Meet the Resolve Team
About Amy Michaelson-Ratcliffe, CPM, LM
Originally from the Pacific Northwest, Amy has spent her adult life living in various areas of the United States as well as overseas. She is married to a Southern Gentleman and has four children whom she has birthed, and two more that her husband has brought her to love.
Amy's experience in birth work began with working as a birth doula, childbirth educator, postpartum doula and breastfeeding counselor 12 years before she followed her resolve to become a midwife. Amy graduated cum laude from the Midwives College of Utah with her Bachelor of Science in Midwifery. During her education, she gained clinical experience with midwives in Singapore, Utah, Germany, and Virginia. Amy is certified with the North American Registry of Midwives as a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) - the only type of care provider trained exclusively in community birth. She is licensed under the Virginia Board of Medicine as a Licensed Midwife.
In Amy's spare time, she enjoys hiking, kayaking, barefoot trail-running, knitting, reading, and exploring. Every day she works intently to love justice, seek mercy and walk humbly (Micah 6:8).
Amy's experience in birth work began with working as a birth doula, childbirth educator, postpartum doula and breastfeeding counselor 12 years before she followed her resolve to become a midwife. Amy graduated cum laude from the Midwives College of Utah with her Bachelor of Science in Midwifery. During her education, she gained clinical experience with midwives in Singapore, Utah, Germany, and Virginia. Amy is certified with the North American Registry of Midwives as a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) - the only type of care provider trained exclusively in community birth. She is licensed under the Virginia Board of Medicine as a Licensed Midwife.
In Amy's spare time, she enjoys hiking, kayaking, barefoot trail-running, knitting, reading, and exploring. Every day she works intently to love justice, seek mercy and walk humbly (Micah 6:8).
Ady Velarde, Birth Assistant, Student Midwife
Ady joined the Resolve Birth Services team in 2020 as a birth assistant. She holds a bachelors degree in Public Health and a masters degree in Health and Wellness. She is studying at National College of Midwifery to become a licensed, certified professional midwife and plans to sit for her board exam in 2021. She loves serving families in the childbearing year and holds certifications as a lactation educator/counselor, birth doula, and Lamaze childbirth educator. She has been working in the healthcare and public health sectors since 2015 and plans to continue doing so for years to come!
Akilah White, Birth Assistant
Akilah joined Resolve as a birth assistant in2020. A Virginia native Akilah began her career as a birth worker the beginning of 2018 and hasn’t looked back. Akilah is now a certified DONA birth doula, postpartum doula, Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator and midwife assistant. Whether in the hospital, birth center, or home Akilah aims to support families in building evidence-based decisions and empowering them throughout their journey.
Akilah is a mother of two young adults and a wife to one devoted husband. In her spare time, she is a plant hobbyist, enjoys traveling, shopping, great conversations, game night and spending time with family and friends.
Akilah is a mother of two young adults and a wife to one devoted husband. In her spare time, she is a plant hobbyist, enjoys traveling, shopping, great conversations, game night and spending time with family and friends.
Ashley Brown, Birth Assistant
Ashley joined Resolve as a birth assistant in 2019. She’s a devoted wife and mother of four and is committed to continually growing in purpose. With a heart for moms, babies, and families, she seeks to help families make informed choices with their healthcare and have positive birth experiences and beyond. Ashley’s been involved in birth work since 2015, and is currently passionately pursuing doula certification and midwifery school. Due to her dedication to her community, Ashley is the recipient of the DONA IMPACT doula training award program and will soon be attending the Midwives College of Utah.
Jessi Robinson, Birth Assistant
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Jessi joined the Resolve Birth Services team in 2020 as a birth assistant. She and her husband have two children, one of whom was born at home under the care of a midwife. Through that experience, Jessi became aware of the beauty of community birth. She is thrilled to now be part of a team that creates a safe and loving environment for others ushering new life into the world. For fun, she likes to read, take long walks outside while listening to a great podcast, and do messy crafts with her kids. |
Hope Metivier-Rooyakkers, Birth Assistant
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Hope became a birth assistant for Resolve in 2020. Hope is a full spectrum doula and inclusive childbirth educator with years of experience in coaching, nursing, healthcare administration, and birth work. Hope looks forward to continuing to encourage the families and providers of Hampton Roads by enthusiastically promoting non-judgmental support for their choices.
Hope currently resides in beautiful Virginia Beach with her husband, Ryan, whom she practices with collaboratively as the COO and Perinatal Consultant of Colley Avenue Chiropractic and Bodyworks, 16 year old twin boys, Byron and Blake, 5 year old, Finley, and their giant fur-baby, Koda. In their free time the Rooyakkers family can be found enjoying the arts, spending time exploring the wilderness of Virginia Beach, and yes....in a household full of boys.... video games. |
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