Frequently Asked Questions
 
1. What is a Midwife?
 
Midwives are independent practitioners referring to O.B.s only if there is a medical problem involving mother/child safety. Midwives provide care for women during pre-conceptual, prenatal, labor and postpartum periods. Their work involves caring for newborns, providing health, exercise and nutritional counseling, and providing education and parenting support.
online resource        www.radmid.demon.co.uk
 
2. Is Midwifery safe?
 
There have been many studies done to compare safety rates of home birth to that of hospital birth.  According Marsden Wagner, MD, evidence suggests "home birth is a safe alternative for women".  (Born in the USA, c. 2006) One defining difference is the limited use of intervention in home and birth center births.  This researcher likes to call the midwifery model of care "humanized birth" which means focusing on the normalcy of birth, putting the needs of the woman first: giving her autonomy in the decisions for her baby.                                                    Download this Doc
online resource        http://marsdenwagner.com/fishall.html
www.gentlebirth.org/ronnie/homejjg.html
 
3. Who is a good candidate for home or birth center birth?
 
Healthy, low risk pregnancies are suited for birthing at home or a birth center.
 
4.  What about insurance?
 
Most insurance companies cover midwifery. Bring your insurance card to your consultation. We will assess your coverage and contact your insurance company for answers.
 
5.  What about water birth?
 
Use of water in labor and birth have been found to reduce the need for medical pain relief, reduce fear/stress levels, encourage a gentle birth.
Evidence shows less trauma to the mother and her baby in water birth.
(Barbara Harper, RN, Gentle Birth Choices, c. 2005)
online resource        www.waterbirth.org
 
6.  What is a midwife's role in birth?
 
It has been our philosophy to put the needs of birthing families first in the birthing experience.  When labor is moving smoothly and naturally, there is no reason why a mother and her birth companions need interruption or interference in this normal process.  The midwife is available to offer comfort, encouragement, suggestions and in the rare case of emergency assistance in that realm.  A midwife will act as a guide to the birthing family - often assisting the mother or father or other family member to catch the baby!  After birth, the midwife will quietly assess the mother and her baby as they become a new family.  Our approach is to allow this to unfold in the quiet envelope of mother's and father's arms, as a sacred family event.
online resource       http://cfmidwifery.org/whatis/
 
7.   What services do you provide as my midwife?
 
  1. •FREE initial consultation
  2. •Prenatal Care throughout your pregnancy including necessary lab work
  3. •Nutritional Counseling to maintain a healthy pregnancy
  4. •Natural Alternatives to the Medical Model
  5. •Childbirth classes, 4 weeks in duration
  6. •24 hour availability by phone pre-natal and post-partum up to 6 weeks.
  7. •Helping you during labor with methods to cope (birth ball, laboring  in water, water- birth, relaxation techniques, affirmations, visualization)
  8. •Providing safe and effective means of pain relief through labor support   in homebirth or at the Birth Center
  9. •Maintaining a calm and peaceful birth atmosphere
  10. •Providing clinical assessment throughout labor and birth with fetal heart tones, blood pressure readings and temperature readings
  11. •Catching your baby or assisting the father or family member to catch!
  12. •Providing support to the birthing family and children, grandparents, etc.
  13. •Providing breastfeeding support, connection with La Leche League, referrals if necessary to lactation consultants
  14. •Extensive reading lists, books and articles
  15. •Community Support and Resources
  16. •Providing parenting and general newborn information
  17. •Specializing in care of families in every realm of the birth process, parenting and beyond.
  18. •Three or more Postpartum Visits to assess newborn well being and mother's healing and adjustment to parenting and breastfeeding.
8.    What about the mess?
  1. Believe it or not, this is a very common question!
  2. Since we want mothers and fathers and other family members to be able to start their “baby moon” immediately after the birth of their baby, we want to make sure we leave the home as clean as when we arrived.  This means starting a load or two of towels and bedding used in the birth and washing any dishes that may have been used as well.  Waterbirth tends to be quite a clean process, simply drain the tub and clean!   Our goal is for the family to stay relaxed and enjoy the transition.
9.     Who can be with me at my birth?
  1. Anyone that you feel comfortable sharing your experience with is welcome to be with you at your birth.  Sometimes this is immediately family members and older siblings.  Other times, it may mean just the two of you bringing your baby into the world together.  Our philosophy is about meeting the needs of the birthing couple and that can be different for everyone.    
 Salli Gonzalez, LM, CPM
The Midwifery Model of Care treats birth as a natural process. In caring for low risk women who desire information and to make decisions, midwives act as guides to help lead the family in the direction they desire. -------------------------- When the birthing family feels safe and treated with autonomy, they are able to make better decisions for their baby, that suits their individual styles and fosters a more healthy birthing environment. The baby is then welcomed with love into a peaceful setting in which he transitions to life without fear or trauma. -------------------------- The goal of modern midwifery care is to return the value of women and babies to the hands of the family by providing education and counseling in nutrition, exercise and making informed choices from evidence-based research. -------------------------- The Midwifery Model of Care gives parents confidence & knowledge about how to proceed in taking care of baby in pregnancy, birth and newborn care. Look into the best possible start for your precious baby. Click here to claim your seat at our next free birthing seminar!