Meet the Bloom Birth Ohio Team | Kristen Huffman, Community Midwife | Akron and Northeast Ohio – Bloom Birth Ohio

Meet Kristen

I believe deeply in the spiritual journey to midwifery and that our education and experiences shape who we become. Each experience layers a complexity that matures our understanding and ability to serve women better. I value the women who learn midwifery sitting at the foot of birth. These are the people who have seen birth in its true unfiltered raw beauty. This is where we learn what it should be like and what it is like when we honor and respect the natural process. My goal is to carry on the beautiful tradition of supporting women in their childbearing years like so many have before me. Birth is a right of passage that deserves to be honored and protected.

One of my biggest goals is for home birth to be a standard option for my daughters’ generation. I want to live to see women take back their power in birth and show society what is possible when we take care of our bodies and prepare mentally and physically for birth. Most importantly I want education on natural birth to be so widespread that we take the overwhelming fear out of the birth process.

As a first time mom I went into birth feeling prepared and ready to advocate for the birth I wanted. I quickly learned that there was more to it than that, and I hadn’t prepared quite well enough to stand my ground. I had an ok hospital birth that I can only really describe as “just not quite what I wanted.” After my second birth turned to an emergency cesarean at 34 weeks, I knew I had to educate myself deeper. This is where my passion for birth really began.

In the depths of my recovery from a traumatic birth I found comfort and strength in learning the reality and statistics of VBAC and home birth. I went on to have two unassisted home births after cesarean, and my passion for birth has only grown from there.

The most important thing that I hope for every client to take away from our time together is confidence. I hope that when the day of their birth comes they look forward to my presence because of the bond we have built but that they don’t feel like they need me. Every woman is capable of birthing her baby. Your attendant should be a friend and supportive member of your team that brings out the most confident and powerful version of you. They should never make you feel like you’re not the most valuable part of that team.

My passion with birth really lies with the woman who has been told she can’t — The first time mom who isn’t sure what she’s capable of. The VBAC mom who has been told her body is broken. The mom with birth trauma who needs extra love and support to trust herself again.

I’ve been in all of these places, and I want to walk that journey with you too. You are capable and you are worthy of a beautiful birth with a supportive team.

Meet the Rest of Your Care Team

Brandi Kloster

Birth Assistant

Hi I’m Brandi, I began my birth work journey after having a powerful birth (cliché, I know). It got me thinking, if I felt empowered then why shouldn’t others feel that way?! Inspired, it led me to a career supporting others through this significant time.

In my down time I stay busy being a wife and a mother to 6 active, awesome kids. You can almost always catch me on the field or in the gym.

Some of my passions include God, coffee, plants, essential oils, baby-wearing, traveling, group exercise, crafting, crystals, nature, tattoos and herbal healing. But above all, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends.

I love to learn and grow. I like to encourage and empower families through their life journeys! There is nothing like becoming a family! I absolutely LOVE birth and can’t wait to be a part of yours. And beyond.

Amanda Norcom

Birth Assistant

Hi I’m Amanda, while attending nursing school I worked in a step down unit at a nursing home and in a monitored unit at a hospital. As I was finishing up nursing school I was also finishing the last trimester of first pregnancy, I knew home birth was the best choice for our family. I went on to have three other home births with all different stories.

I worked a with a home birth midwife and attended many births in that year, even with my third child tagging along. I loved attending births and supporting moms through labor with my experience as a home birth mother and my general knowledge of health, but the commitment of birth work wasn’t right for our young family and I stepped back to focus on them. Now that our children are much older, I have the flexibility to be able to work at unexpected times and am so excited to be back supporting mothers through their birth; and I couldn’t ask for a better Midwife to partner with. I feel I bring a calm presence to your birth space and knowledge that fits very well with the BloomBirth team. I love to keep learning, and love that the BloomBirth Team makes continuing education and keeping up with the best practices for home birthing families a priority.

Brittney Emerson

Lactation Counselor

Hey Mama! I’m Brittney, a Mama like you raising her two little rainbows with my high school sweetheart right here in Northeast Ohio. Our journey to parenthood was far from what I imagined it would be, but our struggles with infertility, ties and food allergies opened my eyes to the lack of support for the Mother/Baby Dyad and lack of education to help when things aren’t picture perfect. A desire to help Mamas avoid the postpartum experiences I had launched me into birth work to be an active part of changing the narrative.

I am a Certified Breastfeeding Counselor (in the process of becoming an IBCLC) hoping to help you build confidence, be prepared for speed bumps and troubleshoot along the way. When I show up for you and baby I’m bringing my personal experience, a heck of a lot of research/education and my “we can figure this out” attitude to help you walk away feeling confident in your ability to feed your baby.

If I’m not with a Mama helping them navigate their breastfeeding relationship or capturing photos of growing families welcoming their newest little love, you’ll find me with my own Tiny Humans leading dance parties, experimenting in the kitchen, spending time out in nature, or devouring a book (and the hidden snacks) after bedtime.

Meah Beans

Massage & Postpartum Specialist

I am a devoted birth and wellness practitioner, student of life, and proud home birth mother. Since 2023, I’ve been supporting growing families as a birth and postpartum doula, and birth assistant with goals to become a midwife.

My own experience as a home birth mother allowed me to really understand the sacred experience birth truly is. I felt guided by intuitive care and deep reverence for the birthing journey. I understood the power of informed, loving support. Now, I walk that path with other families, offering a holistic approach that honors each birthing person’s unique rhythm.

Care with me includes gentle relaxation massage, helping nurture your mind, body, and spirit.

At home, you’ll find me curled up with a birth or midwifery book, hiking through nature, tending my garden, or dreaming of my next travel adventure. As a wife and a mother, I know firsthand the importance of nurturing connection, balance, and presence. It’s a joy and an honor to bring all of that into my work.

Tori Miner

Postpartum Specialist

Motherhood has taken me on quite the journey. I traveled to Wichita, KS for college, got married young and graduated with a Zoology degree while 6 months pregnant with my daughter. I don’t remember debating on a natural birth – I just knew that was the plan. I read all the books, ate well, and thought I was prepared. I even got the unmedicated birth experience I longed for… and yet felt completely disoriented and alone caring for my new baby. How could becoming a mom feel like a normal and natural part of life, and also the most earth-shattering transition I’ve ever been through?

I found a course through Innate Traditions that taught ancestral practices for Postpartum Care and I began serving mothers in 2022. All of us need to be witnessed and held well beyond our births. Each pregnancy I’ve carried has changed me radically. Some of my babies have lived and some have not, yet I have gone through the postpartum period all the same.

My care is centered around healing for the postpartum body. I bring nourishing food, herbal tea, oil massage and warming modalities to the comfort of your home. I also lead workshops, host women’s circles, and attend births as a Doula and Midwife’s Assistant. I simply can’t stay away from all things birth-related and would be honored to be a part of your village.

Amanda Reynolds

Ultrasound

Hi, my name is Amanda, and I’m the proud sonographer partnered with Kristen to bring you the best prenatal care. With years of experience as a maternal fetal medicine sonographer, I specialize in diagnostic fetal ultrasounds and offer a wide range of other studies, including abdominal, pelvic, breast, vascular, thyroid, and more.

My approach is grounded in a commitment to healthcare autonomy and a deep respect for each client’s unique journey. I blend my clinical expertise with a warm, personal touch—providing high-quality, client-centered ultrasound care in a cozy and welcoming environment. I am dedicated to creating a space where every patient feels genuinely seen, heard, and truly valued.

Rachel Russel

Pelvic Floor Therapy & OT

Hi. I’m Rachel. After having my first tiny human in 2018, I quickly realized there was more to recovering from pregnancy than just a 6 week followup with my OBGYN. By the end of most nights, I could barely walk upstairs and getting into my pajama’s was a whole other struggle. I knew from my background as an occupational therapist, something was not right. So I set out on a search for help—and found a pelvic floor therapist.

During the pandemic, I was blessed with a second tiny human. Things did not go as planned and ended up in an emergent caesarean section. What I learned was this recovery would look completely different from my first birth—both physically and mentally. Thankfully, I was able to use my OT skills to move my body safely and efficiently, when completing all of my daily activities, including being a mom.

What I came to realize from my personal experiences, and talking with other moms—everyone’s journey is different. New moms needed a whole-body approach to achieving pelvic wellness. And this is how Rooted Pelvic Wellness, LLC came to fruition in 2021

Now as I move into women’s health, I have taken continuing education courses specific to pelvic health and manual therapies to provide quality pelvic floor therapy. My approach honors your body’s innate wisdom to heal itself because you know your body better than anyone. My approach considers not only your physical health, but also your mental, emotional, and energetic bodies to provide you with complete holistic care.

I will work with you to provide client-centered care either in your own home or in the clinic—whichever serves you best. I will help to provide you with an integrative, body-positive occupational therapy approach to help you achieve your health and wellness goals.

Riana Taktikos

Pelvic Floor Therapy

Hi I’m Dr. Riana Taktikos, a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist serving Trumbull, Mahoning, and Geauga County. I have extensive training and experience in Pelvic Floor Therapy and Holistic Wellness. I combine evidence-based techniques with a patient-centered approach to deliver personalized one-on-one care.

I am passionate about helping women have better birth experiences and postpartum recoveries, and believe in treating the whole person and addressing the root causes of discomfort to provide lasting solutions.

I have 4 beautiful children born 4 different ways (emergency c-section, schedule c-section, hospital vaginal birth after multiple c-sections, and a home birth) which has transformed my practice to what it is today. In my free time I love to run and weight lift, spend outdoor quality time with the kiddos, make sourdough bread, and wrestle chickens.

Client Testimonials

I do not have enough positive things to say about Kristen. I was very diligent in my process for interviewing midwives when I first found out I was pregnant. It was hard because it was my first pregnancy and I really just knew in my heart what I wanted and didn’t know if I would find that individual. I had seen very few recommendations for her but I really liked how responsive she was in setting up an interview. Our first call I took by myself as I was working and I just felt so different than with other midwives. She trusted me and that made me trust her. We set up a second call with my husband to make sure it was all a fit and immediately in the call he was really on board. From my prenatal appointments to post partum appointments, Kristen was diligent in her care. She would hear my fears and worries and help me talk them out. She is super educated and not prideful, if she needed to ask her mentor she didn’t shy away from stating that. There was never a time where I felt like she wasn’t there for me in my care of her. As time neared my birth she reassured me of my capacity and nature. We talked about and visualized my birthing day and had a backup plan should we need it. As a first time mom I was fully prepared to go to 41 weeks and have a long labor, but at 37 weeks I woke up at 5 am with bloody show. I called Kristen immediately and she picked up and offered to come and check me. From our time together and all she had taught me I knew that resting and eating/hydrating were most important at signs of labor. I was so calm. I told her I would keep her updated as I progressed but that I needed to rest. My labor unlike the average first time mom progressed really quickly. By 10:30 I was having contractions 3 minutes apart and 1 minute or more in length. I called Kristen and said it was time and thankfully she was very close by to my house. When she got there, I was having very intense contractions. She was filling up the tub and getting everything ready and when a contraction would come she came and did counter pressure on my hips. Each time reassuring me I was doing great. At around 11:30 I got in the tub for what I think was rest and be grateful time. Each contraction after that was so so intense. I had vocalized along my pregnancy that I had no desire for cervical checks but as the contractions became greater in pressure I needed reassurance to know if baby was coming soon or if it would be awhile. I asked Kristen to check me and she did, affirming that my body was working optimally and baby was doing everything right. Her head was right there. My baby was born at 12:50 pm. As soon as she arrived, Kristen was monitoring me carefully and I was unfortunately bleeding a bit too much. She and my husband and her assistant helped me out of the tub and to the toilet to hopefully get my placenta out. The hope was that once the placenta came out, the bleeding would subside. It was unfortunately not the case. I tore pretty good and passed out twice on the way to my bed. Kristen took every measure to make sure the bleeding would stop and I knew how serious it was when she told me if I passed out one more time, we would call an ambulance. It was the last thing I wanted. They sat me on the floor in my bedroom and had me eat and drink electrolytes, and she gave me tinctures. Thankfully my bleeding slowed and I did not pass out again. She examined my tear and was very honest that the best choice was for this to be looked at by a doctor in the hospital. While I was bummed to go to the hospital, I am so thankful she wasn’t too proud or crunchy to help me get the care I needed. So alas, we went to the hospital and she came with us. She stayed the entire time and while my husband held our baby, Kristen held my hand as I got sutured. I think back to that and get emotional because I felt so safe. I knew that she had my care and well being at the forefront of her mind. After I got sutured she went back to our house while we waited to get discharged and met us there. When we got back to the house it was completely cleaned up. Everything was in its proper place like nothing had even happened. I know she and her assistant brandy (whom we also loved) worked tireslessly this day. When we got back to the house she made sure I was tucked into bed and perfectly fine. Our postpartum care was incredible as well. I don’t want to have another midwife, ever. Kristen is the epitome of what a midwife should be. I am so thankful for her. For trusting and believing in me as a first time mom and never ensuing any doubt or fear in my brain. I am thankful that my well being was always her priority and that she was always honest. If you are considering Kristen but have hesitations, please know you will receive the best care from a person who believes in you and supports your intuition. Kristen, with all my heart and love, THANK YOU. 🙏🏻

Kristen was my midwife for my second home birth. She was absolutely wonderful. I'm looking forward to having her at my next birth. She was so helpful in my pregnancy. I really struggled with a lot of things and she would often stop by, after I texted her that I was struggling, to check on me(with my permission of course). I had a lot of contractions and weird episodes with shaking. She worked with me through them and always listened to my concerns. She never made me feel stupid for asking questions or being fearful of labor despite being through it before. She was very cautious to ask me what I was okay with before doing it. Things such as using a Doppler, if I wanted my urine checked and etc. even in labor. Kristen is as hands on or hands off as you need her. She reads the room well and is very knowledgeable. If theres anything she doesnt know (which is rare) she consults other midwives to gain more knowledge. You can see her love for Christ in her practice. She made me feel safe and cared for and I can say I gained a friend through this whole experience. Kristen was an answer to my prayers and I am grateful for her. Pros: in touch with emotional side of labor and birth, flexible with appointments and comes to your home, Very reasonably priced, included prenatals, a pelvic floor therapy appointment, lactation and more in her package. Cons: She's amazing there's no cons Pictures of my sweet boy born March 8, 2025. 6lbs 14oz

There are few people that when you see their profession in action, you know they were truly made to do it. Kristen embodies the very heart of midwifery! She delivered my baby boy in March of 2025 and I could not imagine my home birth experience with anyone else. As a first time mom, pregnancy and birth was a world of unknowns. Kristen provided me with the care to ease my mind and prepare my body both physically and mentally. Despite her busy schedule, her prenatal appointments were never rushed and I felt an instant comfort with her to ask any question. She is extremely knowledgeable- I learned more in my first appointment with her than I had with any doctor! My wishes were always respected- she thoroughly explained every medical action and gave me control of final decisions. I did not fully understand the extent of Kristen’s care until I entered labor. She tirelessly and selflessly supported me through a lengthy labor. Her encouragement and guidance strengthened me from the first contraction to last push. Kristen’svery presence brings a sense of peace to labor and empowers women to do what our amazing bodies were made to do in a natural and comfortable setting. I will be forever grateful to Kristen and my home birth experience and strongly recommend her for your journey! She is a blessing.

I loved having Kristen as a midwife from start to finish. She respected my decisions throughout my pregnancy. She is so knowledgeable in so many different areas of pregnancy and birth. I felt totally confident going into my birth. My recent birth of my daughter was my best experience out of all three of my kiddos. Would highly recommend, Kristen!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The home birth experience of my dreams — thanks to Kristen As a first-time mom, I had so many emotions going into pregnancy — excitement, fear, uncertainty — especially when it came to labor and birth. I knew I wanted to have my baby at home, but I also knew that I needed the right person by my side. The moment I met Kristen, I felt this immediate sense of peace. She was exactly who I didn't even know I was hoping for. Kristen made me feel so safe, so seen, and so completely supported every step of the way. She took the time to truly listen, to answer every single one of my questions (no matter how small or repetitive), and to build a relationship of trust that carried me through my entire journey. When it came time to give birth, things were hard — emotionally, physically — but never once did I feel alone or unsure. Kristen was calm, grounded, and steady in every moment. Her presence was everything. She reminded me how strong I was, how capable my body was, and she held space for me in a way that allowed me to fully surrender to the process. Even with all the unknowns and the weight of being a first-time mom, my birth ended up being exactly what I wanted and needed — and that's because Kristen was there. She created an environment that was safe, sacred, and full of love. I can't imagine having done it with anyone else. If you're considering a home birth or looking for a midwife who truly honors you and your experience, Kristen is that person. She's a gift, and I'll always be grateful she was part of my story.