The Nest Chattanooga
Evidence based midwifery care, provided safely in your own Nest
Meet the Midwife
Hi! I'm so glad you found The Nest!
I'm Jenny Byrd, homebirth midwife based in beautiful Chattanooga, Tennessee. The question I get most often is "Why did you become a midwife?" & my answer is always the same- after the very first birth I attended, I was in love with the experience! In 2020, I had been called to assist a midwife friend at a birth; she took a nap on the couch while I cared for the laboring mom (my background in massage therapy is often appreciated at births!) I was with the family 6 or 8 hours & at the end of the day, after a beautiful empowering birth, the mom said to me "I know I just met you, but I'm so glad you were here. You recommended things that helped before I even knew to ask for them. You made this day so much better!" I love hearing that & knowing that I made someone's Big Day improved even in just some small way, whether suggesting a position change, or showing their partner how to do a hip squeeze during a contraction.
My midwifery path began with a 3 year apprenticeship, learning alongside some wonderful midwives & serving lots of incredible families. During this time, along with my countless hours of research & studying, I attended over 150 births, gaining hands-on experience & a deeper understanding of the needs of women & their families during pregnancy, birth & the postpartum period.
Summer of 2023 I completed all of the clinical requirements & competencies to sit for the midwifery national exam. In 2024, I received my North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) midwifery national certification & became licensed as a midwife in the state of Tennessee (License #150). These credentials reflect my commitment to providing a high standard of care through evidence-based practices.
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Pregnancy is a such an incredible, transformative experience & I am passionate about supporting families as they navigate through. I look forward to being a part of your story!
Education & Certifications
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Certified Professional Midwife (CPM); North American Registry of Midwives
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Birth Emergency Skills Training (B.E.S.T.)
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Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP)
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CPR, AED, & Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers
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Practical Pharmacology for Midwives
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Hands-On Suturing; HiveCE
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Placenta Medicine: Trend or Tradition
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Midwives & Pharmacology: IV Therapy
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Perinatal Mental Health
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Lactation Support Basics
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Advanced Maternal Blood Work Analysis (Functional Maternity)
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Resolving Shoulder Dystocia (ReStory Birthwork)
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Breech-Twins Comprehensive (Born Free Method)
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Massage & NeuroMuscular Therapist (TN license; retired)
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Certified Nursing Assistant, Medical Assistant (Retired)
When I'm Not Catching Babies...
...you might find me at home with my amazingly supportive husband & our 4 kids (2 girls & 2 boys), 2 cats & dog;
reading, cooking, imagining up new projects, planning our next travel adventure, hanging out in the garden, or just enjoying summer swim time. You may also find me out & about collecting photos of sunrises, sunsets, plants & all kinds of beauty!
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I love being outdoors with my family, especially in the spring & autumn by the fire. You'll often find me in the kitchen (my own, or others) experimenting with recipes, baking sourdough, learning about fermentation, or food prepping for friends & family that need a meal delivery. I just love food! Gardening adds to my kitchen joy as well & every year I grow more & more varieties of tomatoes, peppers, herbs & flowers.
I love traveling (when I don't have babies due, of course!), & even just the planning part of travel lights me up; I live for exploring our big beautiful world & hearing stories from those I meet along the way.
Looking forward to learning a bit about you too!
