Meet Our Team
Jenny Ownbey
Certified Nurse Midwife & Practice Owner
My passion for assisting women during labor and childbirth was ignited during my nursing school years when I witnessed my first birth. I dedicated my career to labor and delivery nursing, serving in this role for a decade. During this period, I was blessed to experience childbirth firsthand, giving birth to my two daughters in the labor unit where I worked, surrounded by the love and support of my family, friends, and colleagues.
Over the years, I expanded my expertise by becoming a childbirth educator and later a lactation consultant (IBCLC). My commitment to empowering women and advocating for natural birth choices led me to embrace the midwifery model of care, which aligns perfectly with my values. I graduated from Frontier Nursing University in 2021 with a Master of Science in Nurse Midwifery.
I am deeply grateful for the diverse experiences I have gained, both within and outside the hospital setting. The guidance and mentorship of exceptional educators and mentors have shaped me into the compassionate and skilled provider I am today.
Presently, I reside in Bladen County with my husband and our two daughters. We prefer working from home and homeschooling our children, aligning with our Christian faith and commitment to serving our local church and community. In my leisure time, I find joy in baking, gardening, canning, and spending quality time with my family and friends.
Samantha Sands
Certified Nurse Midwife
Samantha Sands is a native of Jamaica. She came to the States as a teenager, and after completing high school, she enlisted in the Army where she served as an active-duty soldier for 8 years. During her childhood, she watched her mother struggle with access to care, and her interest in caring for women was sparked. It was, however, during her time in the service while working on a birthing unit at a military facility, that she discovered her love for nursing and midwifery.
While on active duty, she received her certification through the Army and became an LPN. After completing her time in service, she received her Associate Degree in Nursing from Fayetteville Technical Community College in 2014, then her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Fayetteville State University in 2017. Sam then acquired her Master’s degree in Midwifery from Frontier Nursing University in 2021.
Sam is a wife and mother of three. When she is not working, her focus is on her family and spending time with her kids. She realizes how important it is to take care of the woman holistically and the influence this care and education can have on the family unit. She is very passionate about women’s health and education, empowering women to advocate for themselves, and mental health for mothers. She is also passionate about breastfeeding and is a Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC).
Of her 20 years of medical experience, 17 of those years have been taking care of mothers and babies. Home birth has allowed her to embody the true meaning of midwifery, to be “with woman.” It is with this spirit that she joins the Sacred Haven family, where she can continue with the business of taking care of women.
Sydney Nadolny
Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counseling Associate and
Certified Labor and Postpartum Doula
In the words of five-year-old me, “When I grow up, I’m going to help babies be born!” Although that childhood dream felt unattainable for a time, God has beautifully brought that sweet “little girl” dream to full fruition in my life.
​
My desire to dwell in the sacred space of birth, which had sparked as a little girl, grew even more on a mission trip in 2013, where I had the opportunity to help deliver a baby. I did take a detour on my way to the birth world, however, and taught middle school English for several years. Years later, in 2021, a dear friend encouraged me to become a certified doula, and God opened the door for my doula business to bloom and flourish in Lexington, KY, my hometown. That same year, I felt called by the Lord to deepen my ability to help others heal, leading me to pursue a Master’s degree in Clinical Counseling at Lindsey Wilson College, which I completed in 2024.
​
Today, I am a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counseling Associate and a certified doula. As a doula, my mission is to bring peace into the birth space and encourage mothers to pursue faith over fear as they bring life into the world. My heart is to see women cared for, respected, and reminded of their extraordinary strength. I have a special interest in the mental health of mothers in the perinatal period and have become certified as a postpartum doula as well. Being able to nurture mothers both mentally and physically at Sacred Haven is truly a dream come true. When mamas are well taken care of, so are our families!
​
As an LCMHCA, I am equipped and open to treating teens and adults in the community with a variety of mental health needs through a faith-based lens, if desired. My experience includes working with adoptees and their families, teenagers in a therapeutic school, veterans, military families, and active-duty service members with a range of mental health disorders. In counseling, I use an integrative approach, utilizing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma-Informed CBT, Gestalt Therapy, Mindfulness, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and other modalities to meet each client’s unique needs.
​
As a military spouse myself, I currently reside in Fayetteville with my family. My husband and I have one son, born at home with the loving support of the Sacred Haven team, and a goldendoodle who is very much convinced she’s our other child. I am so excited to meet you and be a part of your story at Sacred Haven!
Bethany Nelson
Birth Assistant / Doula
Bethany began working as a birth assistant in 2022. She has been a birth doula for almost 10 years, and also provides placenta encapsulation services.
"Birth work has been a huge passion of mine for more than 10 years and the love for this work has me in awe and never ever gets old. Birth is such an intimate and exciting time, and being able to bring your baby earth side, in your own home, is an experience that you’ll never forget."
"Our goal at Sacred Haven Midwifery is to help you and your family have the most beautiful and healthy birth experience and to guide you in any way we can. We as a whole are continually learning and growing ourselves to ensure we give the best care possible to our families and Mamas."
"Birth and what you experience during that time is different for everyone and for every baby, whether it’s your first or seventh. When women trust their bodies and us with their care, we take that very seriously."
"My husband and I have five beautiful children, a homestead that is growing daily (chicken math-am I right?), and a garden of fruits and vegetables to feed our family. I love canning and preserving foods, making tinctures, and hope to grow my apothecary skills in order to provide for others in the near future."
Leigh Ann Hair
Administrative Assistant
I was born and raised in Bladen County, North Carolina, and have called Elizabethtown home for many years. I spent 12 years working in the medical field as a Medical Laboratory Technician, where I developed a strong passion for Blood Bank and Microbiology. I truly loved the work and the impact it had on patients’ lives.
I now enjoy life in Elizabethtown with my husband, Seth, and our two boys, Luke and Carver. We’re proud to be part of this close-knit community.