A Midwife’s Heart: Celebrating the Incredible Care of Kristen Shook, LM, CPM, RN

As both a labor and delivery nurse and a birth photographer, I’ve had the unique privilege of witnessing birth from two deeply different, yet beautifully connected, perspectives. One moment, I’m guiding a new mom through contractions in a hospital setting, and the next, I’m quietly documenting the raw, peaceful intensity of a home birth. Each experience reminds me how incredible women are… and how vital compassionate, skilled care is during these moments.

I have had the honor of working alongside Kristen Shook, LM, CPM, RN, the heart behind Northern Glow Midwifery in Traverse City, Michigan. Watching her care for families in their most intimate, transformative moments was nothing short of inspiring.

As a nurse, I’ve seen many different styles of care, but there’s something uniquely grounding about the way Kristen supports her clients. Her calm confidence, deep knowledge, and genuine connection with families create a space that feels both sacred and safe. In a homebirth setting, she doesn’t just guide the process — she honors it. I came away with such respect for her, not only as a professional but as a woman who truly believes in empowering others through knowledge, trust, and compassion.

If you’d like to see what it looks like to capture these moments of birth photography and home birth care in Northern Michigan, you can explore my birth photography portfolio here — each story is unique, heartfelt, and beautifully real.

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Meet Kristen Shook, LM, CPM, RN

Here’s a bit about Kristen, in her own words:

“I am a mother of three home-born children, ages 17, 14, and 11. My husband, D.J., is my best ally in both parenting and midwifing. We live in downtown Traverse City, a central location from which to attend births all over Northern Michigan. I received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Seattle Pacific University in 2002. Following university, I worked as a Pediatric Nurse in Oncology/Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplant at Seattle Children’s Hospital. After D.J. and I got married, he began working in central Washington and I started working as a Public Health Nurse with pregnant women and babies, providing childbirth education, nutritional education, and breastfeeding support. I loved working with pregnant moms and families.

When I was pregnant with my first baby, I discovered home birth. It seemed like a perfect fit. I wanted individualized care and an unmedicated birth in which I made informed decisions about my birth and my body. I’m an information junkie and love to jump into my interests full force. I read dozens of books about birth! Our daughter was born without complications at home in 2007, with a Licensed Midwife present. Shortly after her birth we moved to Northern Michigan to be near family — and went on to have two more babies at home, attended by midwives. When my youngest was 18 months old, I decided to try my hand at midwifery. I began an apprenticeship with traditional midwives. Over the next three-and-a-half years and over a hundred births, I learned the traditional skills and art of midwifery practice. I attended the National College of Midwifery and received my degree in Midwifery in 2019.

When not midwifing, I love to read, spend time with my family, eat good food, drink copious amounts of coffee, travel, bike around town, and most of all, engage in meaningful conversations. I love relationships with families and find midwifery a perfect fit.

My mission as a midwife is to bring the independence and ownership I experienced in my own pregnancies and births to other families in Northern Michigan. Birthing outside of the hospital, on your own terms, with a trusted expert in natural birth is life changing for women. I know this from my own empowering experiences. I want to help others find their voices and desires in this transformative time.

Midwifery care goes beyond just the birth, though. Prenatal care is comprehensive and holistic. We have time in appointments to focus on so many things that improve health, outcomes, and a greater enjoyment of the process and journey. By the time the birth comes around, we have spent a lot of time and I see my clients as friends! It is so amazing to get to witness this new friend birth their baby and transform into a mom for this new child.

I also love how midwifery allows me to take care of families in the postpartum time. I typically do 4–5 postpartum visits. This is such an important time that we forget to focus on! I can support my families and guide breastfeeding. I have extensive training and experience with breastfeeding (20 years!) and teach classes. I love helping people meet those goals! I also teach in-person birth and breastfeeding classes — another joy of the job!! These are open to anyone in the community. We cover everything you need to know to have a hospital or home birth. I have the best job in the world!!”

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Why I Admire Kristen’s Approach

As someone who’s worked in both hospital and home environments, I can say with full confidence that Kristen embodies the heart of midwifery. She blends evidence-based knowledge with empathy and intuition, creating space for families to make informed, empowered choices. Her care goes far beyond the delivery itself… she truly walks with her clients through every stage of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.

Seeing her in action reminded me why I love birth work so deeply. Whether it’s in a hospital room or a cozy home setting, it’s all about connection, trust, and honoring the journey. Kristen represents that beautifully.

If you’re in Northern Michigan and considering home birth, I can’t recommend Kristen enough. Her dedication, warmth, and wisdom shine through in every interaction and I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to witness her incredible work firsthand.

You can connect with Kristen and learn more about her services here:
🌿 Website: northernglowmidwifery.com
💛 Facebook: Northern Glow Midwifery
📸 Instagram: @northernglowmidwifery