to
offer a new experience in birth! I hope women will come meet us, ask us any questions they have, and see, hear, and feel for themselves what maternity care can be.
Hello, my name is Traci Martin, I am the Clinical Director and Lead Midwife here at The Addice.
I am privileged to be part of women’s journeys to motherhood and happy to serve here in the
greater Houston area. I have a Doctorate of Nursing Practice degree with a research focus on
improving the safety of birth center to hospital transfers. I hold a strong passion for facilitating
collaboration to insure safe, evidenced based care for women.
Q: When was the moment you knew you wanted to be a midwife?
A: As a child when a labor and delivery nurse told me the best part of her life was being able to help moms and babies. This comment led me to pursue becoming a nurse with a focus in maternal health.
Q: Why did you become a midwife?
A: I realized many health disparities for pregnant women and newborns could be affected by good prenatal care. I wanted to be in a field where I could have a positive impact on maternal and neonatal outcomes. Being a midwife is my way to incorporate my love for maternal care while also improving health outcomes in newborns.
Q: What is a birthing moment you will never forget?
A: When I was attending a birth of a patient that had been in labor for quite a long time with no progress for hours. The patients’ mom lived out of town and caught the soonest flight she could. The patient had planned for her mom to be her labor support for her unmedicated birth. To the patients’ surprise, her mom called to say she had landed early and was almost to the birth center. After hours of no progression, the patient suddenly progressed and had the baby shortly before her mom arrived.
Q: What is something you will never get tired of?
A: I will never get tired of witnessing the moment when a mother’s natural instinct is to reach for
her baby after giving birth. It’s beautiful!
Q: What is your favorite thing about being a midwife?
A: My favorite thing about being a midwife is providing care to patients during their pregnancies
and watching women become self-advocating and empowered mothers.
Hello, my name is Traci Martin, I am the Clinical Director and Lead Midwife here at The Addice.
I am privileged to be part of women’s journeys to motherhood and happy to serve here in the
greater Houston area. I have a Doctorate of Nursing Practice degree with a research focus on
improving the safety of birth center to hospital transfers. I hold a strong passion for facilitating
collaboration to insure safe, evidenced based care for women.
Q: When was the moment you knew you wanted to be a midwife?
A: As a child when a labor and delivery nurse told me the best part of her life was being able to help moms and babies. This comment led me to pursue becoming a nurse with a focus in maternal health.
Q: Why did you become a midwife?
A: I realized many health disparities for pregnant women and newborns could be affected by good prenatal care. I wanted to be in a field where I could have a positive impact on maternal and neonatal outcomes. Being a midwife is my way to incorporate my love for maternal care while also improving health outcomes in newborns.
Q: What is a birthing moment you will never forget?
A: When I was attending a birth of a patient that had been in labor for quite a long time with no progress for hours. The patients’ mom lived out of town and caught the soonest flight she could. The patient had planned for her mom to be her labor support for her un-medicated birth. To the patients’ surprise, her mom called to say she had landed early and was almost to the birth center. After hours of no progression, the patient suddenly progressed and had the baby shortly before her mom arrived.
Q: What is something you will never get tired of?
A: I will never get tired of witnessing the moment when a mother’s natural instinct is to reach for
her baby after giving birth. It’s beautiful!
Q: What is your favorite thing about being a midwife?
A: My favorite thing about being a midwife is providing care to patients during their pregnancies
and watching women become self-advocating and empowered mothers.
Lisa Rutledge is a home birth midwife in the Woodlands and has been supporting families during their pregnancy, labor, and birth since 2012. Her passion for helping families have the birth experience they desire and God's clear calling led Lisa to midwifery care. She became a licensed midwife in 2015 and has experience attending births at home and in the birth center setting. Lisa has been working to help the Addice become an accredited birth center and in addition to her home birth practice, she will be attending births for the Addice. It is a privilege and joy for Lisa to share the intimate and sacred birth journey with the families she serves. Lisa lives in the Woodlands with her husband of ten years, and two daughters. When not teaching classes or attending a laboring woman, she enjoys preparing vegan meals, walking with her family, sewing, and crafting.
Lisa Rutledge is a home birth midwife in the Woodlands and has been supporting families during their pregnancy, labor, and birth since 2012. Her passion for helping families have the birth experience they desire and God's clear calling led Lisa to midwifery care. She became a licensed midwife in 2015 and has experience attending births at home and in the birth center setting. Lisa has been working to help the Addice become an accredited birth center and in addition to her home birth practice, she will be attending births for the Addice. It is a privilege and joy for Lisa to share the intimate and sacred birth journey with the families she serves. Lisa lives in the Woodlands with her husband of ten years, and two daughters. When not teaching classes or attending a laboring woman, she enjoys preparing vegan meals, walking with her family, sewing, and crafting.
Hi, my name is Jaylynn Park. I am a midwife at The Addice Birth Center.
I am so thankful to have the opportunity to meet and serve so many women throughout the greater Houston area on their birth journey!
Q: When was the moment you knew you wanted to be a midwife?
A: The moment I knew I was meant to be in the birth world was when I started delivering my
sister's baby dolls as a toddler. My mom has pictures of me with my "nurses hat", (AKA: my
training pants) providing medical care to my babies. I have always had an obsession with the
process of life forming in another human, and that life then being brought to the outside world
through the sacrifice of the one carrying it. I'm thankful I get to invest in that process through the
practice of midwifery.
Q: Why did you become a midwife?
A: I became a midwife because I have a deep conviction that birth is a natural process, and
should be respected and treated as such. Midwifery allows me to monitor mother and baby for
anything outside the range of normal during her pregnancy and birth, providing confidence in
safety while bringing her baby earthside.
Q: What is a birthing moment you will never forget?
A: A birthing moment I will never forget is when a precious big sister began to weep as her new
sibling was born. She was so moved and overwhelmed at the strength and courage her mom
had shown, and all of the magical feelings birth gives you. Her response was so raw and
Beautiful.
Q: What is something you will never get tired of?
A: I will never get tired of watching first time mothers and fathers welcome their new little one.
The look of joy when two people become parents! I can't take it!
Q: What is your favorite thing about being a midwife?
A: My favorite thing about being a midwife is that I never stop learning from the families that I
serve. Each prenatal visit, each postpartum visit, and each birth carries the opportunity for me to
become a better provider and learn something from the people sitting across from me. I often
feel like a lump of clay on a spinning wheel- continually being molded into something that will
better hold and support what I was made to be and do in the world.
Hi, my name is Jaylynn Park. I am a midwife at The Addice Birth Center.
I am so thankful to have the opportunity to meet and serve so many women throughout the greater Houston area on their birth journey!
Q: When was the moment you knew you wanted to be a midwife?
A: The moment I knew I was meant to be in the birth world was when I started delivering my
sister's baby dolls as a toddler. My mom has pictures of me with my "nurses hat", (AKA: my
training pants) providing medical care to my babies. I have always had an obsession with the
process of life forming in another human, and that life then being brought to the outside world
through the sacrifice of the one carrying it. I'm thankful I get to invest in that process through the
practice of midwifery.
Q: Why did you become a midwife?
A: I became a midwife because I have a deep conviction that birth is a natural process, and
should be respected and treated as such. Midwifery allows me to monitor mother and baby for
anything outside the range of normal during her pregnancy and birth, providing confidence in
safety while bringing her baby earthside.
Q: What is a birthing moment you will never forget?
A: A birthing moment I will never forget is when a precious big sister began to weep as her new
sibling was born. She was so moved and overwhelmed at the strength and courage her mom
had shown, and all of the magical feelings birth gives you. Her response was so raw and
Beautiful.
Q: What is something you will never get tired of?
A: I will never get tired of watching first time mothers and fathers welcome their new little one.
The look of joy when two people become parents! I can't take it!
Q: What is your favorite thing about being a midwife?
A: My favorite thing about being a midwife is that I never stop learning from the families that I
serve. Each prenatal visit, each postpartum visit, and each birth carries the opportunity for me to
become a better provider and learn something from the people sitting across from me. I often
feel like a lump of clay on a spinning wheel- continually being molded into something that will
better hold and support what I was made to be and do in the world.
Alaina Platt has been passionate about babies and birth since she was young. Alaina feels that God has led her to use her passion by serving women and their families through midwifery. Alaina recently started midwifery school and is thrilled to obtain her clinical hours and education at The Addice. She is excited to learn and serve mothers alongside incredible midwives.
Alaina Platt has been passionate about babies and birth since she was young. Alaina feels that God has led her to use her passion by serving women and their families through midwifery. Alaina recently started midwifery school and is thrilled to obtain her clinical hours and education at The Addice. She is excited to learn and serve mothers alongside incredible midwives.
Kelcie Cearley, is a wife and foster mom with a passion for singing, babies, animals and food. She is the front desk coordinator at The Addice and greets every mom that comes in with love and joy. Kelcie keeps things running smoothly around the birthing center and loves working with, and taking care of extraordinary women. She hopes to one day pursue midwifery school, but for now she’s excited to work with the amazing Addice team.
Kelcie Cearley, is a wife and foster mom with a passion for singing, babies, animals and food. She is the front desk coordinator at The Addice and greets every mom that comes in with love and joy. Kelcie keeps things running smoothly around the birthing center and loves working with, and taking care of extraordinary women. She hopes to one day pursue midwifery school, but for now she’s excited to work with the amazing Addice team.
Hannah Handolescu is our ARDMS registered Ultrasound Sonographer, specializing in OB/GYN. She has closely worked with Maternal Fetal Medicine Groups in Portland, OR and has been scanning for 10 years. She is married to her high school sweetheart, and has 3 children (2 home births). She has a passion for the outdoors, gymnastics, and holistic medicine.
Hannah Handolescu is our ARDMS registered Ultrasound Sonographer, specializing in OB/GYN. She has closely worked with Maternal Fetal Medicine Groups in Portland, OR and has been scanning for 10 years. She is married to her high school sweetheart, and has 3 children (2 home births). She has a passion for the outdoors, gymnastics, and holistic medicine.
Shani Daniels is a native Texan whom has had a passion for family, caregiving and a heart of service for many years. As she walked through various seasons of life and was introduced to the local birth community, she fell in love with the midwifery model of care and the heart of a Doula. Doula, coming from the Greek word meaning female servant, shares the heart of what she does. Her goal as a member of your birth team is to draw upon and encourage the strength that you already have been deeply ingrained with. Although, throughout the years and with the rise of various interventions, the capability of a woman has been blurred, Shani desires to stand beside you with heart and hands to encourage those strengths to again be illuminated. Shani works as a birth assistant at The Addice, but also holds a Labor Doula Certification with A Sacred Journey Doula Training, trained in Postpartum and Infant Care, and is currently studying to become a Certified Professional Midwife through The Association of Texas Midwives Midwifery Training Program.
Shani Daniels is a native Texan who has had a passion for family, caregiving and a heart of service for many years. As she walked through various seasons of life and was introduced to the local birth community, she fell in love with the midwifery model of care and the heart of a Doula. Doula, coming from the Greek word meaning female servant, shares the heart of what she does. Her goal as a member of your birth team is to draw upon and encourage the strength that you already have been deeply ingrained with. Although, throughout the years and with the rise of various interventions, the capability of a woman has been blurred, Shani desires to stand beside you with heart and hands to encourage those strengths to again be illuminated. Shani works as a birth assistant at The Addice, but also holds a Labor Doula Certification with A Sacred Journey Doula Training, trained in Postpartum and Infant Care, and is currently studying to become a Certified Professional Midwife through The Association of Texas Midwives Midwifery Training Program.
Hello, I’m April Lynn, the massage therapist at The Addice. I am passionate about natural
health. My love for the process of birth inspired me to become a massage therapist. Trained in
Prenatal, Swedish, and Manual Lymphatic Drainage massage, I look forward to creating a
massage to suit the specific needs of each client.
Hello, I’m Aprill Lynn, the massage therapist at The Addice. I am passionate about natural
health. My love for the process of birth inspired me to become a massage therapist. Trained in
Prenatal, Swedish, and Manual Lymphatic Drainage massage, I look forward to creating a
massage to suit the specific needs of each client.
Debs Walker is from Dublin, Ireland and has been a doula for 12 years. She is passionate about walking with moms and dads in their pregnancy and birth process to facilitate a positive, healthy and joyful experience. Her roles will primarily be in community outreach, and to educate families in evidence based maternity care. She will also walk personally with parents in the postpartum weeks to support and encourage them with breastfeeding, sleeping, and general newborn care. Debs and her husband have 4 children and have served the Houston homeless and ex offender community for many years.
Debs Walker is from Dublin, Ireland and has been a doula for 12 years. She is passionate about walking with moms and dads in their pregnancy and birth process to facilitate a positive, healthy and joyful experience. Her roles will primarily be in community outreach, and to educate families in evidence based maternity care. She will also walk personally with parents in the postpartum weeks to support and encourage them with breastfeeding, sleeping, and general newborn care. Debs and her husband have 4 children and have served the Houston homeless and ex offender community for many years.
Brittney Nolen is a designer by trade but a philanthropist at heart. Her desire is to merge high-end design and marketing with initiatives that strive to positively impact the world!
Brittney Nolen is a designer by trade but a philanthropist at heart. Her desire is to merge high-end design and marketing with initiatives that strive to positively impact the world!
Brittney Nolen is a designer by trade but a philanthropist at heart. Her desire is to merge high-end design and marketing with initiatives that strive to positively impact the world!
Brittney Nolen is a designer by trade but a philanthropist at heart. Her desire is to merge high-end design and marketing with initiatives that strive to positively impact the world!
Brittney Nolen is a designer by trade but a philanthropist at heart. Her desire is to merge high-end design and marketing with initiatives that strive to positively impact the world!
Brittney Nolen is a designer by trade but a philanthropist at heart. Her desire is to merge high-end design and marketing with initiatives that strive to positively impact the world!