TLC – a personal level of care
Midwife means “with woman”.
All over the world midwives have been “with women” during the most significant experiences of their lives. In fact, the World Health Organization has stated midwives are the ideal care providers for most childbearing women.
As a midwife, I am committed to providing women and their families with information, support, and highly personalized care that will empower them to give birth to their babies naturally with peace and integrity.
Today women want more than technological care during pregnancy and birth. The women I work with receive not only standard care in the form of pre-natal, homebirth, and postpartum care, but are also treated to relaxation techniques, as well as natural remedies if they prefer. I spend a considerable amount of time at pre-natal visits getting to know you, the whole person. The families I care for always have the opportunity to take an active part in pre-natal care and birth. Excellent support and encouragement during labor provides women with the environment in which to listen to their bodies and eat, drink, walk, and relax as needed. It is my belief that every woman has the right to give birth in a nurturing and unrestricted environment.
My Philosophy
The ability to care for a woman through childbirth is a great privilege. I will offer you tremendous personal support and guidance throughout your pregnancy and delivery. Education and open communication is the key in the management of your care.
I believe that pregnancy and childbirth are natural processes of the female body. We were made with the purpose to carry and nurture a child. Most complications can be avoided with education and communication throughout your pregnancy.
Natural childbirth is a childbirth philosophy that attempts to minimize medical intervention, particularly the use of anesthetic medications and surgical interventions such as episiotomies, forceps, vacume extractor deliveries and caesarean sections. Many women consider natural birth empowering. A woman who is properly supported through labor is a woman who will feel more positive about her birth experience and future parenting skills. Her baby is more alert and placed on her skin (promoting maternal bonding) and breastfeeding is more likely to be enjoyable and successful.
Proponents of natural childbirth note that anesthetics may increase the likelihood of complications, because labor may be slowed and the naturally occurring hormones of birth are not passed on to the baby. With anethesia, the woman may not be able to adequately move her body during labor or work with her body during final delivery. All epidural medications given during labor cross the placenta and affect the fetus, and it has been shown that pain medication can affect the feeding behavior of the newborn and reduce the chances of successful breastfeeding. A natural birth increases the probability of a healthier postnatal period and an easier recovery due to better hormonal balance and less post-operative discomforts.
A woman who has given birth with minimal intervention does not have to recover from major abdominal surgery (cesarean section), instrumental delivery (by forceps or vacuum), cutting of the perineum, (called episiotomy), bruises from IV lines, or severe headache and backache (a possible and well-documented side effect of epidurals).
The birth of your child becomes the most cherished chapter in the story of your life, one that will live in your thoughts many times over. As a midwife I feel honored that your story becomes part of mine.