Northern Glow Midwifery LLC provides relational, family centered midwifery care by a Licensed Midwife in Traverse City and surrounding Northern Michigan.
Kristen Shook, LM, CPM, RN, BSN
Meet Kristen
When I was pregnant with my first baby, I discovered home birth through a good friend planning her fourth baby at home. At the time, I was already a registered nurse. I valued good healthcare and wanted a safe birth experience, but I also wanted something more. I wanted individualized care. I wanted time to ask questions, more than I was getting in the conventional setting. I wanted to be an active participant in decisions about my body and my baby and not pressured into interventions I didn’t want.
Home birth turned out to be a perfect fit for me. That experience changed the course of my life.
Today, I am a Licensed Midwife (LM), Certified Professional Midwife (CPM), Registered Nurse (RN), and Certified Lactation Specialist (CLS). For 25 years, I have cared for women, babies, and families through pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and beyond. I created Northern Glow Midwifery because I believe families deserve care that is both deeply personal and highly skilled. Care that honors the normal process of pregnancy and birth while remaining grounded in experience, preparation, and clinical judgment.
Many families tell me they appreciate that they don't have to choose between a midwife who feels approachable and a provider with a strong healthcare background. I believe those things belong together.
My Path to Midwifery
After the birth of my first child, I became increasingly interested in the model of care that had made such a difference in my own experience. I continued working as a nurse while raising my growing family. Along the way, I welcomed three children through home birth and became more convinced than ever that women thrive when they are known, heard, and trusted and birth in their own power and knowing. Eventually, I began apprenticing with experienced midwives in Northern Michigan and attending National College of Midwifery. Over the next several years and more than one hundred births, I learned the traditional skills and art of midwifery through hands-on experience while also completing my formal midwifery education. What began as a personal experience grew into a career that combines everything I love: caring for people, building relationships, and supporting families through major life transitions.
What Care With Me Feels Like
One of the things I hear most often from clients is that they feel supported. Appointments at Northern Glow are intentionally different from what many families are used to. We talk about your physical health, but we also make time for your questions, concerns, previous experiences, and hopes for this pregnancy. I tend to be practical and straightforward. If something looks reassuring, I'll tell you. If I have concerns, I'll tell you that too. If I recommend additional testing, consultation, or transfer of care, I'll explain my reasoning so you understand not just what I'm recommending, but why.
Many clients describe me as calming, knowledgeable, and easy to talk to. Others tell me they appreciated having someone who was available when questions came up, who took the time to explain things thoroughly, and who helped them feel both medically safe and emotionally supported. My goal is not for you to feel managed or pressured. My goal is for you to feel informed, confident, and well cared for throughout your journey.
Experience You Can Trust
My background as both a midwife and a registered nurse gives me a perspective that is unique in home birth care. I believe normal birth is something worth protecting. I also believe that excellent home birth care requires preparation, strong clinical skills, sound judgment, and the humility to recognize when additional resources are needed. Northern Glow births are attended by a highly qualified team. Your birth will be attended by me and another Licensed Midwife. Whenever possible, a third assistant who is certified in Neonatal Resuscitation is also present. Having three trained attendants at a home birth is uncommon. It allows us to provide continuous support, maintain close attention to both mother and baby, and respond efficiently if additional help is needed.
Support Beyond the Birth
One thing I've learned over the years is that families often need the most support after the baby arrives. As a Certified Lactation Specialist, I provide breastfeeding support throughout pregnancy and postpartum. I also provide newborn care and close follow-up during those early weeks when families are adjusting to life with a new baby. Because we've already built a relationship during pregnancy, postpartum care feels like a continuation of that journey. I know your story. I know your birth. I know your style and hopes for your baby.
Life Outside of Midwifery
When I'm not attending births or seeing clients, you'll usually find me spending time with my husband and our three children, exploring Northern Michigan, beaching, biking, gardening, reading, cooking, or enjoying the outdoors. One of the things I love most about midwifery is that it is community-centered work. The babies I help welcome into the world today will grow up in the same community where my own family lives, works, and plays. Caring for your family is not just about a pregnancy or birth, it's about contributing to the health and strength of our community for years to come. Nothing brings me more joy.
The Core of Northern Glow
I believe every family deserves to feel known.
I believe you deserve honest information and thoughtful guidance.
I believe healthcare works best when it is built on trust and mutual respect.
My goal is not simply to help you have a baby. My goal is to walk alongside you through one of the most important transitions of your life and help you feel supported every step of the way.
That is the core of Northern Glow Midwifery.
Certifications and Trainings:
Certified Professional Midwife
Licensed Midwife
Registered Nurse
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Certified Lactation Specialist
CPR certified
Neonatal Resuscitation Program Certified
Breech Without Borders Training
Body Ready Method Training
Spinning Babies Training
Copious Continuing Education
Education
Associate of Science in Midwifery (2019)
National College of Midwifery, Taos, New Mexico
MEAC-accredited midwifery program including three years of clinical training and care of more than 100 pregnancies and births. Graduated with a 4.0 GPA.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (2002)
Seattle Pacific University, Seattle, Washington
Included public health work and cross-cultural healthcare experiences in Costa Rica.
Professional Experience
Founder and Licensed Midwife
Northern Glow Midwifery, Traverse City, Michigan (2019–Present)
Providing comprehensive home birth, prenatal, postpartum, and newborn care for low-risk families throughout Northern Michigan.
Student Midwife and Birth Assistant
Dance of Life Midwifery, Traverse City, Michigan (2015–2019)
Completed extensive apprenticeship training, attending births and providing pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and newborn care under supervision.
Registered Nurse
Munson Medical Center, Traverse City, Michigan (2011–2020)
Public Health Nurse, Maternity Support Services
Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital, Yakima, Washington (2006–2008)
Provided prenatal education, newborn home visits, parenting support, and care coordination for families.
School Nurse
Kittitas School District, Ellensburg, Washington (2008–2010)
Pediatric Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant Nurse
Seattle Children's Hospital and Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (2002–2005)
Cared for children with complex medical conditions including cancer, blood disorders, and bone marrow transplants. Supported families through some of the most challenging moments of their lives.
