Team

Danielle Chancellor | Midwife, CPM-LDEM

Danielle has been attending both out of hospital and hospital births since 1999. Over 20 years of birth experience.

She is a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) and is also licensed through Utah and Idaho as an LDEM (Licensed Direct-Entry Midwife).
She became interested in childbirth after suffering a late miscarriage in 1998 and found her life’s passion in it while teaching childbirth classes and attending births as a Doula in the remote area of Oregon that she lived in for 11 years.

Danielle has 6 children. She birthed her first baby in the hospital. She found this experience to be tolerable but wanted to feel more “listened to” and in control of her birth. So for her next birth, she had her baby at home underwater and has never looked back.

Danielle’s cardinal rule about birth is to listen to the Mother. She believes in birth and a Mother’s ability to birth. She feels so honored to be able to attend to expecting Mothers and families. Danielle is business savvy, but she also very much enjoys working one on one with each client, so that she is able to give personal care to every woman’s needs & deserves. That is why most of the care given at Mermaid Birth will be with Danielle.

Danielle has a gentle, considerate touch. She is very aware of the mother as she births and assists her in the ways that the mother has asked her to. Danielle is very sharp and can spot a problem and head it off before a bigger issue arises. She has seen all kinds of situations and is able to handle things calmly and quickly. She’s exactly who you need in an urgent situation.

The skills she has gained through the years is truly a great benefit to those she cares for!

Danielle's Credentials

Bethany Knighton | Midwife

Bethany is a passionate advocate for natural childbirth, and for parents being able to write their own birth story. Bethany’s first introduction to midwifery care was with her fifth baby. This time she employed the services of a midwife and could not believe how different that birth was! She was so pleased with her experience, she decided she wanted to become a midwife and help other women achieve the birth of their dreams.

In 2019 she began her midwifery apprenticeship and she counts herself lucky to have learned from so many wonderful midwives. Next to raising her 5 children, Bethany considers becoming a CPM a major highlight in her life. She is so thankful she gets to play a small part in helping mamas birth these beautiful little souls.

Bethany is a certified Nutritional Herbalist with The School of Natural Healing.

In her spare time, Bethany enjoys spending time with her husband and children, reading, hiking, gardening, and yoga.

Explore Bethany's Credentials

Nora Kemp | Supporting Midwife

From the time I was a little girl I was fascinated with the medical field. I dreamed of being a surgeon or ER nurse one day. When I was 17, a friend of my mom’s needed a birth assistant. My mom encouraged me and said it was a great way to get myself into the medical field. The idea of birth did not appeal to me, but I had learned up to this point that moms are always right. I started helping as a birth assistant and after attending my first birth, I went home completely humbled. What a beautiful experience. I was hooked and knew that midwifery was my path. 5 years later and I’m wrapping up my apprenticeship to become a Certified Professional Midwife! I’ve learned so much from the women I’ve apprenticed with. All I hope to do is help my clients experience their birthright of a beautiful birth. I’ve learned two much about birth these past few years. It’s humbling, intense, and takes you to places you’ve never been before. It is a journey. I’m truly honored to be a part of the journey of pregnancy, birth and motherhood! Thanks for having me along!

Anastasia Shepherd, CPM-LDEM | Supporting Midwife

Anastasia has had two amazing home births!

Anastasia came into the birth world because of her best friend but found early on that it was for her! She is one of 9 girls in her family. She knew someone should take on the task to help her sisters have their babies! And she is fabulous at it! She has a very clear, calm mind that helps you feel safe but can also act quickly if any urgent need arises. She is extremely patience. She works closely with Danielle to provide excellent care for all the Mermaid Birth clients.
She is a licensed midwife as well as a CPM.
She has worked with Danielle since 2016 attending over 200 births.

Mindy Wheeler, LMT | Massage Therapist

Mindy is our expert pregnancy Massage Therapist. Mindy has worked as a part of our team since 2018, providing an excellent massage that is included in our birth package! She is a licensed Massage Therapist and offers massage in our office(s) and can even travel to your home, for an additional fee. She also has skills in Craniosacral sacral therapy and is certified to offer that technique to clients and even babies. Mindy’s massage skills have come in handy quite often for births when we call her in special to get her expertise. Her skills have helped many mothers have faster, more comfortable births.

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We’re here to support you every step of the way throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care.

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Birth Assistants

C.C. | Birth Assistant

I am an underwater home birth baby myself. My mother is Danielle. She gave birth to me in our home tub in 2006.
I’ve always been drawn to the medical field, and since my mother asked me to join her in helping at her practice in 2025.
I have loved the experience of supporting women in birth!
I look forward to continuing to learn and expand my skills and possibly even be a midwife, just like my mom!

R.N.| Birth Assistant

Hi! I’m Rachel. I’m a happily married homeschooling mom of three. I was born and raised in Salt Lake City but I’ve been in Cache Valley for twelve years and love it here. I always knew I wanted to be home with my kids and wasn’t sure I was passionate about anything but being a mom. UNTIL I had my first kid and fell in love with the whole pregnancy, labor, delivery journey. I developed a respect for the beauty and power behind it and the incredible physical, mental and emotional challenges that come with it! I just want women to be supported, cared for and encouraged. I want to be someone they know believes in them and their ability to birth their child.

Get Started and Schedule a Consultation Today?

The Mermaid Birth team is here to support you every step of the way throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care.

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Testimonials

      EXCELLENT  
   Based on 40 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
       Posted on Google  
   
   Tess Milne 
 November 6, 2025
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Mermaid Birth was my FAVORITE place to birth!! Any mommas out there with husbands reluctant to a birth center please read our story below:
A birth center with a midwife was NOT where my husband wanted to birth our baby girl. It stressed him out thinking we wouldn’t be in a hospital, how to handle insurance and more. We met with Danielle and she answered all his questions which were a lot!! He learned a lot and if anything were to not to go as planned the hospital was close by. I had previously birthed our 3 boys in a hospital. Our first was with an epidural that didn’t work and I had a terrible rash for 9 months after from it. The next two births I went without an epidural and was given pitocin. I did my own hypnobirthing for those two births and got to use the water for only a little bit of my last birth. It felt so good I knew I wanted to birth in water if I ever had another baby. When I found mermaid birth it was everything I wanted and more! You are seriously spoiled by Danielle and her team. The prenatal care included 3 chiropractic adjustments which were sooo helpful because I got lightning crotch at 20 weeks and once I was adjusted it never came back. 3 massages with cranial sacral therapy. A foot zone and 1 hour for every appointment to go over anything and everything and so much more support than I ever got with my first 3 pregnancies. The after birth care was even more wonderful because they use hot stones on your stomach for 3 days after birth were magical and the healing sitz bath they make for you and they come to you in the comfort of your own home. This was so much better than the shoving and pushing they do on your stomach at the hospital. My husband also was so much more calm throughout the labor. He literally had to take something to calm his nerves at the hospital when birthing our boys. He didn’t have to take anything when we were at the Mermaid Birth Center. The atmosphere was so much more calm with the lovely smell of oils in the air,  no noisy machines. There is a tv if you want to watch it but we loved having it calm and quiet. Seriously every woman should get pampered like this for all the work she does growing the sweet little babies. Danielle is so in tune with momma and baby and knows if you will need more support at the hospital or not.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Sarah Bott 
 August 27, 2025
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Danielle was my midwife for my 6th birth, but first home birth, in 2014. I had my other children with midwives in hospitals, which went well too. The reason I chose to go with Danielle is for the home birth experience. She gave great care during the pregnancy. I had gestational diabetes, which Danielle wasn’t afraid of. She pointed me to a low carb diet to manage the diabetes. When it came to the delivery day, Danielle and her team came to my home and were nothing but supportive and professional. I told them that I didn’t like being smothered during labor and they took that very seriously and gave me space and privacy the whole way through.

The after care was just as professional as the delivery. They helped me clean myself up and my home quickly. They made sure that I was doing well before they left. Danielle came a few days later to check up on me.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Lana Willard 
 August 27, 2025
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I had a wonderful experience working with Danielle and Bethany (another midwife working with Danielle). Danielle helped me to have a healthy pregnancy and connected me to Mindy ( a massage therapist that played a major role in helping my baby get in a good position for birth and that actually started my labor) and an amazing hypnobirthing class by Teralee Malouf. When I had questions along the way Danielle was just a text away. She made me feel important and cared for during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum. Danielle, Bethany, and their assistant were present and very supportive during my 9 hour labor at the birth center that went through the night. Their postpartum care for me and my baby was amazing. They truly care. Would birth here again.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Kaycia Barben 
 August 27, 2025
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I’ve had two births with Danielle and they were incredible. She was so attentive and calming during both my births. I felt so safe and knew everything was under control. I’m so thankful she has chosen to do this because she was made to deliver babies and help ease your worries when it comes to natural birth! I could not recommend her enough if you are wanting a natural birth!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Ivy Andreasen 
 August 27, 2025
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Danielle made us feel so calm and safe.  The birth was so peaceful and empowering.  After care was amazing, with the home visits, hot belly massage, and the care and concern she had for me and my baby. I'd recommend her to anyone! She has also remained connected with us for 5 years!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Cassi Walker 
 August 27, 2025
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I cannot say enough, good things about my experience! Danielle was amazing! Everyone that worked with her was amazing! Best experience of my life! She truly knows what she’s doing, and I felt so safe in her hands and when my baby arrived, I felt safe knowing that he was in good hands as well. She really tries to set you up for success and she pampers the hell out of you afterwards. She knows what she’s doing. And I would take every ounce of advice she gives you along the way. She is incredibly professional and also human. She’s willing to work with you when your health insurance pulls stupid tricks and tries to not pay for things that they should. She is very, very good at working with you to work with them. She knows her stuff! Chances are slim for me to have another baby but if I ever did, I would drive three hours to Brigham city just so I could have her help deliver my baby.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Mady Feathers 
 August 26, 2025
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I can’t say enough how AMAZING my experience was! Danielle was so amazing an talked me through everything, had my husband step in to do a few tricks to get my baby where I needed him.

I was super skeptical of home birth, an I have epilepsy. She took care of me and had things right there if there were any complications. My mother in law was good friends with her, an when she found out I was pregnant, she sent me to Danielle, and told me how amazing the experience would be, so I went and saw her but still continued to see a obstetrician. I was so nervous, an then one day I woke up an had this strong feeling to choose Danielle, am I sooo glad I did. My birth team was amazing, calming, by my side 24/7. Talking me through my breathing, giving me snacks/drinks to give me energy. They  did not intervene unless necessary, listened to all my requests, (a painfully listened to my foul language🤣). They instructed my husband what to do, an he caught my baby. My first born had the cord wrapped around his neck, a Danielle responded quickly to resolve the situation. I can’t thank them enough for my care, I recommend everyone to this place! Thank you Danielle!!!!!!!!❤️❤️
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Anna Garibay 
 July 3, 2024
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I could write PAGES about how amazing my experience was here with my firstborn, but to sum it all up all I want to say is I couldn’t have had a more phenomenal birth experience & support from Danielle & her team. With them we welcomed our beautiful & healthy baby boy & I couldn’t have imagined doing it any other way. I got the birth of my dreams and I plan on going back to have every one of my children in the future!