Philosophy

My Philosophy & the Midwives Model of Care

Lily “listening”to her sibling with the fetoscope

I am a traditionally practicing midwife.  The foundation of my practice is mamatoto – the mother/baby unit. Everything else flows from there. We work together, starting with your body and your baby, and go from there. By honoring the wisdom of your body and the knowledge that your baby already has, you retain authority for your pregnancy and birth. This is all about you and your family. I trust your intuition.

I find that a supportive approach works best to really honor the wisdom of the mamatoto; that my skills and knowledge are ready for situations where exceptions may occur and as families want or need guidance or assistance. I realize that my role is superfluous – you don’t ‘need’ me. What have women done for ages? They have found their center, nourished themselves and their babies physically, emotionally, and spiritually, and birthed their babies as women had done before them. At one time, women had other women near them who shared the knowledge of their pregnancies and birth, and those of their mothers, sisters, aunts, and those who came before them. I have my own stories and the stories of my mommas that I have been able to serve to pass onto you.

Surround yourself with others who believe in what you are doing. I have created a community just for you on Facebook. This community will support you, as you desire, during your journey through pregnancy and birth.

What is very sacred to me is what Dr. Wirth has termed Prenatal Parenting: “Pregnancy is much more than a medical condition. It is a psychological and spiritual journey during which the pregnant family evaluates personal values, spends time prioritizing responsibilities, plans for the future, and considers the life-long gifts they want to give their children.” I want you to have a physically and emotionally healthy pregnancy so that you can pass that onto your growing baby throughout your pregnancy and once your baby is born. Your baby has awareness, which is why I will talk to your baby throughout your pregnancy. If I have been asked to be present as a baby enters the world, I believe that I need to make an effort to really let your baby get to know me as much as I am getting to know your baby.

Lead, and I will follow.

The Midwives Model of Care is based on the fact that pregnancy and birth are normal life events. The Midwives Model of Care includes:

• 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; and
• identifying and referring women who require obstetrical attention.

The application of this model has been proven to reduce the incidence of birth injury, trauma, and cesarean section.
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A Certified Professional Midwife is a knowledgeable, skilled and professional independent midwifery practitioner who has met the standards for certification set by the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) and is qualified to provide the Midwives Model of Care. The CPM is the only international credential that requires knowledge about and experience in out-of-hospital settings.

I am a Certified Professional Midwife. I look forward to joining you on your journey.