Serena Basten Kachinsky brings over two decades of bedside experience in emergency departments across the country to her midwifery practice. Most of her 20+ years were spent as a registered nurse, where she honed her skills and deepened her commitment to compassionate patient care. Her journey to midwifery is the realization of a lifelong dream inspired by her childhood. As a young girl, Serena idolized her aunt, a practicing OB/GYN, and spent countless hours pretending to “catch babies.” Baby-catching is in her blood—her paternal great-grandmother was a midwife in Appalachia, a legacy Serena proudly continues.
Serena’s personal birth experiences on The Farm in Summertown, TN, where she delivered her three children, were pivotal in shaping her passion for midwifery. The birth of her daughter, Claire Aspen, reignited her desire to support families through the transformative process of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care. While she has cherished her career as an emergency department nurse, Serena is thrilled to now guide families through their birthing journeys.
A firm believer in the power of physiological birth, Serena advocates for creating supportive, intervention-free environments where the natural process of birth can unfold safely. She is committed to working as an integrated part of the medical system, ensuring her clients receive evidence-based, culturally sensitive care. She empowers families with knowledge, resources, and data, allowing them to make informed decisions that align with their beliefs and values.
Serena completed her midwifery training with The Farm Midwives in Summertown, TN, world renowned for their expertise in physiologic birth. She achieved her certification through the rigorous NARM PEP process and continues to prioritize professional growth by maintaining over 45 hours of continuing education annually in topics such as fetal monitoring and obstetric emergencies. Serena is certified in Neonatal Resuscitation, Basic Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support, and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (all renewed every two years). She also actively participates in local peer review with Tennessee midwives to ensure accountability and excellence in her practice.
Serena holds a biology degree, magna cum laude with highest honors, from Sweet Briar College in Virginia and earned her nursing degree from the College of the Redwoods in Humboldt County, CA. In addition to her midwifery work, she is a trained Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE), serving victims of sexual violence in southern Middle Tennessee through the Center of Hope.
Her dedication to culturally sensitive care stems from her diverse experiences, including working with the Amish community and the multicultural population she served at Kaiser Oakland. Serena is a fierce advocate for informed consent and client autonomy, empowering her clients mmto feel safe, respected, and supported throughout their care.
To Serena, midwifery is more than a profession; it is a calling to give meaning to life by supporting one of its most profound and universal experiences: birth. She believes every family deserves a compassionate and empowering journey into parenthood, rooted in respect and care.