Christine Yentes, Midwife

Christine Yentes has been practicing midwifery since 1992. Her interest in midwifery began in 1981 when she had the good fortune of attending the birth of her best friend's daughter. Watching the role of the midwife and seeing the power of women during birth ignited a flame for being with women throughout their births which she has followed to this day.

After having three children Christine began pursuing her goal of becoming a midwife. She apprentice/worked with a midwife in Belfast before setting our on her own. The ensuing years have been full of many memorable families and their births. In 2003 Christine became a Certified Professional Midwife and continues to keep her certification current. Christine is a member of Midwives of Maine and Maine Association of Certified Professional Midwives and Midwives Alliance of North America.

Christine comes from a long line of women who have attended women as they birth. Her grandma, Bobby, was the nurse on duty that took care of her the day she was born and her great-grandma, Nonnie, was a midwife who had a 'home' for birthing women in Indiana.

Image courtesy of Breezy Photography

Julie Havener, Midwife

Julie Havener has been involved with midwifery since 1994. After graduating from the Evergreen State College, in Olympia, Washington, she attended courses at The Seattle Midwifery School. Thereafter she attended births as a Doula. Affirming her love for the work she furthered her commitment to midwifery and spent three years apprenticing in Belfast, Maine.

After many births, she completed her apprenticeship and followed it up spending a month in Jamaica working with midwives in a rural hospital. Returning with even more fire in her belly for working with families, honoring the beauty of birth, she completed the process of becoming a Certified Professional Midwife.

"The natural beauty of pregnancy and birth never ceases to amaze me. I feel blessed to witness this again and again, honoring the diversity and wisdom each woman and family bestows upon me."

Image courtesy of Breezy Photography

Aura Moore, Midwife

Aura was exposed to midwifery at a very young age; some of her earliest memories are of her own mother preparing childbirth education classes as a student midwife herself. After the birth of Aura's four children her passion for birth only grew. From birth photography to certifying and working as a birth and bereavement doula, she was fueled to become a midwife. She believes people deserve care and respect for their bodily autonomy and is directed by the passion to further assist women in the informed and empowered birth of  their choosing. 

Aura attended Birthwise Midwifery School in 2019 until its closing then transferred to Midwives College of Utah where she obtained her BS in Midwifery and CPM in 2023.  During her studies, Aura has apprenticed with amazing midwives in Maine, Pennsylvania, and Uganda as part of her instruction into the profession. 

In her spare time, Aura loves spending time with her family, gardening, preserving the harvest, and working with herbs.

Kristy Bowie, Midwife student

Kristy has been part of Holly No. 7 for over a year now! While working at a local bank Kristy met Chris and mentioned that she had always wanted to be a midwife since she herself had such positive experiences giving birth at home with midwives in Scotland. At the time Holly No. 7 was interviewing student midwives and Chris encouraged Kristy to pursue her dream and apply…and the rest is herstory! 

Kristy is completing her studies at the National College of Midwifery in Taos New Mexico. We feel so lucky to have Kristy here with us as part of our team! 

In her life outside of the birth center Kristy loves spending time with her three children and husband. They love to go to the beach, bake and discover new hiking trails together.

Jenna PaynE, Midwife student, RN

Jenna first became interested in birth and reproductive health during her training as an herbalist. This interest led her to become a full spectrum doula, which furthered her passion, leading her to midwifery. 

After attending her first birth in 2013, she apprenticed with homebirth midwives in western North Carolina, becoming an RN along the way, and working at a freestanding birth center in Asheville, NC. She is currently a senior midwifery student and is looking forward to finishing her studies at Holly No. 7 while taking coursework at the National College of Midwifery to become a CPM. She is excited to be part of the stellar team at the Holly No. 7 birth center! 

She lives with her partner and two dogs on their homestead at the headwaters of the Sheepscot river, tending a large garden and orchard.

Lucretia Saucier, Bookkeeper

Lucretia has an uncanny love for balancing check books and book keeping! She has been doing this work since high school and is happy to use these skills to support her mom, Chris, in keeping the birth center finances in order. She loves working with her mom and how this role allows them to interact more. We are so appreciative of all that Lucretia does here at Holly No. 7 to support staff, clients and the smooth running of the birth center! 

Lucretia is the mother of two teenage boys and lives in Belfast Maine. She loves being on the ocean and gardening vegetables and flowers.

Kathryn Johnston, Office Manager, RN

Kathryn is the Holly No. 7 office manager. She has training as a nurse, doula and farmer. Kathryn believes in creating and supporting out of hospital birth options and loves to be part of the team of amazing midwives, students and staff at Holly No. 7!

Outside of work Kathryn enjoys spending time hiking and swimming with her partner and dog. She is currently studying biodynamic craniosacral therapy and is hoping to incorporate this modality into future work as well.