About Us

Serving Utah County Families Since 2007

Birthing Your Way was founded with one simple goal: to help women have better birth experiences. After her own difficult hospital birth, Heather Shelley set out to create a place where women feel heard, supported, and in control of their care. That vision grew into Birthing Your Way.

What began more than a decade ago in small locations across Orem, Provo, and Pleasant Grove has grown into something truly special. Our Lehi location became the first licensed birth center in Utah, offering families a safe, comfortable option that blends modern medical knowledge with the time-honored care of midwifery.

Today, Birthing Your Way is known throughout Utah County as a trusted home for personalized, out-of-hospital maternity care.

Sterile Water Injections

Compassionate & Experienced Care

Birthing Your Way is owned and operated by midwives who are deeply committed to supporting women and families. We care for you throughout pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and beyond.

Our midwives are highly trained and experienced, holding current licenses and certifications that meet or exceed state and national standards. In addition to the services we provide in-house, we maintain strong relationships with physicians, pediatricians, and specialists so you always have access to the care you need.

Birth Your Way

We believe every birth is unique. That’s why we support your personal preferences and welcome your chosen birth team—partners, family members, and doulas (we love doulas!).

We encourage childbirth education and offer a variety of comfort options to help you feel confident and supported, including:

  • Nitrous oxide
  • Birth tubs
  • Sterile water injections
  • Movement, positioning, and hands-on support

Our goal is to help you have a safe, empowering birth experience that feels right for you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More Than Just Care

At Birthing Your Way, you are more than a chart or a number. We take the time to truly know you, so your care can be personal, thoughtful, and tailored to your needs.

Over 1,000 families have trusted us with their births, and we are honored to continue serving Utah and Salt Lake Counties.

Our Team

Heather Shelley

Heather Shelley

FNP, LDEM, CPM, IBCLC

Heather has long been drawn to pregnancy and birth. As a mother of four, her own experiences—from hospital to home births—shaped her passion for supporting women through the transformative journey of childbirth.

After the birth of her second son, Heather founded Birthing Your Way, a midwifery practice centered on compassionate, evidence-based, and family-focused care. She became a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) in 2009 and is a Licensed Direct-Entry Midwife (LDEM) in Utah.

Heather later earned her BSN and MSN, becoming a Family Nurse Practitioner-Certified (FNP-C), and is also an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) with over 20 years of experience supporting breastfeeding families.

Known for her calm presence and whole-person approach, Heather is dedicated to honoring the natural process of birth and empowering families to make informed, confident choices throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.

Christie Bigham

Christie Bigham

LDEM

Christie is a Certified Professional Midwife who started her journey into birth work in 1983. She practices a traditional, family-centered approach to midwifery that honors the natural process of birth while providing knowledgeable and compassionate care. She is licensed in the state of Utah and brings a strong educational foundation to her work, holding a Bachelor’s degree in Family Life from Brigham Young University and a Master’s degree in Nutrition from Liberty University. Her combined experience in midwifery and nutrition allows her to support mothers and families with both practical wisdom and evidence-based guidance.

Alexis Crandall

Alexis Crandall

DEM

Alexis graduated from Utah Valley University with a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science in 2022 and has been working in the birth world since 2023. She has attended over 100 births and is passionate about supporting women and families through holistic, compassionate care. Her approach honors the spiritual, emotional, and physical aspects of health.Born and raised in Utah and one of nine children, Alexis values family-centered care and meaningful connection. She loves learning, reading, cooking, and staying active. She feels deeply honored to walk alongside families during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.

Dr. Baird

Dr. Baird

D.O.

Dr. Baird provides collaborative medical support to our midwives, ensuring safe, comprehensive care throughout pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. He is available for consultation when clinically indicated or upon request.

Dr. Baird earned his Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from Brigham Young University and later completed his medical training, internship, and residency in Kansas City, Missouri. He became board certified in Family Medicine in 1998 and has practiced the full scope of family medicine, including obstetrics, pediatrics, adolescent, and adult care.

Known for his excellent bedside manner, Dr. Baird takes time to listen, explain complex medical information clearly, and support patients in making informed decisions. He believes complete medical care addresses the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of individuals and values continuity of care for the whole family.

Melissa Erickson

Melissa Erickson

RN, IBCLC

Melissa Erickson is a student midwife who received her call to midwifery in October 2025. She is a Registered Nurse with over 10 years of experience in Postpartum and Special Care Nursery and has practiced as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) since 2011. Melissa is deeply committed to protecting the physiology of birth, supporting postpartum recovery, and helping families feel informed and cared for during this tender season.

As a mother of five, her personal experiences include midwife-assisted and unassisted births, infertility and IVF, cesarean birth, a redemptive VBAC, and navigating postpartum mental health challenges. These experiences shape her compassionate, steady approach to care and her dedication to honoring each woman’s unique journey.

Allison Morin

Allison Morin

Postpartum Doula

Allison has spent years working in the birth world and is deeply passionate about supporting women and families during the childbearing season. With a background in postpartum care and education, she brings both experience and a genuine love for this work to the birth center community.