Today we’d like to introduce you to Jamie Huberty-Koerner, CPM, LM + Samantha Collins, CPM, LM + Jenna Galarneau, CPM, LM.
Hi Jamie Huberty-Koerner, CPM, LM + Samantha Collins, CPM, LM + Jenna Galarneau, CPM, LM, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
The three of us came into midwifery each on our own journey. Jamie, after witnessing a dear friend’s home birth and witnessed care that was centered on informed consent and a deep trust in physiologic birth. Jenna, after experiencing midwifery care firsthand during her two pregnancies and births, and Sam, who met a midwife who provided deeply affirming care after being diagnosed with a chronic illness. Each of us began our journeys into birthwork by supporting families as birth doulas. While we all valued the skills we learned as doulas to support families with hands-on comfort measures, informational support, and advocacy, we all found ourselves called to pursue midwifery. Now, we are all Certified Professional Midwives and licensed in the state of Minnesota. The three of us met while working at a local free-standing birth center. We worked there for a handful of years together, caring for hundreds of growing families, and in that time developed deep, trusting bonds with one another. Eventually, a collective spark grew amongst us–daring us to venture out on our own.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The path to becoming a midwife is often marked by significant personal and professional challenges. Aspiring midwives must navigate rigorous academic and clinical training, often while balancing family, work, or financial pressures. Access to midwifery education can be limited, especially for those in rural areas or from marginalized communities, and many face institutional barriers rooted in racism, sexism, or economic inequality. Once in practice, midwives encounter additional challenges—long hours, unpredictable schedules, and the emotional demands that come from supporting clients through challenging scenarios that may arise during their care. As midwives, we also face systemic obstacles, such as limited integration into the broader healthcare system, insurance and reimbursement hurdles, and in some regions, restrictive regulations that limit our scope of practice or autonomy. Despite these difficulties, we remain deeply committed to our work, driven by a passion for reproductive justice, bodily autonomy, and relationship-centered care.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
The name Solstice Midwifery draws inspiration from the profound symbolism of the solstice—a moment in time that honors both stillness and transition, light and dark, beginnings and culmination. Just as the solstice can mark the longest and shortest days of the year, birth marks a powerful threshold between one world and the next, between the known and the unknown. We chose Solstice to reflect the cyclical nature of life, the sacredness of transformation, and the beauty found in both intensity and ease. It is a name that celebrates the full spectrum of the birthing journey—whether long or short, luminous or shadowed—and holds space for each family’s unique experience with reverence, joy, and deep presence.
At Solstice Midwifery, we offer compassionate, individualized, and evidence-based midwifery care throughout the childbearing year. This includes preconception visits, prenatal care, homebirth, postpartum care, and newborn care. Our appointments are curated to our client’s specific needs and health goals. We spend 60 minutes during each visit to get to know you and your family, address your concerns, and discuss your health goals. We offer all of the same tests and screenings that are available in a hospital-based practice. Our practice centers around shared decision-making and informed consent, as we want clients to be active participants in their care. At the center of our recommendations is the holistic well-being of you and your entire family. Our recommendations vary based on each client’s unique needs and preferences, but may include nutrition, lifestyle modifications, supplements, herbal remedies, and referrals to complementary modalities (physical therapy, massage, chiropractic care, acupuncture, etc.). We are also able to coordinate prescriptions as needed throughout care and carry a multitude of pharmaceutical tools with us to use during labor, birth, and the immediate postpartum. All of our families have the option for hydrotherapy and waterbirth. We provide our clients with a large birthing tub to be used during labor to promote comfort and pain relief, and offer the option to give birth in the tub as well. During our visits, we craft your preferences for your birth plan, so when we arrive at your birth, we are prepared to serve you.
While most clients that we work with choose our comprehensive package, which includes prenatal care, labor and birth support at home, postpartum care, and newborn care, we also offer our services a la carte. This means families have the option to receive prenatal care or postpartum care with us, even if they are planning to birth in the hospital or a freestanding birth center.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Jamie:
As a child, I was outgoing, silly, and always drawn to connection—a true
social butterfly. I loved being around people, asking questions, and
making others laugh. I was also fiercely determined and endlessly curious,
never satisfied with surface-level answers. I challenged authority when
things didn’t feel fair and had a strong internal compass when it came to
justice and equity. Looking back, I can see how those early qualities
helped shape me into the midwife I’ve become. My outgoing nature helps
me build genuine, trusting relationships with clients. My curiosity drives
me to keep learning and growing in my practice. My determination fuels
me through long nights and challenging births. And my deep sense of
justice shows up in my commitment to providing compassionate,
equitable care to every family I serve. Midwifery calls on the heart, the
mind, and the spirit—and in many ways, I’ve been preparing for this work
my whole life.
Sam:
As a child, I was always happiest with others. Whether that was through
meeting new people, taking care of my family, or making everyone laugh.
I was extremely outgoing and animated. I would go to the park and walk
up to the first kid, introduce myself, and play with them right away. At
the family table or on the school bus, I would tell elaborate stories, and
could get everyone interested in my tales. As I got older, I realized how
deeply empathetic I was to others, making me find joy in helping
everyone around me. Connecting with others and having people feel
comfortable with me has always been easy. I think I have always thrived
within a community where people supported each other. There has been
no better vocation for me than to be a midwife. I get to meet hundreds of
families that have entrusted me with something meaningful, their birth.
My ability to connect and hold space was something I knew how to do my
entire life.
Jenna:
As a kid, I was definitely the ringleader type—outgoing, confident, and
always cracking jokes. I made friends easily and loved being around
people. I was super independent and had a mind of my own; if something
didn’t sit right with me, I wasn’t afraid to speak up or go my own way.
Growing up, I was also a natural caretaker. Whether that was gathering up
all the neighborhood youngsters for my babysitting club or nursing my
dad back to health after breaking his collarbone (when I was 5!), it has
always been important to me that the people around me feel safe and
cared for. I can see how all of that shaped who I am now. That same bold,
ambitious energy shows up in my midwifery work—I value client
autonomy and support them as they take charge of their journey, bring
humor and warmth into the room, and thrive in the connections I build.
I’ve always been relationship-focused, and now I get to use that to
support families through one of the most transformative moments of
their lives.
Pricing:
- We charge a global fee for our comprehensive midwifery care package. We encourage families to choose an amount on a sliding scale of $5,500-$7,500. This fee is collected gradually throughout care. We require an initial deposit of $600 at the onset of care, and the remaining balance is due by 36 weeks of pregnancy. We also offer the option for extended payment plans and will further reduce our global fee on a case-by-case basis. We use a sliding scale as a tool for economic justice—recognizing that access to respectful, relationship-based care should not be determined by financial privilege. A sliding scale invites clients to contribute in a way that reflects their resources, while ensuring that quality care remains available to those who might otherwise be excluded. It is a small but powerful way to challenge systems of inequity and to redistribute access more equitably, creating space for all families—regardless of income—to receive the support they deserve during one of life’s most sacred moments.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.SolsticeMidwifery.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/solsticemidwifery
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/100091528582345/about/
Image Credits
Gather Birth, Maggie Hinchley Photography CO, and Adan Torres
