Kristen E. Waits, FNP, IBCLC

Kristen Waits, FNP-C, a certified lactation specialist, knew she always wanted to work with babies. "I enjoy watching love develop between parents and their baby," she says. "In my practice, I emphasize teaching families to trust themselves to make educated choices and own those choices."

Kristen earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Linfield College and her Master of Science from Oregon Health & Science University.

Born in Portland and raised in Yamhill County on a dairy farm, Kristen went into nursing school right out of high school. She learned Spanish during two trips to Mexico: the first in Oaxaca, and the second in La Paz on Baja, Calif. Before graduate school, Kristen worked in pediatric bone marrow transplant, general pediatrics, and labor and delivery.

Kristen has six children and in her free time enjoys spending it with her husband, kids, two dogs, one cat, two rabbits and five chickens. She also enjoys gardening throughout the year, planning, growing and harvesting it.