About
Who is Roots & Wings Midwifery ?
Hello! We are Rebekah Mustaleski, Aly Salas, and Laura Hopper and we are the Roots & Wings birth services team.
We look forward to hearing from you and being able to serve you and your family through this season in your life, but in the meantime, look through our page and let us know if you have any questions about us or the care we offer.
I believe that birth is an incredible moment in your life. I hope that in those moments you’ll be able to see your own strength, determination, and courage. But the work is also hard and questioning yourself is normal, which makes it a vulnerable time as well. So I think it is important to be surrounded by people who care and respect you. People who will support you as you find your way through the labor process–because every labor is different! I also believe that how someone is treated in labor has a large impact on whether they are encouraged by the experience or not. .
Rebekah Mustaleski
Throughout my training, I have worked with many people in a variety of settings. I have a strong desire to educate individuals about their options regarding labor and delivery so that each family can make their own decisions about what is right for them. As a licensed CPM, I am thankful that I can continue to encourage each person I work with to be in charge of their birth experience.
Though I have lived in several other places, Knoxville has always been home to me. I live with my husband and four kids in the house my grandparents built. I am an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and am pursuing my MPH through the University of Tennessee. I find there are never enough hours in the day for all of the things I want to do!
My passion for pregnancy and birth was born from my own pregnancies and experiences. As a military spouse, we often found ourselves in new cities every few years with little to no family close by. I especially felt the lack of support in the postpartum, which led me to begin studying as a postpartum doula and placenta encapsulation specialist in 2012. I continued to support postpartum families while growing mine, and remember feeling the pull to midwifery grow. I earned a Bachelors of Science during this time, but had no idea what to do with it. I kept circling back to my births and how they left more to be desired. More compassion, more education, and more trust. I hadn’t found a provider that I truly connected with or who I felt genuinely listened to my questions and concerns. I wanted to be that provider.
After landing back in our hometown of El Paso, Texas, I began studying midwifery at Maternidad La Luz Midwifery and Birth Center in 2017. This high volume birth center on the border of Texas and Mexico allowed me to learn the skills and hone the craft of midwifery.
Aly Salas
It was here where I saw how empowering women and the education of physiologic birth contributed to a safe and beautiful birth experience that everyone enjoyed. I graduated in 2018 and stayed on as Staff Midwife after my CPM and licensure credentials were earned. I am a NARM preceptor and also teach at National College of Midwifery. I strive to provide safe care and informed consent to families, empowering them with the knowledge to make the decisions that are best suited for them. It is truly an honor to serve my community in this capacity and be invited to such intimate moments.
Off-call, you can find me camping with my husband and three kids, nose in a book, or whipping up some sort of herbal concoction with whatever managed to thrive in my garden that season. I am also a perpetual learner and am in the process of wrapping up my Masters degree in Healthcare Administration.
For over 16 years, I have had the privilege of being a midwife, guiding families through the sacred journey of pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. It has been an incredible privilege to watch families grow and be welcomed into their story.
For over 16 years, I have had the privilege of being a midwife, guiding families through the sacred journey of pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. It has been an incredible privilege to watch families grow and be welcomed into their story.
On a personal note, I am a proud mother of five wonderful children and have the joy of having a son-in-law as part of our family. My husband, Ben, has been my steadfast companion for 24 years, supporting me in my midwifery journey. As a family, we share a love for the outdoors and are excited to explore all that Tennessee has to offer.
Laura Hopper
My approach to midwifery is rooted in holistic, evidence-based practices. I prioritize building strong, trusting relationships with our clients, fostering an environment of open communication, and tailoring care plans to meet their unique needs and desires. Every birth is a sacred, transformative experience, and I am committed to creating a safe, respectful, and empowering space for all individuals and families I have the honor of serving. My ultimate goal is to ensure that every birthing person feels empowered, heard, respected, and support throughout their care.
Other Roots & Wings Team Members
Emily Shanks
Renee Dudley
