Advisory Board - Birthpedia

Birthpedia Advisory Board

Birthpedia is a platform created with the purpose of reaching the majority of expectant families across the nation with conception, pregnancy, birth, postpartum support and newborn care information. The concept is to provide a voice and face to evidence based information on birth through the form of Birthpedia Contributors speaking in video format. Like platforms such as Wikipedia, Birthpedia strives to remove bias from our delivery and only provide information. The human element makes it relatable, however it makes our content more susceptible to bias.

Though the content (information) on Birthpedia is not for treating, diagnosing or to replace any health related advice, there needs to be a professional governing voice to determine what Birthpedia content most applies to the expectant family. Therefore an Advisory Board has been implemented to address concerns over content. In many cases, the determining factor would be- is the content evidenced-based information delivered in a way that is in the best interest of the expectant family?

Advisory Board Members

Dr. Amber Price, DNP

Amber received a Bachelor in Behavioral Science from the University of Maryland, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Old Dominion University. She completed her graduate degree at the University of Cincinnati, with a Master of Nursing in Midwifery, and a post-Masters certificate in Global Women’s Health. She received her Executive Doctorate in Nursing from The Johns Hopkins University, with a research focus on Respectful Maternity Care (RMC), particularly the intrapartum monitoring of obese patients, and improving maternal-fetal outcomes in that population. She is board certified through the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB), and is a voting member of the American College of Nurse Midwives (ACNM). She is President of the American College of Nurse-Midwives in VA. Amber serves on several state executive boards, including the Maternal Mortality Review board, and the Perinatal Quality board. She was nominated for Birth Advocate of the Year in 2015, and was the recipient of the Monarch award for Innovation in Nursing in 2017. In 2018, she was nominated for Global Visionary in Women's Health. While serving as Vice President at The Women’s Hospital at Henrico Doctors’, Amber drove important innovative change initiatives that had impact on a national level, including a 27% reduction in cesarean rates, implementation of a collaborative MD/CNM hospitalist program, and adopting an RMC platform in her hospital. In 2018 she was published in "Nobody Told Me about That", a guide to the first six weeks postpartum. Amber currently serves as Chief Operating Officer of Tristar Centennial Women's and Children's hospital. She is the author of numerous articles, and a speaker on consent practices and clinical innovation. Amber works within her organization and on a national level to improve access to respectful care for all women.

Dr. Brad Bootstaylor

Brad S. Bootstaylor, MD, FACOG is board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology and Maternal-Fetal Medicine by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. He has been in private practice in Atlanta since 1996 and is a co-founder of Atlanta Perinatal Associates, departing this company in 2009. Dr. Bootstaylor received his medical degree in 1988 from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. He completed his Ob/Gyn residency at St. Luke’s/Roosevelt Medical Center in New York City in 1992. He also completed his fellowship training in Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Obstetrical Sonography in 1994 at the Univ. Of California at San Francisco Medical Center (also his hometown). Subsequently he spent 2 years as an Assistant Professor of Ob/Gyn at the Beth Israel Medical Center in New York. Dr. Bootstaylor has published several articles on fetal physiology and obstetrical sonography. As an undergraduate he received the Jonas E. Salk Scholarship, and during his active duty for 4 years with U.S. Army Special Forces (Green Berets), he received the Army Commendation Medal. He is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and a member of the National Medical Association, American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. Dr. Bootstaylor and his wife Lisa (also a physician), live in midtown Atlanta, and immensely enjoy raising their 3 children. He currently practices with SeeBaby.org, an Atlanta based OBGYN practice specializing in the midwifery model of care.

Barbara Harper- RN

Barbara Harper is a leading voice for childbirth and maternity care reform, an author, educator, midwife and internationally recognized expert on the use of warm water immersion for labor and birth. Barbara’s professional inspiration began with a close and loving relationship with her grandmother, Estella Ethel Harper Lemunyon, who was a nurse and midwife for 47 years. Barbara became a registered nurse in 1975 and has worked in obstetrics, pediatrics, cardiac, neurosurgical intensive care and as a holistic nursing specialist.

Gail Hart, Midwifery Instructor

Gail Hart graduated from a midwifery training program as a certified practical midwife in 1977. She has held a variety of certifications over the years; she was a certified midwife through the Oregon Midwifery Council and an LDEM in the state of Oregon. She is now semi-retired and no longer maintains her license, but keeps active with a small community practice. Gail is strongly interested in ways to holistically incorporate evidence-based medical knowledge with traditional midwifery understanding.

Emily Wannenburg

Emily’s love for “all things to do with pregnancy” was sparked when she was just 13 after meeting a missionary midwife in Pakistan. Graduating from Addington Hospital School of Nursing and Midwifery School in South Africa, she has attended more than 800 births over her career in birth as nurse midwife, birth assistant and doula. She believes it's her privilege to be able to combine her passions of birth and fitness. Emily has been active in the fitness, health and wellness world for more than 25 years as an educator, trainer, presenter, mentor, and magazine contributor. Her work in the Perinatal Fitness communityhas expanded over the years into mentorships and trainings for both medical providers and fitness professionals. She is the creator and founder of 4th Trimester Fitness® Method: 4 Pillars for Better Birth™, Birth Ball Basics™, Postpartum Recovery® Fitness and Pelvic Floor Core & More™. These programs have been experienced by fitness professionals, perinatal women, doulas and obstetric care providers internationally. She continues to work with private clients, as well, and is known for her strengths in finding modifications and adaptations for clients with physical challenges. She believes "there is always a way to move, stretch, and strengthen" and enjoys the challenge of finding what works for each individual. The Education of her clients and trainees - whether in Fitness, Wellness, or Childbirth - has always been a priority, as well as her own continuing education. In her work in the birthing community, Emily’s primary areas of focus: calm, peaceful, safe birthing environments; relaxation techniques; and optimal positioning of babies. She supports families in Home birth, Birth Center birth, and Hospital birth. She attends the full spectrum of birth, from un-medicated water birth to epidural, multiples to VBAMC, and IVF to elective cesarean birth. She is also a Certified Lactation Counselor. She believes it's her privilege to support families in their healthy birthing choices and is honored to do so. No longer wearing the "Nurse Midwife's Cap", Emily says that she proudly wears the "Doula Hat with a Midwife's Eyes and Mothers Heart"