PHILOSOPHY OF CARE

This midwifery practice is dedicated to these essential truths about childbirth:

The process of human childbirth is a normal physiological process perfectly designed by nature to bring babies into the world. It is an instinctive, primal experience that has it's own rhythm and pace which should be respected and honored, and works best when interfered with as little as possible. Women should have as much control as possible in determining their care, and should be encouraged to be active participants in decision-making and self-care. When informed, supported and encouraged to follow their own instincts, women can be active givers of birth rather than passive receivers of birth technology. Childbirth, when experienced in this way, has the potential to be a transformative event; women who take responsibility for their births and give birth to their babies under their own power, emerge from the experience empowered, with a new sense of their own capabilities. This transformation benefits not only that mother and her children, but also the entire family unit, the community, the culture at large, and ultimately the world, as it encourages peaceful, loving, responsible relationships. As we birth, so we live.

Midwifery is both an art and a science. The art of midwifery consists of sensitivity to the needs of women and families, and being able to meet these needs in the most appropriate way. It involves knowing when and how to intervene to promote safety if it becomes necessary, and is grounded in scientific knowledge. The science of midwifery overlaps with that of other disciplines such as medicine and nursing. The crux of the art and science of midwifery lies in the knowledge of and devotion to keeping birth, and other related processes normal. We see our clients as whole, capable people for whom the processes of pregnancy, labor, delivery and parenting offer the opportunity for significant personal growth

"Birthing is the most profound initiation to spirituality a woman can have."
Robin Lim

Why Choose a Midwife?

• Act as guardians of natural childbirth and well women, care-providing birthing women with support and guidance to ensure a healthy pregnancy, labor and delivery with minimal intervention.
• Understand that pregnancy and birth are normal processes, and work to optimize the well-being of mothers and their babies as the foundation of care giving.
• Approach the experience of childbirth as far more than a physical event, perceiving it as a profound emotional, mental and spiritual Rite of Passage for both mother and child.
• Respect the dignity, integrity and response-ability of the women they serve, recognizing that the primary caretaker and most important determinant of a healthy pregnancy and positive birth experience is the woman herself.
• Work in partnership with mothers, their families and their communities, helping them to explore their options and make informed decisions based on their unique circumstance.

Suspended between worlds, half in, half out,
as his mother reaches down to touch him for the first time

• Work as autonomous practitioners, collaborating with a supervising physician and other health and social service providers whenever necessary. These may include medical doctors, homeopathic practitioners, chiropractors, massage therapists, acupuncturists, hypnotherapists and prenatal exercise and yoga teachers.
• Provide full prenatal care including a comprehensive medical history, physical exam, appropriate laboratory tests, and perinatal screening as needed. With an emphasis on optimum wellness, they also provide in-depth counseling in the areas of nutrition, exercise, prenatal education and psycho-social issues.
• Facilitate the preparation of a birth plan and emergency back-up plan, and visit your home before the birth. They will discuss the supplies you will need and familiarize you with the items they bring: including oxygen, iV, emergency drugs and neonatal resuscitation equipment.
• Assist your labor, delivery and immediate postpartum, perform a complete newborn exam, help establish breastfeeding, and remain until mother, baby and family are resting comfortably. They will perform well-mother and baby checks at home during the postpartum period, and are available for phone consultation as needed. They will see you in the office at six weeks and can offer counseling on appropriate family planning

• Monitoring the physical, psychological, and social well-being of the mother throughout the childbearing cycle
• Providing the mother with individualized education, counseling, and prenatal care, continuous hands-on assistance during labor and delivery, and postpartum support
• Minimizing technological interventions
• Identifying and referring women who require obstetrical attention