I love all people and try to be a blessing to them as I serve them as their midwife and friend. I accept all women of all faiths, and belief systems.
My midwifery philosophy is built on partnership. I believe each woman knows what she wants, and needs for her birth. I want to safely meet each clients needs and desires for a fulfilling and family centerred birth. I have faith in women's bodies and in birth itself coupled with the experience to do just that. When you see the photographs of the births I have attended, you see a mixture of involvement. You see friends, doula's, children and father's present. You even see some father's catching their own babies. While some are not yet ready for that deep involvment. I honor and value the father's role in his wife's life and that of his child. He has been vital to her wellbeing long before I was hired to assist in their birthing and transition to parenthood. I honor each woman's unique needs and desires. I honor the couple. I honor the family. To assist in such beautiful births we do extensive talking and planning. This talking and planning is actually very important for the final outcome.
Safety during birth and post partum is high on my priority list. We work in partnership to ensure a safe birth. I want all of my mothers and infants to be healthy and thriving. There are certain measures we need to take to ensure that goal. For instance: learning and listening to your body and it's needs while pregnant and in labor; Listening to the baby's heart beat during labor and being wise to the fetal response to contractions; Choosing a safe environment for delivery and those who will be present; Considering possible complications that could arise and discussing them and how they will be handled; Eating a healthy diet throughout pregnancy and staying hydrated and emotionally centerred during birth; Taking prenatal classes wether it's hypnobirth or Bradley; and creating peaceful, happy thoughts and visions of the birth process are just a few examples of ways to create a healthy environment for birth.
Prenatal care is a time of laying down a foundation of health not only for the birth, but for your baby's future health and the health of your grandchildren. I screen for baby's growth, maternal metabolic needs and blood pressures so that any complication of pregnancy can be addressed. I also screen maternal weight gain, maternal diet, health history, her self determination, and spiritual beliefs. Most prenatal visits last about an hour. We do alot of talking. I want to get to know you as an individual and I want to be part of your ideal birth dream. That actually is a process over time of getting to know you. I want to help you work toward your healthy birth goals. I can't make promises that you'll give birth with the dolphins, but I'll do my best to meet your realistic expectations for a healthy birth and baby. I keep an open mind for the unknown unfolding of birth that when we reach our goal we can look back and say...I couldn't have known it would have happened in such a way, but how wonderful it did!
My philosophy for life, and birth include integrity, honesty, spirituality and courage. I am well experienced with pregnancy and newborn complications. I will always give you my very best. In fact I limit my practice so that those I serve can have the very best of me. I graduated from the University of California San Francisco/ San Diego intercampus midwifery program having a double major, in midwifery and as an OB GYN Nurse Practitioner in 1993. I not only have a Bachelor of Science in nursing, but also a Master of Science in nursing. I love being a midwife and look forward to meeting you and getting to know you. I'm glad we have 9 months to get to know each other. It's awesome!