Exclusively Utilized by the Midwives of
the Midwifery and Women’s Health Care.
Anchorage Birth Center (ABC) opened its doors in August of 2015 and is exclusively utilized by the midwives of Midwifery and Women’s Health Care (MWHC) at Geneva Woods. MWHC has been participating in out-of-hospital births for more than 13 years, since its inception in 2002. We are proudly accredited by the Commission for the Accreditation of Birth Centers (CABC).
It is the belief of Anchorage Birth Center that pregnancy and childbirth are a natural part of the human experience; with respect to the individuality and uniqueness of each woman and her family’s experience. Caregivers support this experience through collaborative, compassionate care for the mother and her family.
FAQ
What does accreditation mean?
Accreditation is a symbol of excellence that means we adhere to standards of quality above that of basic licensure. For more information: https://www.birthcenters.org/bc-accreditation
Who all will attend my birth?
A midwife from MWHC is always on call for your birth. (Insert link to redirect to the Your Team page.) In addition we have highly trained Birth Assistants who support your midwife during labor, delivery and the immediate postpartum period.
What is a birth assistant?
A birth assistant is a trained health professional who assists and supports our midwives during birth. The presence of the birth assistant allows the midwife to focus on the birthing person and baby.
Birth assistants act as a second set of hands for the midwife during the birth process by:
- checking fetal heart tones
- keeping the birth room organized and well stocked
- IV setup
- medication administration
- assisting in emergency situations
Birth assistants also provide postpartum care and education and are responsible for sanitizing and preparing the birthing suites.
Each of our birth assistants are NRP (Neonatal Resuscitation) and BLS (Basic Life Support) certified as well as attending quarterly training with the midwives.
Can anyone use the birth center?
The birth center is utilized exclusively by the midwives of MWHC.
Why water?
Some of the benefits of laboring in the water include:
- Reduced pain
- Reduced sensory stimulus, thus producing less stress-related hormones
- Decreased blood pressure
- Increased ability to focus
- Increased skin elasticity, easing the strain on the perenium
- Helps dilate the cervix
- Gentler birth for baby
Most of our clients choose to labor in the tub and/or shower for at least some of the time, and about 1 in 4 give birth in the water.
Each of our birth rooms feature walk-in showers and 2 of our 3 birth rooms feature large tubs.
Birth Center Staff
Elke Syren
Birth Center Manager
Growing up in Austria it was very clear to me early in life that I was supposed to become a midwife. I was always drawn to pregnant women and babies. I was fascinated by their stories of pregnancy and birth. After completing my training in Austria, I moved to Switzerland and delivered thousands of beautiful babies in picturesque Swiss hospitals.. After meeting my husband, a lifelong Alaskan, I left my home and moved to Alaska.
Quite soon after arriving in Anchorage I connected with midwives here and started working as a birth assistant. I had never attended a birth outside of a hospital before and I was in love. After our first daughter was born I decided my needs as a mother to my children outweighed my desire to continue working full time. Shortly after she was born her sister came and I became a full time stay at home mom until the day I got a call from the midwives at Anchorage Birth Center. When they offered me a position as the birth center manager it became clear I missed having midwifery in my life. Now I work behind the scenes but still get to enjoy birth and babies. In my free time I enjoy spending time on our boat out in Prince William Sound, traveling to Hawaii and other foreign countries, hiking, biking but most of all I love spending time with my family.
Arianne Morrison, RN
Birth Assistant
My path to birth work was circuitous; serving as a pilot in the Air Force for a decade before separating to raise my three young children and start a second career in nursing. I was hooked on the midwifery model of care with the birth of my youngest child; at home, attended by Onica and Megan.
I split my professional time between Anchorage Birth Center and working as an OB RN in Bethel, Alaska. In my free time, I enjoy volunteering as an adaptive ski instructor, cyclocross racing, tending backyard honeybees, quilting and dipnetting/berry picking with my family.
Amanda Gill
RN, BSN, Birth Assistant
My interest in midwifery began in my middle school library reading a book about women having their babies at home, surrounded by female relatives and with the help of the town midwife. After having my first three children at a local hospital with three different on-call doctors I had never met, I knew I wanted my last pregnancy to be different and was lucky to have her with the Geneva Woods midwives in 2014. I was hired as a birth assistant for The Nest from 2018-2020 while I started my prerequisites for nursing school. I completed my BSN at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo in 2025 and found my way back to Alaska after graduation for work, mostly due to the lack of midwifery care available on the Big Island. I am excited to be back working in the birth field in my hometown, supporting families during their time of transition.
When I’m not working, I’m spending time with my family and two cats, Socks and Literally, or listening to a good audiobook.
Tynicha L. Roberts “Ty”
Owner / Operator of “I KAN Doula”
Tynicha L. Roberts, “Ty,” is the dedicated Owner/Operator of “I KAN Doula,” a comprehensive birth support service. She is a certified birth worker specializing in full spectrum Doula Services, Birth & Lactation Education, and Birth Assistance. With a mission rooted in her life experiences, Ty founded “I KAN Doula” in 2017, she expanded her expertise as a Lactation Educator in 2018, assisting all families in her community and virtually.
In 2023, Ty expanded her role as a Birthing Assistant, infusing her deep knowledge and dedication to the Birthing World. Her overarching goal is to provide a safe space for advocacy, emphasizing health and mental awareness, especially for minorities. Rejecting the idea that birth support is a luxury, Ty takes pride in offering purposeful emotional and physical care for all families.
Dedicated to changing perspectives on prenatal, labor, and postpartum care, Ty firmly believes that having a Doula, Midwife, or Birth Assistant is a purposeful and intentional choice for every family. As a steadfast advocate, Ty ensures a safe, empowering, and memorable birthing experience for all.