Meet Our Team
Our team consists of at least one midwife and one assistant or student midwife at each birth. You will have the opportunity to meet anyone that may be a part of your baby's birthday throughout your prenatal visits. All midwives, assistants, and students are certified in adult CPR and neonatal resuscitation. All current team members have either worked as doulas or have doula training as well.
Nichole Feinauer, CPM, LM Midwife
Nichole began her journey to become a midwife in 2001. She started on her path as a DONA certified birth doula attending both hospital and home births in Georgia. She also worked as a Lamaze certified childbirth educator at a pregnancy resource center. In 2004, Nichole started a membership based nonprofit organization to bring together local birth professionals. This organization served as a resource for both families and birth professionals for almost 20 years.
Nichole assisted at her first home birth as an apprentice midwife during the Summer of 2007. She quickly realized this is what she was meant to do. While continuing to have children, teach classes & lead a growing nonprofit, Midwifery training often took a backseat. In 2017 Nichole and her family relocated to central Virginia where she found her place in a local birth center. While there she attended births at both the freestanding birth center and at home, and was able to complete her Midwifery training.
She then moved to Tennessee in May of 2019 to establish a Midwifery practice and continue raising her family. This was short lived as she knew her family belonged back in VA. She returned to VA in February 2022, and opened The Nest in March 2022. Nichole is now also a registered NARM preceptor.
Nichole has been married to Scott for 27 years. Together they have 10 children, 7 of which were home water births. They also have one granddaughter that was born at the birth center. Nichole has personal experience with fertility issues including MTHFR, recurrent loss, and has had a baby in the NICU. She has breastfed all of her children over varying periods of time and has dealt with many nursing hurdles.
Sophia Feinauer, Student Midwife
As the second of ten children, Sophia has always had a strong interest in childbirth and different care models. Her mother had multiple home births, and Sophia often helped, as well as attend others. In March 2018, she completed DONA doula training and assisted with births from January to April of 2020. Sophia's fascination with the medical field led her to enroll in a Phlebotomy program from May 18th to July 15th, 2021, and passed the certification exam on August 10th earning her CPTC. She is currently enrolled in college to earn a Bachelor’s in Integrative Health and Medicine.
In September 2024, Sophia had the privilege of delivering her own child at The Nest, with her mother and another midwife present. Experiencing her dream water birth was incredibly empowering. She says, "it was a powerful reminder of my capabilities, and the support I received reaffirmed my strength." This experience further deepened her understanding and passion for out-of-hospital pregnancy care and births.
Elizabeth Leonard, Staff Support
At The Nest, Liz plays a vital role in ensuring the facility runs smoothly and provides exceptional support to its community. Her responsibilities include general facility maintenance, such as snow removal, housekeeping, and landscaping, to maintain a safe and welcoming environment. She also contributes to event planning and support by preparing snacks for Birth Circle gatherings, offering social and emotional support at Red Tent events, and assisting with food preparation. Liz recently completed Birth Assistant Training as well as Neonatal Resuscitation. Currently, Liz is expanding her expertise by studying Entrepreneurship and Business at Germanna Community College and pursuing Virginia DMAS doula certification. Beyond her work at The Nest, she volunteers with Postpartum Support Virginia as a facilitator and mentor, offering guidance and care to new parents. Her dedication to maintaining the facility and supporting families showcases her commitment to creating a nurturing and empowering environment for the community.