Hi there. A bit about me, I am a mom of two teens, a caretaker of several tens of plants, a caretaker to one cozy dog, one crazy dog, and a wife. I enjoy crocheting, thrifting, reading, roller-skating, and biking.

My journey into birth work, as many other midwives began with my own experiences. During my first pregnancy, I quite literally stumbled across Ina May Gaskin's book, "Guide to Childbirth and Labor" and it truly resonated with me. At that point, I was twenty-nine weeks pregnant with my first child and had already started care with an OB. I felt uncomfortable making a switch so late in my pregnancy. Little did I know, how smart it is to make those changes, even later in care. I had a run-of-the-mill hospital birth, nothing horrible, nothing spectacular.

My second child came quickly on the heels of my first, and I knew I wanted a different kind of care and birth. I loved the prenatal care that I received and I felt like it gave me a completely different set of tools and understanding about health care and my body. I felt like midwifery should be more accessible. I had a very fast and furious birth. After that, I knew that midwifery was the right place for me. I waited until my kiddos were older and then began pursuing midwifery. I started as a birth assistant, then I applied to the Florida Traditional School of Midwifery.

I have been a Licensed Midwife and Certified Professional Midwife for eight years and a birth worker for ten years. I added Certified Lactation Professional to my resume three years ago. I have a passion for information and the shared decision-making model of care. I enjoy giving my clients the information and watching them use that information to make their own choices. I may have been called a second-hand Oxytocin junkie once or twice. After many years working for wonderful birth centers I am opting to slow things down and practice what I preach, mindful movement, presence, and healthful eating. I can't wait to meet you and your family!

I am originally from Oklahoma City, OK., but have lived in Florida most of my life. I graduated from USF with a B.S in Biology in 2003. I was a stay-at-home mom until 2008 when I went back to school for Veterinary Technology and have practiced in specialty medicine including cardiac, neuro, dermatology, and dentistry since then.

My calling for women and midwifery came before I was married. I was blessed to be able to do mission work starting at the age of 15 to the age of 18. I traveled to Africa several times and completed a 6-month internship in India and Nepal. Here I saw the need for women’s care and hope to continue my work there one day.

I have been married for 25 years and I have 3 wonderful boys. Sam 21, is at the US Naval Academy, Chase 19 is at the University of North Florida, and Nolan 16 is a Junior in High School.

In my free time, I love to do triathlons and spend time in the gym. I completed Ironman Louisville in 2018. I also have a small farm with goats, Chickens, and two emus. I also show and breed Sphynx cats

Hi everyone, my name is Nelivette Maldonado although most people know me as Neli. I am currently a student at FSTM but I have a background in Public Health which is what inspired me to go into midwifery. Quickly after graduating from USF, I became a Doula to assist some of my family members through their pregnancy and I have loved every bit of birth work since. I strive to make people feel truly heard and cared for throughout their pregnancy, labor, and postpartum. During my time away from midwifery, I enjoy reading, spending time in nature, and being surrounded by my family. I look forward to getting to know many of the families during my time at Illuminated Midwifery.

All of our wonderful birth assistants attend regular trainings and are NRP certified.