About the Birth Center of New Jersey!

The Wellness Collective is a place where The Birth Center of New Jersey and Artemis OB/GYN work together to take care of women’s health throughout their lives – from when they first start their periods to when they stop having them, and everything in between.

The seven values we want to see
represented in our organization

Birth is healthy, safe and transformative. We practice generalized joy at BCNJ by recognizing this first and most important basic principle.

BCNJ is client-centered. We are nothing without our clients. Our belief is that the client and the family always come first and that the midwives and staff will be as flexible as possible when it comes to fulfilling client needs. We are humbled and awed by the chance to be involved in this sacred time in a woman’s life.

We partner with our clients and put them in charge of their own care. We see each woman as our equal. We recognize that each client is a whole person, not just a body, and through education, providing choices, and gently guiding, we offer a woman self-determination in her reproductive and birthing choices.

We are passionate and determined. Great just isn’t good enough – we want to be amazing. We want to be the best birthing center in the United States. We want every birth to be the most positive experience in a family’s life.

We have great respect for the diversity of our staff and the varied paths that have led us to this calling. We are building a positive team and family spirit among midwives, assistants, staff and teachers. We believe in the highest level of collaboration by focusing on the sharing of wisdom and utilizing each other’s knowledge and skills to provide the best fusion of care possible.

We practice a common sense blend of natural age-old midwifery wisdom and innovative state of the art, evidence-based care. We honor birth tradition while refusing to compromise our principles and accept the status quo.

We are devoted to building a strong, supportive community within which our Moms, Babies and Families will find like-minded people to help them through the unique experience of pregnancy and early parenting. Modern life can be very isolating. We strive to create an environment where no family with a new baby ever feels alone or needlessly frightened by the task ahead of them.

Providers of The
Birth Center of New Jersey

Nicola Pemberton

MD, FACOG, MEDICAL DIRECTOR Nicola Pemberton, MD, is a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist who is the medical director of The Birth Center of New Jersey in Union, New Jersey.

Kasey DiVine

MSN-CNM Kasey has been dedicated to supporting pregnancy and birth since 2004. She began as a childbirth educator but soon realized that her heart was in midwifery

Chidera Chima

CNM, WHNP, ND Chidera Chima is a certified nurse midwife and board-certified women’s health nurse practitioner. She is very passionate about caring for women throughout their lifespan,

Jess Couper

MSN, CNM Jess Couper, MSN, CNM received her Master of Science in Nurse Midwifery from Frontier Nursing University in Hyden, KY, and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from William Paterson University in Wayne

Certified Professional Midwives
of The Birth Center of New Jersey

Dina Aurichio

LM, CPM, Director of Midwifery

Vicki Hedley

LM, CPM, CM

What is a Doula?

A doula, also known as a birth companion, birth coach or post-birth supporter, is a non-medical person who assists a woman before, during, or after childbirth, to provide emotional support and physical help if needed. They also may provide support to the mother’s partner and family. Unlike a midwife, doulas are not medical professionals and therefore cannot administer medication. Doulas are typically certified with some courses taking over a year to complete. Practical training is involved to become certified. Continuous support during birth from a person outside the mother’s family or social circle, such as a Doula, is associated with reduced mortality rates, improved overall health of the mother and the baby, shorter labor time, reduced risk of a C-Section, and a lower need for medical interventions such as instrumental delivery or pain relief. Support from a Doula may also reduce mothers’ negative feelings about their childbirth experience. Some doulas provide postpartum support, for example assisting with housework, cooking, and offering help with learning to breast feed.

The Birth Center of New Jersey Doulas

Alreema Vining

DOULA Assisting over 100+ families, Alreema understands how much families can benefit from having additional support

Bonu deCaires

DOULABonu has been a doula since 2003. She has supported over 700 births at homes, birth centers and hospital settings.

Chena Benson-Davis

DOULA Wife, Mother of 3, Certified Full Spectrum Doula and Owner of Butta's Holistic Services.

Kianna Little

DOULA Kianna Little is the owner of Earthside Village. She is a certified Birth Doula, Lactation Counselor, and certified in Placenta Encapsulation.

Patricia Thomas

DOULA Patricia is a certified birth and postpartum doula, certified childbirth educator, certified lactation counselor, and holds a master’s in human development, with a bachelor’s in public justice.

Deanna-Trott Montenegro

DOULA Deanna is a dedicated doula with a passion for helping families during pregnancy, birth, and beyond.

Lynn Christensen

DOULALynn has been a DONA-certified birth doula and founder/owner of Labour Day Doula Support since 2002.

Khandice Marshall

DOULAKhandice Marshall of KhanDoulaBaby Birth Services, is passionate about Maternal health and positive birth experiences.

Michelle Gabriel-Caldwell

DOULA Michelle has been the founder and owner of Baby, Please Birth Services for the past 19 years and served 450+ families.

Savannah Segovia

DOULASavannah Segovia is a certified doula with DONA (CD). Savannah considers every pregnancy and birth to be a miraculous event and feels honored to contribute her expertise.