Our Team

Kimberly A. Verbarg

Florida Licensed Midwife, Director, Founder

Hi, my name is Kim Verbarg, and I am the Director and Founder of Sweet Child O’ Mine. I am a Florida Licensed Midwife since 2009. I have been actively involved in the birth and natural health fields since 1989, first as a birth assistant and student midwife, then as a Midwife. I also have worked in the holistic health field as a Naturopathic Doctor, Herbalist and Reflexologist. I am a 2009 graduate of the Florida School of Traditional Midwifery in Gainesville. I became a Midwife because I believe that women should have quality birth options which include sensitive care, natural birthing, and individual control over health care decisions. I have two adult daughters which were both birthed at home and two grandchildren, including a granddaughter who was birthed at the birth center and a grandson that was born at home. My own birthing experiences were the most magical moments of my life, and I’d like to help make every woman’s birth experience just as beautiful. If you are currently expecting, congratulations! I look forward to meeting you.

Maureen Berning

Clinical Operations Manager, Licensed Midwife

Hello, my name is Maureen Berning, and I am a midwife at Sweet Child
O’Mine. I am a 2020 graduate from the Florida School of Traditional
Midwifery in Gainesville, Florida. I have also been trained as a birth
doula, a childbirth educator and in placenta encapsulation. I have been
working as a birth assistant/student midwife at Sweet Child for five years
and love being a part of this wonderful team. My mother was a La Leche
League leader for over 30 years and introduced me to home birth at a very
young age. Throughout my life I have always been extremely interested in
pregnancy and delivery, and I am so excited to be dedicating my life to
aiding and empowering women to birth the way they choose. I feel myself
blossoming into the person I have always hoped to be and feel like my life
is heading in such an amazing direction. I am so thankful to be able to
witness so many first breaths and I am grateful to share those precious
moments with the families we serve.

Nicolle Arendt

Licensed Midwife

Melinda Morales

Office Manager

Melinda Morales is a full spectrum doula and certified perinatal educator specializing in teen pregnancy and young parent support. She is a mother to 3 boys, and a teen birth advocate supporting families in Central Florida since 2006. She is the founder of Project Teenbirth, Inc. – a community based program supporting and educating teen and young parents. She is an active board member of the Tampa Bay Birth Network. Her story has been featured in Rewire.News, Not Another Teen Mommy.com, #noteenshame.tumbler.com, and Young Parent Anthology.

Areline Williams

LPN, Clinical Nurse, Childbirth Educator

Congratulations on the upcoming birth of your baby! My name is Areline Williams and I have been with Sweet Child O’Mine since its beginning in 2009. My role here is to supervise the clinical and laboratory needs of the facility, educate staff, and keep the birth well stocked and supplied. I also teach the childbirth classes. I have been an LPN for over 30 years with a long history of working in the maternal-child health divisions of nursing. For a few years, I was a doula, supporting laboring women through the process of birth. I met Kim in 2006 when I was training to be a doula. Currently, I am a certified childbirth educator, have been trained by Barbara Harper in waterbirth. I am certified in birth assisting and worked with Sweet Child O’ Mine as a birth assistant for 5 years. Since I started working at Sweet Child, I feel I have a new lease on life and my passion for birth grows more and more every day. I have seen hundreds of births and yet, it never ceases to amaze me every time. In my personal life, I am married and have four children. My family and I are avid Tampa Bay Rays fans. In my spare time I like to go to Rays games, read, do needle work, and last but not least, continue to learn all I can about birth so that I can be a wonderful part of helping you achieve a beautiful birth experience.

Rachel Hoffman

Patient Care Coordinator

Hi there! My name is Rachel, and I am the Patient Care Coordinator at Sweet Child O’ Mine. I’m a happily married “crazy cat lady” (no shame), and have three angel babies in heaven that I can’t wait to see again someday.

In my spare time, I love hiking, the TV show “Friends,” the occasional video game, forced snuggles with my kitties, and further expanding my knowledge on anything pregnancy and/or birth related. 🙂

Congratulations on your pregnancy! I’m so happy you’re considering us for your care. I worked in the front office at the birth center for nearly 4 years, until my husband and I relocated to the beautiful state of North Carolina in July of 2018. I am now blessed to do my job remotely from home. Although I may not get to meet you and your precious little one in person, I’m excited to get to know you virtually via phone calls and emails.
Pregnancy and childbirth are such beautiful, natural things, and I am so grateful to be a part of a team that helps bring babies into the world the way they do! Please let me know if there is any way I can be of assistance to you and your family during this experience; I’d be happy to help!

LeAnn Flores

Administrative Assistant 

Aerial Naranjo

Birth Assistant

My name is Aerial Naranjo. I am a Birthing Assistant at Sweet Child O’ Mine. I went to school to become a CNA and worked in a nursing home doing home health. I would say my gifting is to serve! I enjoy being a part of helping the midwives bring life into this world and making sure the rooms have been thoroughly cleaned between births. Being able to witness the joy on the new parents’ faces when they deliver their babies is priceless. I look forward to learning everything in this field and serving the Sweet Child O’ Mine families, including yours!