Our Team
Chelsea Shira, CPM, LM
MIDWIFE
Chelsea knew early in life that she had a passion for women and family advocacy, however it wasn’t until after the pregnancy and homebirth of her first son in 2012 that her calling to midwifery was undeniable. She quickly began to immerse herself in birth work as a doula in 2013 and attended her first homebirth as a Student Midwife in 2014. Chelsea also previously served as the Chapter Director for the Birth Matters Tidewater region for many years and has helped to admin and manage the local Homebirth Support Hampton Roads group for over 10 years. Chelsea finished her apprenticeship in 2018 and began to work alongside other midwives to gain further experience. She attended over 150 births before passing the NARM exam and becoming licensed in June of 2020.
Chelsea’s other passions include being a homemaker and mother to her two sons, expanding her knowledge, education and practice of herbalism, and landscape design and gardening.
Chelsea Shira is a NARM (North American Registry of Midwives) registered Certified Professional Midwife (CPM), Licensed by the state of Virginia Board of Medicine to practice Midwifery as a Holistic Health Practitioner.
Danielle wright, CPM, LM
Midwife
Dani began her journey to midwifery shortly after the homebirth of her first child in 2009 and officially began an apprenticeship utilizing the Professional Evaluation Process outlined by the North American Registry of Midwives in 2014. She is now a Certified Professional Midwife licensed by the Virginia Board of Medicine.
It is Dani’s goal to support our local community in more than just midwifery, but also with herbology and homeopathy.
Pregnancy, birth, and motherhood have had such a positive impact on Dani in all aspects of life. This phase of life allowed her to embrace her culture and bloom into the woman she is today. Dani remains grateful for her home births that watered the seed of midwifery.
Dani has four children and raising them has been an honor. Their family has a small homestead lovingly dubbed The Hopeful Homestead. Where they homeschool, raise small livestock, grow an abundance of food, and always find time for family.
“Whenever and however you give birth, your experience will impact your emotions, your mind, your body and your spirit for the rest of your life.”
— INA MAY GASKIN
Renea Matthews, CPM, LM
Backup midwife
As backup Midwife, Renea is available to our practice as needed to fill in as second midwife if Chelsea or Dani are out of town, or if there is need for another provider.
Renea’s journey to midwifery began in 1993 when she witnessed the homebirth of her younger sister. Renea knew at that moment that supporting women during pregnancy and birth was her heart’s desire. In 2008, Renea officially began working as a Student Midwife. Between then and becoming licensed in 2013 Renea served over 130 families. She has since attended hundreds more women throughout pregnancy, birth and the post-partum period. Renea has 7 children of her own, 4 of which were born at home. Her passions include being a Mother and Home Maker, Holistic living, treasure hunting at local thrift shops, and homesteading her urban farm which has 3 goats, many chickens, bees, a small orchard and lots of space to grow organic seasonal veggies .
Renea Matthews is a NARM (North American Registry of Midwives) registered Certified Professional Midwife (CPM), Licensed by the state of Virginia Board of Medicine to practice Midwifery as a Holistic Health Practitioner.