Meet Our Team

Christy believes exceptional care begins with truly listening. She holds a deep respect for the innate wisdom women and birthing people have about their bodies and experiences.

A longtime Florida resident of over 30 years, Christy spent five formative years in Texas, where she gave birth to her three children, each with the care of midwives. Her births ranged from a military hospital to a birth center, and finally, a deeply personal home birth. These diverse experiences, along with the compassionate support of her midwives and doulas, inspired her to pursue midwifery as a profession.

Christy graduated from the Florida School of Traditional Midwifery in September 2015. Since then, she has cultivated a rich and varied career in maternal health, including:

• Serving in home birth and birth center practices
• Working with an OB/GYN in public health
• Practicing at a teaching hospital’s birth center
• Providing locum care for Afghan refugee women
• Founding a private home birth practice
• Serving as an expert witness in legal cases
• Opening and managing a birth center



In addition to her clinical work, Christy is a dedicated educator. She teaches licensed midwives, nurses, nurse practitioners, and certified nurse midwives, sharing her knowledge and fostering the next generation of birth professionals. Her training under licensed midwives, certified nurse midwives, and obstetricians across Florida has equipped her with a unique and balanced blend of traditional and modern clinical skills.

To date, Christy has attended over 550 births—and counting. Her practice is rooted in inclusive, compassionate care, evidence-based decision-making, shared autonomy, and the involvement of the whole family. She approaches each birth with humility, curiosity, and a deep commitment to lifelong learning.

Christy is honored to be a part of the team at Gentle Birth Center, where she continues to grow, serve, and walk alongside birthing families.

When she’s not on call, Christy is a proud mother of three college-aged children pursuing STEM fields, an avid painter, and an ocean lover.

Jennifer (Jen) Roberts has lived her calling for nearly 30 years. A mother of two sons, both born at home. She began providing professional labor companionship for hospital births to fellow military wives in the 1990s before learning there was a title and certification for it. Jennifer became a certified Bradley Method Instructor in 2000 and then a DONA certified birth Doula in 2002. Several years ago she relinquished the title of Bradley Method Instructor to develop her own childbirth education to fit her practice. She is looking forward to sharing her teachings with the patients of Gentle Birth Center.

Jennifer received most of her birthwork knowledge outside of Florida while living in various states. Her experience from shadowing Obs, being one of the first Hospital Doulas in the emerging field and learning from direct entry midwives, gave her a wealth of knowledge that only continues to increase with continued learning and research. In addition to birth work, Jennifer became a Licensed Massage Therapist in 2010.

Obtaining extensive training in perinatal and postnatal massage, herbalist training, infant massage, myofascial release, and neuromuscular therapy. She then began integrating massage in the hospital setting and at out of hospital births in the roles of: doula, midwife birth assistant, and now as a midwife. She has helped many women birth more comfortably and efficiently.

Today she is an accomplished licensed midwife having attended hundreds of births, she uses a gentle approach with immense trust in the process. Using true traditional midwifery skills in combination with the latest information in medical and midwifery literature, Jennifer can guide you through pregnancy and birth, keeping you healthy and safe. Jennifer’s work doesn’t stop at birth, though; she enjoys giving lactation support and parenting advice and tips. She is excited to work with the Gentle Birth Center and hopes to help it become a pillar of excellence within the community.

When Jen is not attending births, she is busy training her dog, a Belgian Malinois, on scent detection and doing K9 fitness. She also enjoys spending time in or near the water and spending time with her adult sons when they are available.

Hello, my name is Lorie, and I am so excited to be a part of our Gentle Birth Center OBGYN Team!  I am a Certified Professional Labor Doula and a Birth Assistant who provides a warm, nurturing approach to your care.  When I gave birth to my son, I had a wonderful Birth Coach, and it was such an amazing experience that I will never forget. I was so inspired by my Birth Coach and the support that I received from her, that I knew I wanted all Moms to have the same experience. It is important to me that you feel heard, empowered, respected and loved during your labor, birth, and postpartum journey.  As I assist our dedicated and compassionate Midwives, it is my goal to make sure you feel supported emotionally, spiritually and physically. I am your personal Cheerleader, Advocate and Encourager, whether you choose to give birth at our Center, or if you wish to have a home birth. The Gentle Birth Center is a beautiful State of the Art Facility where you are my number 1 priority. I have a heart and passion for Moms and Babies and I would be honored to be by your side for your birth experience!

Please contact Lorie directly at (561) 291-2278 for information and pricing.

My name is Brianica DeFranc and I am a Certified Full Spectrum Doula serving Palm Beach County, FL. I am married to my amazing husband, and together we have three beautiful

children. 

I became a Doula because it is my passion to educate and empower parents to have the birth experience which they desire. Birth is a life-changing experience, which is why an important focus in my practice is dedicated to mental, physical, and emotional wellness. Time with me will be spent preparing for birth and postpartum transitions.

I approach pregnancy holistically, and I would be honored to share my expertise with your family. I believe everyone deserves the support of Doula during this special time which is why I have taken steps to become credentialed to accept most Medicaid Insurance Plans! You can rest assured that you will be taken care of with Birth Your Way | Doula Offerings.

With Light, Love, and Unity, 

Brianca DeFranc 

Birth Your Way | Doula Offerings 

Cell: 561.209.4206

www.bywdo.com

Click to view my flyer

Specializing in creating nostalgic, love-soaked, cinematic films and photos for families who want more than the traditional photography. I help parents create the ultimate time capsule of their life together as a family with video and photos, so they can keep their memories alive, in motion, and with sound.

I take people through time with my films, so parents and children can always revisit their past while preserving it for the future. My work is very nostalgic and I love to bring people back to the way they felt at a certain moment and, at the same time, remind kids of how much they were and are loved!

I found myself really drawn to video. I quickly realized that it was the perfect medium for telling meaningful family stories, like births, grandparents' legacies, motherhood journeys, or a normal afternoon spent together... Capturing moments and interactions that could otherwise be forgotten! Since then, I've created some of the most touching images and films while working with wonderful families on a very emotional journey that for so many is the meaning of life.

www.suzanebacelar.com

Hello, my name is Lorie, and in addition to being a Certified Labor and Delivery Doula and Birth Assistant at The Gentle Birth Center OBGYN, I am also the Marketing and Programs Director. When we are not having Moms in labor or birthing Babies, you will find me creating and maintaining friendly relationships with our Community Business Owners. I attend Chamber of Commerce Meetings and head up our Gentle Birth Center Community Event, held here almost monthly.  I oversee meetings with and securing Vendors for our Events, while building relationships with them. I work closely with our Social Media Director on our presence on Instagram and Facebook. We want to make our presence known to all Moms so they can enjoy the Gentle Birth Experience. We also appeal to the Ladies who are not pregnant but need their Well Woman Exams and Check Ups. I look forward to meeting you soon! 

Please contact Lorie directly at (561) 291-2278 for information and pricing.