Our History

Rooted Birth Midwifery & Wellness was established in 2024 to continue the tradition of offering compassionate and skilled midwifery care to Winchester, VA, and surrounding areas. Originally Premier Birth Center, established by Kim Pekin in 2016, Rooted Birth reflects a new chapter in the continuing commitment to offer excellent, personalized care to families in the Shenandoah Valley and beyond.

Kim Pekin first opened Premier Birth Center in Winchester, VA, in 2016, later expanding with the acquisition of a birth center in Chantilly which would share the name. As Kim continued to pursue additional education and involvement in important leadership positions across the state and nation, she brought in more midwives to staff the birth center.

In 2022, Heather Barrett was hired as a staff midwife for Premier Birth Center in Winchester. She and her 5 children moved from Houston, TX, to the Shenandoah Valley to help continue Kim's vision of midwifery care for the Winchester area. After more than 2 years as primary midwife, Heather took on the role of Clinical Director for Premier Birth Center.

On November 1, 2024, Kim Pekin officially handed over the reins of Premier Birth Center to Heather Barrett, who rechristened the birth center as Rooted Birth Midwifery & Wellness. Heather is committed to continuing to offer excellent care to families throughout the region during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. She is excited to expand services to broader areas as well as offer more community events, resources, and classes.

Learn more about Heather, midwifery care, and Rooted Birth Midwifery & Wellness services.