About Us

Philosophy of Care

A woman’s health and medical care is a partnership between her and her health care provider. It is our responsibility to provide excellence in her care and education and sensitivity to her concerns and needs. Her health is also her own responsibility, we expect her to communicate with us and participate in decision-making. We acknowledge the value of both traditional and alternative forms of health promotion and treatment. We will listen to our clients, and treat them and their families with respect, dignity, and assurance of confidentiality. Pregnancy and birth are physiological processes that should be subject to as little intervention as possible. The process of birth belongs to the domain of normal human activity and requires medical assistance only when disturbances to normal patterns are present. We offer women choices in place of birth, choosing the appropriate level of expertise and technology. Certified nurse midwives (CNM), experts in normal childbearing, work independently and in collaboration with our consulting obstetricians. Together, we are dedicated to taking time to educate, advise, and support the childbearing family.

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Client Satisfaction Rate

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C-Section Rate

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Emergency Transfers

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Hospital Transfer Rate

98%

Client Satisfaction Rate

3.6%

C-Section Rate

1%

Emergency Transfers

12.5%

Hospital Transfers in Labor

Lesley Rathbun

FNP, CNM Owner/Director

Lesley Rathbun is dual certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner and Certified Nurse Midwife. She is the owner and director of Charleston Birth Place. Ms. Rathbun graduated in 2004 from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio and has attended over 1,000 births in her career as a midwife. Prior to becoming a midwife she worked as a RN in all areas of women’s health including labor & delivery, neonatal intensive care, childbirth education, surgical assistant, outpatient OB/GYN clinic, and an Amish birth center. Ms. Rathbun is a member of American College of Nurse Midwives, The Midwife Alliance of North America, and is a 2 term past president of the American Association of Birth Centers. She is active in legislative efforts to increase access to midwife led birth centers for all families.

Jennifer Hirchert

CNM, MSN, Staff Certified Nurse Midwife

Jennifer started her career as a labor and delivery nurse at MUSC in 2008, and joined the CBP family as a birth assistant the following year. Since then, she has worn many CBP hats as a student nurse midwife, patient, part-time office midwife, and full-time staff midwife. She loves supporting and educating CBP’s moms and families as they journey through pregnancy, birth, and parenting! Jennifer lives in Park Circle with her husband Kyle, daughter Annabelle, and son Theodore.

Erin Stein

MSN, CNM, WHNP-BC

I have been working with mothers and babies for more than a decade in many different capacities, which ultimately led to my working here at the Charleston Birth Place as a Certified Nurse Midwife/Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner.

It wasn’t until the last semester of midwifery school that I realized my passion for out-of-hospital births. I had the opportunity to spend my integration semester here at the Charleston Birth Place as a Student Nurse Midwife. I can’t even begin to summarize my amazing experience here and how my trust in birth was rejuvenated. What I can say is that after working in a hospital setting for all of my career up to that point, I knew I didn’t want to ever leave a place where women were supported, the care provided was evidenced based, and the natural process of birth without many interventions was the norm. I was heartbroken when my integration was over.

Thankfully, in the fall of 2014, I was asked to be CBPs newest midwife. To say I was thrilled was an understatement! I am truly honored and thankful every day for this amazing opportunity to be a part of CBPs community. I look forward to meeting you, supporting you and your family, and helping you achieve the birth you desire!

Emily Waller

DNP, CNM, WHNP-BC, Staff Certified Nurse Midwife

Emily started her career working as a nurse in the Emergency Room when she found her love for women’s health and patient advocacy and autonomy. She then began working as a Labor and Delivery nurse and became hooked on caring for families through the entire labor and birth process. Emily decided she wanted to be able to build deeper relationships with these families and care for them from early pregnancy, through the postpartum period, and even with general well women care. She stared midwifery school at Georgetown University while continuing to work in high risk L&D. Emily graduated with her DNP in 2022 from Georgetown with a focus on Nurse Midwifery and Women’s Health. She successfully defended her doctoral project in March, 2022, focusing on educating birth staff on postpartum hemorrhage early identification and management.

In January, 2022 Emily began her final clinical rotation at the Charleston Birth Place as a Student Nurse Midwife. She found a passion for out of hospital, low-risk labor and birth and became a total birth junkie! She also found a love for educating families and advocating for their birth desires. Emily then transitioned into a full-time staff midwife position at CBP during the summer of 2022 and has loved it ever since! In her free time, you can find Emily relaxing with her husband, Alex, and dog, Goose!

Penelope Bowman

CNM, MSN Staff Midwife

Penelope “Penny” Bowman for the past 25 years in the Lowcountry has assisted thousands of families with their pregnancy and health care needs. Her journey to midwifery began as a child hearing stories from a grand aunt, “Mama Lee” of helping women in the community during their pregnancy and birth. My personal experience during pregnancy and birth with a CNM of my daughter was such a wonderful experience I knew becoming a nurse-midwife was what I wanted to do for a life career. The care, presence, and encouragement during my pregnancy and birth gave me such a sense of empowerment.

During my undergraduate years at Tuskegee University, I worked as an OB Tech allowing me the opportunity to work with mothers in labor, postpartum, and nursery. As an RN I worked labor and delivery at MUSC gaining the critical experience needed to work with low-risk and high-risk mothers. I later attended Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science where I received my Certification in Midwifery Education.

I am delighted to be a part of Charleston Birthplace team promoting midwifery care during pregnancy, lactation, and preventative women’s health always educating, encouraging, and empowering.

Ivy Parrish

RN, BSN

As a teenager, Ivy Parrish was able to witness a friend give birth. From this first witness of the miracle of birth, Ivy’s love for pregnancy, childbirth and growing families developed. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Charleston Southern University and began working at Trident Medical Center in postpartum and medical surgery. As a mother of three children, Ivy gained first-hand experience in pregnancy and birth. She has also served as a surrogate mother, giving the gift of life to a baby boy last fall.

It was after the birth of her first child that she recognized the beauty of breastfeeding. She acknowledges the connection that is made between the baby and mother is just as important as the nutritional value. Due to her commitment to the nutrition of breast milk, Ivy has continued to pump breast milk for the preemie milk bank. She has completed the WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor course so that she can be a support for breastfeeding mothers. Ivy has also studied placentas and encapsulates them for many moms in South Carolina.

With the birth of her third child, Ivy chose the Charleston Birth Place and fell in love with the support and comfort they offered her in a natural childbirth. Now she is able to offer that same comfort and support as a nurse at the center. She is passionate about working with midwives and families who see birth as a sacred experience, to be celebrated and honored.

Norva S. Andrews Decoteau

RN, BSc, LNM, CLNC

I have worked at Charleston Birth Place for more than seven years as a birth assistant and post-partum home visit nurse. I was born in Trinidad and Tobago, where I gained my formal education. I worked in general nursing and then become a licensed nurse midwife. In 2003, my family and I migrated to the USA. My well-rounded background, has given me the opportunity to work in various disciplines as a travel nurse. I am a wife, mother of three, and proud grandmother of one.

My midwifery training in the West Indies aligns with CBP’s vision of natural childbirth. I am passionate about caring for new mothers and being a resource to the family as they meet their newest member. CBP shares my vision of empowering women and families, thus I anticipate an enduring relationship as we continue to empower our clients.