About Us
Seasons Warner and Melissa Chappell founded Utah Birth Suites in 2018. They recognized a changing demographic in their clients who desired other out-of-hospital birthing locations in addition to home birth.
The business grew so quickly that they soon outgrew their “starter” birth center, and moved to a bigger location in Provo in 2020.
We are Certified Professional Midwives
The CPM credential is granted by NARM (National Association of Registered Midwives). To better understand our credential and the validity of it click below for more info from NARM.
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NARM sets standards for Competency-based credentialing is based on documentation of comprehensive training and testing of knowledge and skills that are relevant to real-life job conditions, as determined by psychometric research within the profession. The credential has been evaluated by independent researchers at Ohio State University and was determined to be a credential that exemplifies the established standards for educational testing as determined by the American Educational Research Association and the National Council of Measurement in Education. In 2002, the CPM credential was accredited by the National Commission on Certifying Agencies (NCCA) and is evaluated yearly for adherence to the national standards, competency-based certification that allow a midwife to support a woman’s right to choose her birth attendants and place of birth and to involve those she identifies as her family in the birth experience. CPMs practice as autonomous health professionals working within a network of relationships with other maternity care professionals who can provide consultation and collaboration when needed.
Our credential is also recognized and supported by Medicins Sans Frontieres (Doctor’s Without Borders), the International Confederation of Midwives (an accredited non-governmental organization that works closely with the WHO, UNFPA, UNICEF and other organizations worldwide to achieve common goals in the care of mothers and children), Midwives Alliance of North America (MANA), and the Midwifery Education Accreditation Council (MEAC).
Our Training & Philosophy
Our senior midwives have been trained through the NARM PEP process and achieved this through a combination of schooling and working in many different clinical settings. Our junior midwives have also gone through the NARM PEP process and have gained and continue to gain valuable clinical experience under our senior midwives at Utah Birth Suites. We are qualified and trained maternal health care providers who are recognized by Utah State and other national and international organizations.
We are traditional midwives who encourage preventative care through healthy eating, sunshine, physical movement, and mindfulness; but we also believe in evidence-based research and protocols that keep our clients safe. We are in deep gratitude that we're able to practice using both traditional methods and more mainstream tools such as IV therapy, oxygen, and medications when needed. Our underlying philosophy is that all families deserve respect and love, and we strive to be attentive and caring in every interaction we have with them.
If we could sum up our practice beliefs in one phrase it would be: "Kindness, safety, and love for all those who we serve."
Meet Our Team of Midwives
Seasons Warner, LDEM
Seasons Warner, CPM, LDEM began her studies in midwifery in 1999 following her first home birth after two hospital births. Working her way through the NARM PEP route to midwifery, she had the privilege of apprenticeship under several midwives over the years, and she is thankful for both traditional and evidence based training.
She started her own practice in 2014, and has loved serving women throughout the state of Utah. It has been exciting to be able to offer both birth center and home birth options. She is delighted to be a part of the Utah Birth Suites team.
Seasons has received additional certifications to aid in her ability to give well rounded midwifery care. Because she believes in the mind and body’s ability to thrive when given the right tools, she certified as Nutritional Herbalist through the School of Natural Healing. She then went on train and certify as an NLP and Hypnotherapy practitioner. She’s found the tools useful in addressing both mental and physical discomforts.
In her spare time, she loves spending time with her husband, 5 kids, and her adorable grandson. She also enjoys writing, fishing, camping and traveling as often as her schedule permits.
Melissa Chappell, LDEM
Melissa has worked with hundreds of expectant parents and students over the course of 25 years in the field of childbirth as an Internationally Certified Doula and Doula Trainer with DONA International. Melissa also worked for a decade teaching childbirth classes and was the number one childbirth class the CNMs at American Fork Hospital referred clients to.
Melissa regularly travels to developing countries to work with local midwives and pregnant and birthing women, and works often with MamaBaby Haiti birth center in Haiti.
She officially began her practice as an out-of-hospital midwife in 2015. She attended The Community School of Midwifery from 2012 - 2016 and finished the National Association of Registered Midwives Portfolio Evaluation Process and earned her CPM credential in 2018. She earned her Utah State Licensure (LDEM) credential in December 2018.
Melissa also owns the company, Fresh Melissa, a healthy dessert company that wholesales desserts to stores as well as specializes in online workshops and cooking shows. She has also written two cookbooks full of recipes using whole food ingredients.
Her favorite part of all her work is getting to connect with clients and families through midwifery.
Jessica Collins, LDEM
Jessy has wanted to be a midwife since before high school, feeling that it is her calling in life. After spending a year volunteering as a birth and postpartum doula she deepened love for supporting women throughout their reproductive journeys. Jessy then spent many more years apprenticing with different midwives and graduated Magna Cum Laude with her Bachelor of Science in Midwifery. Jessy is always working to continue her education and has trained in spinning babies, hypnobirthing, and bodywork techniques. She is currently studying to become a lactation consultant.
As a spiritual woman, Jessy believes that this is what she is meant to be doing and has been guided down this path. As a midwife, she loves providing the freedom and safety for pregnant women to have the individualized care they deserve. Jessy especially loves the unique and wonderful relationships formed with each family she has the opportunity to share this pivotal moment in their lives with.
In her spare time Jessy loves spending time with her amazing husband and two beautiful daughters. She also enjoys reading, rock climbing, hiking and volunteering in her community.
Senny Barlow, LDEM
Senny's first knowledge of birth and life began at a young age as she grew up on a farm and witnessed the births of many spring calves and lambs. Senny is the ninth child of thirteen, all born at home. She grew up believing that childbirth was a natural part of life and didn't need to be feared. She can recall helping bring in the family midwife's supplies and bags when her mother was in labor, as well as a box of otter pops for all of the kids.
Her real spark for midwifery happened when she gave birth to her baby boy, born at home into a midwife's hands. She wanted to make sure that all women received the love and support that she did.
Senny loves learning about birth and has since learned that there is not one way to birth and that every woman has the right to the birth she wants and deserves. She finished her apprenticeship at the beginning of 2022 and is now a midwife for Utah Birth Suites.
In her spare time, Senny loves to explore the mountains with her husband and little boy. She also enjoys playing the piano and violin, creating macrame art pieces, collecting blue china pieces from the places she visits and she will never turn down a cup of tea.
Angie Nichols, LDEM
I'm a CPM/LDEM midwife, DONA-trained doula, placenta encapsulator, and mama cheerleader. My midwifery education was facilitated through Aspire Birth Academy and apprenticeship through the NARM PEP process. I love learning, homeschooling my children, traveling, quilting, and music (I have a degree in music, play the violin, and am learning the cello).
I am passionate about encouraging and supporting women. I believe the experiences that come through pregnancy, birth, and motherhood can be some of the most empowering and fulfilling things a woman can go through in life. I also believe that women need other women- to befriend, nurture, and mentor each other, which is what midwives and doulas do!
I have been interested in pregnancy and birth since I was a young child and was so excited to become a mother, but my journey to motherhood was hard. After 7 years of marriage and many failed fertility treatments, my husband and I were blessed to adopt a baby boy and then a baby girl. Several years later, at the age of 34, I miraculously became pregnant on my own and had a beautiful baby girl, which the doctor said was a one in a million experience... he was wrong... I quickly had four more babies in the next five years and am now a mother to 7, ages 21 down to 5.
I'm grateful for all of my birth experiences. They taught me that I am stronger than I could ever imagine - all women have that strength inside of them. It's always such a privilege supporting women as they go through the transformative experience of giving birth.
Allison Carlson, DEM
Allison has always known she wanted to be surrounded by birth. She realized in college that midwifery was her dream job.
After having 1 baby in the hospital with a Nurse Midwife and another baby at home, Allison knew the choices and love she felt in her out-of-hospital birth couldn’t be beat and began her apprenticeship as a Professional Midwife.
Allison’s goal is to make every woman she encounters feel like they belong and are heard. She wants every mama to feel confident in the decisions they make knowing they were given all of the options, risks, and benefits without any judgement of their choice.
Outside of midwifery, Allison loves to spend time with her husband, son and daughter outside swimming or watching movies. She loves deep, thought provoking chats and won’t miss a day of journaling.
Her favorite pastimes are going to the movie theater, content creating, and learning more about holistic practices.
Allison looks forward to meeting and serving each mama coming into care and surrounding her in the community.
Michelle Sherwin, DEM
Michelle first started birth work as a doula, certifying through DONA International. After working as a doula for two years, she felt called to become a midwife. She trained with home birth and birth center midwives as she apprenticed in the National Association of Registered Midwives Portfolio Evaluation Process.
Michelle's heart was first pulled towards birth work when she was growing her own family. After delivering her first two babies in hospitals, she felt drawn to home birth, and birthed her subsequent four babies at home. She loved the midwifery care that she was given, including the personal connection, thorough care and guidance, and comfortable birthing experience.
Michelle's belief is that birth is a beautiful and natural, albeit challenging, process that empowers new parents. To her, each and every birth is a miracle. She truly loves supporting mothers as they bring their babies into the world.
The words of a recent client: "You helped me feel trust for myself, while also providing a feeling of safety and being seen. I felt like you show motherly love and have a gift for bringing peace and dignity to mothers."
Michelle grew up in Vancouver, B.C. Canada, and Utah has been her home since 1992. Along with her passion for birth work, Michelle enjoys playing pickleball and traveling. She loves ocean beaches, sunsets, chocolate, Europe, chatting and playing games with her diverse and growing family, and spending time with her six grandkids.
Trista Birdzell, student midwife
This work of helping women and their partners awaken their power through radical birth has been a calling that started as a young high school student. I was always fascinated with the way a woman's body changes physically to grow a human and then give birth to them. Midwifery wasn’t something I knew existed at that time so I was on the path of becoming a labor and delivery nurse. As I grew and learned what midwives were I decided that was what I wanted to be. I even looked at moving to Ireland to attend midwifery school because I didn’t even know that was offered here in America.
That never happened, but I did start working as a medical assistant with a family medical practitioner that also practiced obstetrics. The red thread that connects it all was being woven and I never knew.
I worked closely with an obstetrician for 5 years that allowed me to have a behind the scenes view of medicalized birth care. I believe there is no “right” way to give birth, and that knowledge is power.
I have personally experienced a full range of birth experiences; from traumatic and loss to empowering and transformative. I draw on my knowledge as a professional and my experiences as a mother to support you through your birth.
My work focuses on the mind and body connection and how it plays a vital role in how parents prepare for their journey. Knowing how important communication is, I strive to enhance the bond between both parents as you are navigating your journey together.
I believe that a birth experience should be something to look forward to with excitement, not fear. I believe that your body was made to birth your baby. I believe in trusting the process of birth. Most importantly, I believe you and I will support you as you listen to your intuition. Only you know what is best for you and your baby.
Roxanna Maurer, LDEM — Collaborating Midwife
Roxanna will often recite:
“Who is the strongest human on earth? It’s not the warrior on a battlefield, not a king, but a woman who is the first guardian and protector of her child from the first day of pregnancy.” - Author Unknown
Roxanna graduated from the Utah School of Midwifery in 1998. In 2011, Roxanna was deeply inspired by the women she served in the Dominican Republic. Their examples of strength, endurance, resiliency, and faith shaped her belief in the divine transformative power of birth. Strength goes beyond physical capacity; it encompasses the thoughts and emotions that create a woman’s soul. To support mothers through the transformative journey into motherhood, Roxanna has taken extensive training in a variety of modalities including Nutritional Response Testing; Belief Breakthrough Process; Reiki Master; Teaching Self Government - Mentor; NLP Trainer; Hypnotherapy Practitioner, and TimeLineTherapy Master Practitioner.
Roxanna’s favorite mom moments include snuggling with her daughters while watching LOTR, chasing meteor showers, and coaxing the earth to grow more veggies than weeds.
