Karen Pecora and Susan Scott Gill started working together in January, 2002 and found that their backgrounds and philosophies complimented each other very nicely. They decided to join together and start a midwifery practice that would be set apart from the others and vowed to make a difference for the women they serve. By working together they offer women Southern California’s best choice for a safe and natural birth!

Although formal midwifery education was not required to become licensed, Karen and Susan chose to attend the Hands-On Center for Midwifery Education in Northern California which offered a comprehensive and intensive education. Before graduating they completed 11 units of study divided up into 44 sessions and covered not only the basics of pregnancy, labor and birth but also gynecology, anatomy and physiology, embryology, complications, perinatal loss and grieving, nutrition and herbs, pelvimetry, breastfeeding and more. They graduated at the top of their classes and went on to complete the California Challenge Process through Seattle Midwifery School required for State Licensing. After becoming licensed midwives with the State of California, Susan and Karen completed the NARM (North America Registry of Midwives) requirements for national certification (CPM).

A wonderful enhancement to their training was the unique opportunity to experience the birth culture of a foreign country. They spent time in Jamaica, West Indies, assisting at numerous hospital births. Susan and Karen are certified in Neonatal Resuscitation, Adult, Child and Infant CPR, Standard First Aid and IV Therapy as well as being members of CAM (California Association of Midwives), MANA (Midwives Alliance of North America) and ICAN (International Cesarean Awareness Network). They have also taken advanced training in water birth. Annually they take continuing education courses as required by the State of California Medical Board and NARM. Susan and Karen are known for their hard work, honesty and dedication to women and have reputations for being gentle and caring. Their specialties are water birth and VBAC support.

At Blessed Beginnings you will be given the best of care by qualified, devoted midwives.

Karen Pecora, LM

Karen became a homebirth midwife to provide birthing women the opportunity to fully experience their womanhood with all its beauty, dignity and mystery. She is a nurturer and educator. Her special gift is the ability to bring a calm atmosphere to the birthplace. Women love the way she communicates with them. They enjoy her warm, calm and caring presence and respect her impeccable integrity. Karen has a keen attention to detail and is committed to working in partnership with women to achieve the birth experience they desire.

Karen is the mother of four children - 2 hospital births and 2 babies born at home with midwives. She also has personal experience with cesarean section surgery and went on to have two home VBAC’s. She was instrumental in starting the Inland Empire chapter of ICAN (International Cesarean Awareness Network) and is an active member. Karen is dedicated to honoring the majesty and mystery of birth and continues to encourage women to fully participate in this life-changing event.

Susan Scott Gill, LM, CPM

Susan has been involved in childbirth for 30 years. At the age of 16, she became a Certified Nurse Aide and worked in hospital's post partum, labor and delivery, and newborn nurseries. Realizing the importance of drug free birthing, she chose to deliver her daughter Tiffany and son Matthew naturally and drug free in the hospital's "Alternative Birth Center." In the 90's she received training with ALACE (Association of Labor Assistants and Childbirth Educators) to offer professional labor support and childbirth education. While offering labor support to women during their hospital births, Susan became frustrated with the increase in c-sections, inductions, epidural medications, episiotomies and other hospital interventions. Thus began her pursuit of becoming a licensed midwife. Susan believes every woman deserves the birth of their dreams, and is determined to help make that happen for anyone who chooses her help. She knows birth is a “normal physiological process and not a medical event.”

Susan enjoys building relationships with her clients, and feels honored to be invited into the intimacy of their birth. Her clients love her kindness as well as her wittiness. One of her recent clients writes, “Susan’s compassion and sense of humor were a wonderful encouragement to me throughout my pregnancy and during my birth.”