Let Us Introduce Ourselves

Esther de Jong, CNM, Monica Edwards, Office Manager, Kathleen Martin, CNM, and Karen Watt, CNM at the front desk. Esther has several years experience as a midwife, and practices at the Birth Center of Gainesville (Florida). She taught at the North Florida School of Midwifery before moving to New Orleans. She has been at our practice for several years. Monica is our office manager and we can't do without her! Kathleen has been a midwife for over thirty years, practicing in New York City and Massachusetts, and teaching at Yale School of Nursing and Nurse-Midwifery. She had a homebirth practice in New Orleans, and has been associated with the practice for several years bafore becoming the director. Karen decided to become a midwife after giving birth to her son 25 years ago with the help of a midwife. She has been an English teacher and been nursing director of a birth center at Wahiwa Hawaii. During her training she worked with midwives in Hawaii, on an indian reservation and at a major medical center. Since moving from Hawaii to join our practice,she has delivered more than one hundred babies.

When you come to our office, Monica will probably be the first person you meet. She not only runs the office and schedules appointments, she can find out if your insurance benefits cover our services, and help you find insurance coverage. After working closely with the midwives and as a result of her own mothering experience, she has a great deal of knowledge and can answer many of your questions, or refer you to a midwife for answers to more complicated issues.

Although her labor was not easy, Danielle Richard was able to hold and nurse Milan just minutes after her birth. Milan, now two years old, just became a big sister when Danielle delivered Farley Richard III ("Trey") recently. His picture is not yet available.