About Us
Get to know us
About Us
Andrea, Sadie and Courtney are not only colleagues, but are also friends who genuinely enjoy working together. You will feel the unique and special connection between us from the start.
“You all work extremely well together and it shows. At the birth, I was so impressed with how smoothly you work together and it really made me feel safe, cared for and removed any anxieties I had because it was so easy to trust you. You are attentive, observant, caring, and somehow always seem to know what to say to comfort. I really appreciated everything about your care for me and my baby!” – Hillary D.
Andrea Henderson, LM, CPM, IBCLC
Licensed Midwife, Certified Professional Midwife, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and Postpartum Doula
I wanted to be a “doctor who delivers babies” since I was young, “a calling” some would say. As a child, I did not know what a Midwife was, but I have always been interested in pregnant people, birth, babies and breastfeeding. I started my midwifery journey at Central Washington University, working towards a BS in Pre-Midwifery, a degree that I helped to develop with my advisors. I continued my education at the Seattle Midwifery School, earning a certificate in midwifery. Upon graduation, I enjoyed catching hundreds of babies while working at the Puget Sound Birth Center located in Kirkland, WA and the Eastside Birth Center located in Bellevue, WA. Additionally, I am an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and postpartum doula.
After having my own babies, with very little family around, I realize the need for quality postpartum support, which can come in the form of postpartum doula care. With over 16 years of experience of caring for families with newborns, I have the experience and qualities to provide the highest quality of postpartum doula care. For more information on hiring a postpartum doula, please see our Postpartum Doula Services page.
I nursed all three of my own children, two of whom are twins. Having breastfeed one baby, then experiencing some difficulties while breastfeeding twin newborns, I understand the potential breastfeeding hurdles families may face. I offer breastfeeding consultations in our office. For more information on having a lactation consultation please see our Lactation Consultation Services page.
I genuinely love my career as a Midwife, Lactation Consultant and Postpartum Doula. Outside of raising my own children and having a family, I have discovered that there is nothing I would rather do than assist families during the miraculous time of Pregnancy, Birth and Postpartum. As a provider, it is my responsibility to empower families through individualized education and support as well as to safeguard the birth experience while recognizing the normalcy of the entire process. My first child was born at home in the care of midwives. This home birth was an amazing experience that strengthened my understanding of the precious time surrounding birth. My twins were born in a hospital. Both of my births have been beneficial life experiences. Having birthed in both home and hospital settings has been beneficial to me as a provider, expanding my personal knowledge so I can relate more fully to clients and their own experiences. My experiences have deepened my understanding of how valuable and essential the quality of care is that Licensed Midwives, Lactation Consultants and Postpartum Doulas provide. I am deeply committed to this holistic model, which includes one-on-one care with a dedication to respect and dignity.


Sadie Whitten, MSM, LM, CPM
Licensed Midwife, Certified Professional Midwife, Clinical Herbalist
For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted to “help pregnant people”. To learn what that meant for me was where my journey to become a midwife began.
The Pacific Northwest is where I call home. I spent four years in Boise, Idaho, where I attended Boise State University for my undergrad. There, I received a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology and a minor in Spanish. I had the opportunity to intern at a hospital in San Ramón, Costa Rica during a summer studying abroad. There, I observed my first births as well as volunteer for the local milk bank. I soon realized that I felt passionate towards serving families during this transition into parenthood and giving birthing parents the right of autonomy during their pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
My journey to midwifery continued when I decided to apply to midwifery school. I graduated from Bastyr University and received a Master’s of Science in Midwifery. For my Master’s track, I chose to emphasize my studies in Botanical Medicine. This was an extensive two-year training that has helped develop my passion towards the use of herbs during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum. During my time as a student-midwife, I was able to apprentice with Northshore Midwives and Lactation as well as with Eastside Midwives. Over the years, I have had the privilege of working with many families in the greater Puget Sound region. It is my devotion to serve families with inclusive, evidence-based, and individualized care during their childbearing year.
Outside from midwifery, you can find me crafting, hammocking, and out finding adventure while wearing my Tevas.



Ella Karpenko, MSM, LM, CPM
Licensed Midwife, Certified Professional Midwife
Ella’s path to midwifery began after attending a dear friend’s home birth as her doula. Witnessing her power as she triumphantly pushed out her baby after 28 long hours of labor, and being part of welcoming new life inspired her to apply to Bastyr University with the dream of getting a Masters in Midwifery.
With sincere appreciation, thank you to the families and photographers who shared their photos with us.
Northshore Midwives & Lactation Consulting follows the Midwives Model of Care
The Midwives Model of Care includes:
- Monitoring the physical, psychological, and social well-being of the mother throughout the childbearing cycle
- Providing the mother with individualized education, counseling, and prenatal care, continuous hands-on stance during labor and delivery, and postpartum support
- Minimizing technological interventions
- Identifying and referring women who require obstetrical attention
The application of this woman-centered model of care has been proven to reduce the incidence of birth injury, trauma, and cesarean section.
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