About Brigitta Keyler:
The book Conception to Birth: A Life Unfolds, by Alexander Tsiaras, caught my eye in high school when I was exploring my interest in the nursing field. I marveled at the technologically advanced images, completely enthralled with such an intimate view of human development inside the womb. I carried the book through nursing school, knowing that one day I wanted to be involved in the “finely tuned and choreographed” process of fetal development and birth.
I initially thought this would be in the NICU, and I took an opportunity to shadow my aunt in her role as a NICU nurse. While observing the marvelous care and attention these extraordinary nurses provided, I couldn’t help but wonder about the other side of these tiny infants’ admissions. What brought them here? How are their mothers coping with their separation? What were the telling events of their pregnancy, labor, and birth experiences? I eventually became a labor and delivery nurse and found it a gratifying privilege to meet woman at such a vulnerable yet courageous time of their lives. Still, I yearned for establishing an early rapport with these women far ahead of labor, even before pregnancy, and knew becoming an advanced practice nurse would best fulfill this calling.
Another book, The Red Tent, by Anita Diamant was an additional impetus for exploring the vocation and art of midwifery. A common interpretation of the book that appears to readers is one that I aspire to as a nurse-midwife: to be “with women” through pain, loss, healing, finding their identity, and witnessing that identity transform throughout life stages and make claim to their resilience, strength, and individual agency. I acknowledge a woman’s powerful role in creating, nurturing, and sustaining life but also the profound importance of honoring her individuality and personal beliefs. I strive to promote health in a way that appreciates and respects one’s life experiences, values, and traditions.
I am committed to providing evidence-based, equitable, and holistic care with a compassionate, therapeutic presence that guides and empowers people to make the best decisions for themselves. In addition to prenatal care and physiologic birth, contraception and preconception counseling, perinatal mood disorders, and lactation support are among my varied clinical interests.
When I’m not in clinic or catching babies, I am at home in Buffalo with my husband and two active young sons sharing snuggles or playing with Hot Wheels. We are fortunate to have many of our extended family in the Twin Cities to frequently spend time with as well. I also relish browsing bookstores, antiquing, and the exhilaration of mountain biking with my husband on our regional trails.
