Finding the right care for your natural birth journey is a deeply personal decision. When you are looking to hire a midwife in the Santa Clarita area, it is essential to find a provider who upholds high clinical standards, holds national accreditation, and offers a relationship-centered approach to care.
Hiring a midwife is about finding a partner who empowers you to trust your body’s capabilities while providing the safety and professional standards of an accredited medical environment.
1. What should I look for when choosing a birth center?
Accreditation is one thing people ask about, but it doesn’t tell the whole story. A credential from an outside body doesn’t automatically make a birth center the right fit for you — or even a good one. What matters more is the experience and philosophy of the midwives, the outcomes they achieve, the relationships they build with families, and whether their approach aligns with your birth vision.
That said, accreditation status is worth understanding. CABC accreditation means a center has gone through a formal external review process. It’s one form of verification — but it’s not the only one, and its absence doesn’t mean a center is unsafe or inferior. Many excellent birth centers operate outside accreditation for a variety of reasons, including the administrative burden it places on small practices, or simply because their standards exceed what any checklist can capture.
When evaluating any birth center, dig deeper than credentials:
• How long have the midwives been practicing, and what is their experience with complications?
• What are their transfer rates and outcomes?
• What is their philosophy around intervention?
• Can you speak with families they’ve cared for?
Those answers will tell you far more than whether a plaque is on the wall.
Meet Our Highly Accomplished Midwife Collective
Our birth center is home to an accomplished collective of midwives who bring a wealth of specialized knowledge and professional advocacy to your care.
Renee Sicignano, LM, CPM, IBCLC
As the founder of the area’s first free-standing birth center in 2010, Renee has served the Santa Clarita and Antelope Valley communities since 1999. Having attended more than 1,500 births, she provides the experience, evidence-based research, and humor families need to embrace their innate ability to give birth naturally. Renee is also an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), providing the highest credential in lactation support.
Julia Underwood, LM, CPM
Julia holds a Bachelor of Science in Midwifery from the Midwives College of Utah and is licensed by the California Medical Board. She is a dedicated advocate for reducing birth disparities, specifically focusing on the challenges faced by Black birthing individuals and families. By providing culturally competent, holistic, and personalized care, she ensures a birth experience that prioritizes autonomy and trust.
We are proud to have the midwives of ROAM Midwifery as part of our collective, working directly out of the SCV Birth Center.
- Jordan McCart, LM, CPM: A graduate of the National College of Midwifery, Jordan apprenticed for four years at a high-volume birth center in Los Angeles and served mothers at the Shiphrah Birthing Home in the Philippines. She is licensed by the state of California and governed by the Medical Board of California.
- Stephanie Pihlmann, CNM: Stephanie is a Certified Nurse Midwife with a Master’s Degree in Nursing (MSN) from Frontier Nursing University. Her licensure follows years of experience as a labor, delivery, and postpartum registered nurse in Los Angeles area hospitals.
Tara Geary, Ultrasound Technician
Tara is a board-certified ultrasound technologist and owner of On-Site Ultrasound Services. She specializes in OB/GYN imaging and provides a personal, informative, and stress-free experience for expecting families. Tara ensures the baby is healthy and growing appropriately by taking detailed images that are reviewed by Board Certified Radiologists.
Why Our Care is Different
What sets our collective apart is our commitment to evidence-based care and the safety of our clients.
- Double Provider Attendance: All of our births are attended by two midwives or a midwife and a senior midwifery student, whereas most practices offer only one midwife and a birth assistant.
- Advanced Safety Certifications: Our team is certified in Neonatal Resuscitation (NRP), Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Fetal Monitoring, and Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics (ALSO).
- Extensive Training: We have completed clinical training in out-of-hospital births, including water births and home births, and have worked for years under senior midwives.
- Highest Lactation Credentials: Our midwives are International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC).
Hearing from Our Families
The true evidence of our care lies in the experiences of the mothers and birthing people who have walked this journey with us:
“I have never felt so cared and looked out for both physically and mentally. I often referred to them as my pregnancy cheerleaders! I came to them full of uncertainty and anxiety, and the more time I spent with them, the more empowered I felt.” (Brittani Flagg)
“The midwives help you feel confident as a mom, not scared as a patient. They teach and empower and encourage the whole way through.” (Emily Perry)
“To be championed, held and heard through the early days of postpartum, to be able to grab the phone and have your midwife, your lifeline, answer right away… a privilege.” (Kyleigh Willis)
“They always answered all my questions without talking down to you the way Dr at the hospitals typically do. When I was struggling with breastfeeding the first week or so they offered a lot of support.” (Haley McBeath)
If you are ready to hire a midwife who treats you as a partner and a friend, we invite you to connect with our collective. We are here to support your best life and your most empowered birth.
SCV Birth Center
(661) 254-3000