Philosophy of Care

I believe people have inside of them the innate wisdoms to care for their pregnant bodies, to birth, and care for their babies. Once pregnant, our bodies change and grow life, with or without our doing, there is this incredible involuntary unfolding of life that occurs. And we do our best to nourish and care for ourselves for the healthiest experience and best outcomes. I believe pregnancy and birth are transformative times in a person's life, a moment in time that can shape us in profound ways. It is often a time of great openness, vulnerablity, and opportunity to heal and grow as a person. I believe pregnancy and birth are a ceremony marking a rite of passage into motherhood / parenthood, and that having the caring attention, experienced support, and loving guidance of a midwife can help us thrive through this journey. I practice midwifery following the Midwives Model of Care™, the principles of Trauma Informed Care, Full Informed Choice and Embodied Consent.

Midwives Model of Care™ Is Client-Centered

The Midwives Model of Care™ is a fundamentally different approach to pregnancy and childbirth than contemporary obstetrics. Midwifery care is uniquely nurturing, hands-on care before, during, and after birth. Midwives are health care professionals specializing in pregnancy and childbirth who develop a trusting relationship with their clients, which results in confident, supported labor and birth. While there are different types of midwives practicing in various settings, all midwives are trained to provide comprehensive prenatal care and education, guide labor and birth, address complications, and care for newborns. 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/birthing parent throughout the childbearing cycle
providing the mother/birthing parent 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/birthing people who require obstetrical attention.

The application of this model has been proven to reduce the incidence of birth injury, trauma, and cesarean section.

Trauma Informed Care, Full Informed Choice & Embodied Consent

I acknowledge the widespread impact of trauma and that the traumas we've endured can impact our childbearing experience. I understand that many birth givers are survivors of adverse childhood experiences, sexual trauma, gendered violence, racial oppression, and/or other marginalizations of people and the communities to which they belong. I am learning to better recognize the signs and symptoms of trauma, and to respond accordingly. This response may look like modifying the care I give so that clients are comfortable, and not re-traumatized. This may also mean that I refer or consult with other health care providers to find the specific support they may need. I acknowledge that trauma must be countered with healing, caring attention, and practices that help to heal, re-member, and to embody. My role in this process is to bear witness to this remembering, to offer midwifery guidance & clinical skills that are trauma informed and follow the principles of embodied consent. Beyond offering full informed choice for any tests, all touch, and procedures offered, I am also listening to the words to see if they match the non-verbal communication, body language and cues. I work to understand the vulnerabilities and possible triggers, and work hard to avoid re-traumatization.

I work to create safe spaces in my practice. I work to build trust with my clients by offering full informed choice, and with appointments that last about an hour, we have ample time to explore options and build rapport. Decisions are made in collaboration with a sense of mutuality in the midwife-client relationship. I practice evidence based care, which is care based on the triad of the client's choice and preference, the evidence available in research, and the midwives experience and knowledge. I consult and refer to other health care providers when indicated and in consideration of client's preferences. I hope that a client's childbearing experience is that of self-empowerment, and that in my care they experience being seen, heard, respected and supported in their choices and in their being.