Brigitte Rhody- Garrison, CNM, MSM
Brigitte’s pathway to midwifery began in 1988 with the highly stressful and traumatic birth of her first son in a hospital with an OBGYN who was eager to intervene. In 1995 she began attending births as an assistant and doula, helping women and their families have better and healthier births. In 1998 she “randomly” met a midwife at a social event while expecting her second son. That moment changed her life path. Once she birthed (at the hospital) with that midwife by her side, she knew that her calling was to empower other women to seek respectful care, avoid trauma, ask questions, and actively participate in their (and their children’s) own healthcare with truly informed choices. After teaching childbirth classes for several years and with a BS in psychology and education, she headed to nursing school.
She earned her RN in 2003 and worked as a medical surgical/oncology and community health nurse for 5 years. There she learned advanced practice skills and became experienced in emergency procedures, IV and PICC line infusion, blood transfusions, and comprehensive health assessment. In 2008, she completed her Masters degree in Women’s Health and Midwifery at Philadelphia (now Jefferson) University’s Institute of Midwifery. She is New York state certified and nationally board certified. Brigitte obtained advanced evaluation of psychiatric illness in reproductive age women in 2020 and worked closely with a collaborative psychologist.
In her career as a midwife, she has been honored to attend nearly 800 births as primary midwife, and assisted at over 1000 in the past 24 years.
Providing comprehensive women’s healthcare (from teens to beyond menopause) is also a passion of hers. The more educated and well informed women are about their wellness care, the better. She strives to provide women with autonomy, and meet the needs of individuals through time, careful attention, and integrated holistic health services.
Brigitte is mother to five kids ages 10 – 35. She has experienced all kinds of birth: from a medicalized OB in the hospital, a quick planned home birth, a midwife hospital birth, and even an emergency C-section.
Dianne Cassidy, MA, IBCLC, ALC, CCE
Dianne is a lactation consultant, mother, writer, presenter, and podcaster. She has been working with families since 2005. Dianne is passionate about helping families build a superior bond, cultivate empowerment, and feel confident in who they are as parents.
Dianne is the mother of 3 amazing children (including multiples), 3 amazing bonus children, and co-host of the Badass Breastfeeding Podcast. You can find Dianne at www.diannecassidyconsulting.com or email her directly at diannecassidyibclc@gmail.com.
Andrea Curry, RN
Andee is a registered nurse with her primary experience in adult emergency medicine, as well as medical surgical units, travel nursing to mixed adult/pediatric emergency departments, and most recently pediatric and adult private duty nursing. Andee is a mom of 3. When not trying to keep up with her toddlers she loves knitting, quilting, upholstery, and home repair projects with her husband. She has always been fascinated by birth, but fell in love with homebirth and midwifery care after delivering both of her babies at home and experiencing the personalized compassionate care of her midwife. Andee is thrilled to be joining Brigitte as an assistant to support the wonderful work she is doing for the community.
Rachel Stacy
Rachel currently has three children aged 4 and under. Her older two were born in-hospital, unmedicated, and attended by midwives. Upon conceiving her youngest, she knew she wanted something different this time… more personalized care with the decision-making power in the hands of her and her husband. Experiencing both pregnancy and pregnancy loss during the COVID-19 pandemic was incredibly isolating, so it was the right time to finally plan and enjoy the peaceful birth at home she had always wanted, attended by Brigitte.
Receiving the type of care she’d dreamt of reignited a fire in her for helping others receive informed, respectful care. Having worked both in-patient and emergency medicine as a patient care tech, as well as volunteering as an EMT, she has learned the value of collaborative care and communication. She is so honored to assist Brigitte and learn all she can about what it takes to grow and nurture a family as she looks to the future and the hope of pursuing midwifery education one day.