Birth

Philosophy

I believe that pregnancy and birth are normal, natural, physiological events. I believe birth is a ceremony and should be treated as such. I believe in a woman’s right to conceive and birth where she chooses. I believe in a woman’s right to choose what is best for herself, her unborn child and her family. I believe woman are capable, competent and wise. I believe woman know their bodies and can find their own way. I support Informed consent and informed decision making for all and for a woman’s right to choose what she does and does not want. I believe in you and your ability to birth your child where you choose. I will help you do everything possible to make your birth sacred, honored and respected. Parents must maintain full responsibility for the outcomes of their birth. I will honor you in your decisions and help you as you walk this path.  I will help you navigate the unknown and watch as you trust yourself and your body to do what it was created to do. Midwife means “with women.” That is my job.

My role is to be present for you during your pregnancy, birth and postpartum. I am there for you, should you need subtle guidance. Otherwise, I believe undisturbed birth is the best policy. As a midwife I am called to serve with love, compassion and understanding and to hold space for you as you journey through pregnancy, birth and the postpartum.  Studies show us, as well as women telling us, that for low-risk woman with normal, health, uncomplicated pregnancies, a planned homebirth with a skilled birth attendant is safer than a hospital birth. The current hospital statistics in the United States confirm this. While risks are involved, no matter the location of your birth, no one can guarantee any birth outcome. I will be present with knowledge and experience to support you, while respecting the process and its rite of passage. While some problems can be seen in advance, there are some problems that cannot, at home or in the hospital. If medical needs arise during your pregnancy or birth, I will be the first to say so. I carry supplies to support a normal, physiologic birth at home. However, if medical advice is needed in a true emergency, they do not compare with the equipment and monitoring that are available in the hospital setting for higher level emergencies. These are things you must consider when deciding to birth at home. These are your choices and your rights. No body can make these decisions for you. participate in the midwifery model of care not the standard obstetric medical model. Birth is a normal life event, a physiologic process that works in most cases, that sometimes needs medical intervention for true emergencies. I believe in nurturing, loving, individualized, hands-on care. I practice holistic midwifery, the midwifery model of care, the wise woman tradition and physiological birth. I am trained to provide holistic prenatal care, to facilitate and hold space for you during labor, address concerns, guide you on your postpartum journey, help you with normal newborn development and to encourage you to educate your family as needed.

The Midwifery model of care is a philosophy of care that is based on the fact that pregnancy and birth are a normal life process. This model includes monitoring the physical, psychological and social well-being of the mother throughout her pregnancy and birth, providing the mother with individualized education counseling and prenatal care, continuous assistance during labor and delivery and postpartum support while minimizing technological interventions and identifying and referring women who fall outside of normal.

Research states that the midwifery model of care is associated with many benefits for the mother and newborn such as: reduction in the use of epidurals, fewer episiotomies, fewer instrumental births, increase in spontaneous vaginal birth and an increase in breastfeeding. Under the midwifery model of care women are less likely to experience preterm labor or lose their baby before 24 weeks’ gestation. Impact of midwifery on health, psychosocial, and resource use outcomes showed that outcomes improved by midwifery care include reduced maternal and newborn mortality, reduced stillbirth, reduced perineal trauma, reduced instrumental birth, reduced intra-partum analgesia or anesthesia, less severe blood loss, fewer preterm births, fewer newborn infants with a low birth weight, and less hypothermia. The analyses also found increased spontaneous onset of labor, greater numbers of unassisted vaginal births, and increased rates of initiation and duration of breastfeeding. Increased referrals for pregnancy complications, fewer admissions to neonatal intensive care units, and shorter stays in neonatal units are examples of outcomes that indicate both improved care and resource use. Importantly, women reported a higher rate of satisfaction with care in general and with pain relief in labor in particular, and improved mother-baby interaction. (Lancet, Midwifery June 2014) According to ICM Philosophy of Midwifery Care is as follows: Pregnancy and childbearing are usually normal physiological processes. • Pregnancy and childbearing are a profound experience, which carries significant meaning to the woman, her family, and the community. • Midwives are the most appropriate care providers to attend childbearing women. • Midwifery care promotes, protects and supports women's human, reproductive and sexual health and rights, and respects ethnic and cultural diversity. It is based on the ethical principles of justice, equity, and respect for human dignity. • Midwifery care is holistic and continuous in nature, grounded in an understanding of the social, emotional, cultural, spiritual, psychological and physical experiences of women. • Midwifery care is emancipatory as it protects and enhances the health and social status of women and builds women's self confidence in their ability to cope with childbirth. • Midwifery care takes place in partnership with women, recognizing the right to self-determination and is respectful, personalized, continuous and non-authoritarian. • Ethical and competent midwifery care is informed and guided by formal and continuous education, scientific research and application of evidence. • Midwives promote and protect women’s and newborns’ health and rights. • Midwives respect and have confidence in women and in their capabilities in childbirth. • Midwives promote and advocate for non-intervention in normal childbirth. • Midwives provide women with appropriate information and advice in a way that promotes participation and enhances informed decision-making. • Midwives offer respectful, anticipatory and flexible care, which encompasses the needs of the woman, her newborn, family and community, and begins with primary attention to the nature of the relationship between the woman seeking midwifery care and the midwife. • Midwives empower women to assume responsibility for their health and for the health of their families. 

The wise woman tradition empowers women to focus on simple remedies that are easily accessible, to share information freely, offer compassionate listening, renaming our weaknesses as strengths, reminding woman that their body is a sacred ground of being, encouraging woman to view themselves as healthy, even when problems arise, create their own healthy normal, honor their natural cycles and changes (puberty, menses pregnancy, menopause.), define themselves from a woman centered point of view and to connect with other women for personal healing.

Physiological birth is an involuntary process orchestrated by neurochemicals and hormones that unfold a women’s body enabling her to give birth and make the transition to motherhood. It is directed from within the limbic system of the brain and body in response to and in collaboration with the endocrine system of the baby and placenta. This allows a woman to respond and surrender to ancient patterns of physical instincts. It occurs best when a mother is not disturbed during the process of labor and birth and is working with her partner. Giving birth is a function of our bodies and can become like sleeping or breathing, an autonomous process. Physiological birth is not easy in a highly medicalized and fear driven culture or climate, such as in a hospital or with people who do not trust birth or fear home birth.

I am here to hold space for you, listen to your concerns, help you on your journey and to be present if needs arise. It is my goal to honor you, respect you, love on you and help you feel considered unique physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.