Tuesday, September 10, 2019

Midwives caring for women

Midwives caring for women … the way it has been since the beginning.

Labors of love Midwifery is a practice of Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) and offer full-scope midwifery services to our clients.

CPMs are also LMs who are Licensed by DEHEC in SC who have graduated from an accredited midwifery education program and passed a national certification exam.

 In South Carolina, CPMs are also LMs who provide primary care for women for all their pregnancy.

 Midwives care for women with a special emphasis on pregnancy, childbirth, and gynecologic and reproductive health.

 Midwives perform comprehensive physical exams and work in collaboration with physicians and hospitals.

CPMs provide high-quality and compassionate care for expectant mothers and women of all ages, including … Prenatal and postpartum care Breastfeeding support.



Health care that respects human dignity, individuality and diversity






  • Complete and accurate information to make informed health care decisions
  • Self-determination and active participation in health care decisions
  • Involvement of a woman’s designated family members, to the extent desired
  • Equitable, ethical, accessible quality health care that promotes healing and health
  • Consultation and collaboration with other midwives or doctors as needed







  • Thursday, August 1, 2019

    Greenville Midwifery - A natural home birth in Greenville SC might be for you

    Greenville Midwifery - A natural home birth in Greenville SC might be for you

    Greenville Midwifery - A natural home birth in Greenville SC might be for you



    Greenville Midwifery - A natural home birth in Greenville SC might be for you

    Are you interested in delivering your child at home with a midwife in Greenville SC?

    Greenville Midwives Home Birth Options

    Are you looking for more information about using a midwife for your natural home birth in Greenville SC?

    Labors of Love Midwifery

    1622 East North Street, Suite #8A
    Greenville, SC 29607 864-285-0574

    See All Our Google Reviews

    Greenville Midwives Home Birth

    Labors of Love Midwifery serves the upstate of SC, providing families alternative midwifery care throughout the childbearing years. You may prefer to provide in the house or in our birth facility under the proficient care of our Licensed Midwives and also Certified Professional Midwives. Our knowledgeable Midwifes have dealt with females living throughout the Upstate of SC consisting of in Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson, Greenwood, Clinton/laurens, and also Charlotte NC as well as have created an extremely welcoming and a setting for all females seeking healthcare for pregnancy and also past. We are committed to offering care that is considerate, informative and family-centered. We support females to accept childbirth as a typical experience that they are flawlessly made for so that infants could be birthed into a nurtured location loaded with love.

    A home birth might be for you.

    If you're weighing your delivery options and do not desire the medical atmosphere of a healthcare facility however likewise aren't interested in providing in the house, a birthing center may be the best choice for you. With expert staff, very little medical disturbances and cozy accommodations, a birthing center is the very best of both worlds for numerous females. To assist you choose whether it's ideal for you, here's whatever you require to understand about delivering at a birthing center.

    What a home birth is

    A birthing center is a homey, low-tech birth choice for moms-to-be who prefer a natural childbirth experience. Normally, birth centers are freestanding centers, but in some cases they're adjacent to or inside a healthcare facility In the majority of birthing centers, midwives (and not OB-GYNs) are the primary care providers. Besides offering a comfy place to deliver your child, birth centers provide numerous services consisting of well-woman examinations, prejudgment therapy, prenatal care, childbirth education, breastfeeding classes, postpartum care and assistance and post-baby birth control.

    How it's various from a medical facility.

    At home birth care is normally led by licensed midwives, though many midwives may work in cooperation with OB-GYNs, pediatricians and other healthcare experts-- meaning they consult them if the need arises. But delivering at home and delivering at a hospital vary in a number of ways. While a labor space in a hospital looks like, well, a space in a health center, you are in control of the birthing space in your home , to make it as conforntable as you desire. And treatments that are basic or a minimum of common in a medical facility setting (such as continuous fetal monitoring, regular IVs and induction of labor) aren't routine with a midwife during your home birth.

    The advantages of a home birth

    You are in complete control. Home birth typically have soft lighting, your own bed (which implies your partner can snuggle with you, if you're up for it), your midwife can bring a birthing tub. Some families are like to have burning candles or special music to help them relax into labor paterns. Greater personal privacy in your home -- whereas at a hospital, unless your insurance covers a personal room (lots of don't), you'll be moved to a semi-private space after delivery. More liberty in your home. You can walk and be as active as you like, wear what you desire, and give birth in whatever position feels most comfy. You even get to eat a snack or snack and beverage during and after labor (no food or beverages throughout the pushing phase though). At a healthcare facility, on the other hand, all food and fluids (except for ice chips) are normally a no-go, your motions will probably be limited (considering that there is normally continuous electronic fetal tracking), and you'll likely need to give birth pushing on your back on the bed. Also, in a healthcare facility delivery, your baby will be taken to a various space for his/her very first checkup, and a few times more for other treatments. At a home birth, however, unless the baby needs emergency care, your baby will not be whisked off to another space after the birth (and family and friends will not be sent away either-- unless you desire them to be). Whatever-- from preventative care like the vitamin K shot to child's first bath and examination-- happens in the exact same room. Because fewer medications and medical interventions are included, healing time is much shorter than at a hospital. With the majority of families the midwife will leave in 2 to 4 hours after the birth, compared to you being 24 to 48 hours at a health center. Decreased danger of a C-section. The rate of C-sections for ladies who chose a home birth to deliver is around 6% (compared to just under 26% for comparable low-risk ladies in healthcare facilities). No epidural. Midwives do not offer epidurals at home. Instead, they rely on alternative discomfort relief choices, such as hydrotherapy, breathing exercises, massage and acupuncture. The downsides of delivering at home with a midwife are the lack of midwives in certain areas. Possible transfer to a health center. If there is an issue or emergency situation, you'll be moved to a health center. Thankfully, less than 2 percent of transfers are because of emergencies (they're primarily due to mother having an incredibly tough labor and/or requests for an epidural.) However midwives do carry, oxygen and baby resuscitators for use throughout the transfer procedure. No insurance coverage. Some insurance provider don't cover home births with a midwife. Contact your insurance provider to discuss your protection. When you can't deliver at a at home with a midwife. Midwives manage just low-risk pregnancies. If you have hypertension, diabetes or gestational diabetes, your child is in the breech position, you're pregnant with multiples, or you have other issues that might cause problems, a home birth isn't the right option for you.

    Who can attend my home birth

    It's completely approximately you to decide who and how many people will be present throughout labor and delivery. Unlike the medical facility experience, you're not limited to a particular number (and kids won't get the automated boot when it's time for you to push). Naturally, that does not indicate you must attempt to pack 30 people in the space! Natural birth supporters frequently recommend restricting the variety of people who are present, as having too many individuals around can be an interruption and make labor take longer. Remember, those who miss the live event can capture the replay through photos or video recordings, which are welcome by midwives at home births.

    How much it costs for a home birth

    The cost varies depending upon where you live and the midwife you choose. In general, prenatal care and delivery at a home with a midwife will be around $3,000 to $4,000 (normally much less than the grand overall for a medical facility birth). Once again, talk to your insurance provider to identify coverage and out-of-pocket costs.

    When to find your midwife

    Midwives aren't able to deal with as many home births as a medical facility-- which suggests you ought to reserve your spot as early as possible (as soon as you identify you wish to deliver at a home-- the first trimester isn't prematurely). Know: Some medical facilities call their labor and delivery department a "birth center." So just because "birth center" is in a place's name does not always suggest it focuses on the homier, midwife-led childbirth experience. Visit the Commission for the Accreditation of Birthing Centers' site to find a center near you. As soon as you've discovered one, you can set up to visit it. You'll have the ability to discover more about the center, fulfill the staff, and find out what you can do to prepare for the terrific experience that's quickly to come.

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    Greenville Midwifery - Looking for natural home birth in Greenville SC

    Greenville Midwifery - Looking for natural home birth in Greenville SC

    Greenville Midwifery - Looking for natural home birth in Greenville SC



    Greenville Midwifery - Looking for natural home birth in Greenville SC

    Are you interested in delivering your child at home with a midwife in Greenville SC?

    Greenville Midwives Home Birth Options

    Are you looking for more information about using a midwife for your natural home birth in Greenville SC?

    Labors of Love Midwifery

    1622 East North Street, Suite #8A
    Greenville, SC 29607 864-285-0574

    See All Our Google Reviews

    Greenville Midwives Home Birth

    Labors of Love Midwifery serves the upstate of SC, providing families alternative midwifery care throughout the childbearing years. You may prefer to provide in the house or in our birth facility under the proficient care of our Licensed Midwives and also Certified Professional Midwives. Our knowledgeable Midwifes have dealt with females living throughout the Upstate of SC consisting of in Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson, Greenwood, Clinton/laurens, and also Charlotte NC as well as have created an extremely welcoming and a setting for all females seeking healthcare for pregnancy and also past. We are committed to offering care that is considerate, informative and family-centered. We support females to accept childbirth as a typical experience that they are flawlessly made for so that infants could be birthed into a nurtured location loaded with love.

    A home birth might be for you.

    If you're weighing your delivery options and do not desire the medical atmosphere of a healthcare facility however likewise aren't interested in providing in the house, a birthing center may be the best choice for you. With expert staff, very little medical disturbances and cozy accommodations, a birthing center is the very best of both worlds for numerous females. To assist you choose whether it's ideal for you, here's whatever you require to understand about delivering at a birthing center.

    What a home birth is

    A birthing center is a homey, low-tech birth choice for moms-to-be who prefer a natural childbirth experience. Normally, birth centers are freestanding centers, but in some cases they're adjacent to or inside a healthcare facility In the majority of birthing centers, midwives (and not OB-GYNs) are the primary care providers. Besides offering a comfy place to deliver your child, birth centers provide numerous services consisting of well-woman examinations, prejudgment therapy, prenatal care, childbirth education, breastfeeding classes, postpartum care and assistance and post-baby birth control.

    How it's various from a medical facility.

    At home birth care is normally led by licensed midwives, though many midwives may work in cooperation with OB-GYNs, pediatricians and other healthcare experts-- meaning they consult them if the need arises. But delivering at home and delivering at a hospital vary in a number of ways. While a labor space in a hospital looks like, well, a space in a health center, you are in control of the birthing space in your home , to make it as conforntable as you desire. And treatments that are basic or a minimum of common in a medical facility setting (such as continuous fetal monitoring, regular IVs and induction of labor) aren't routine with a midwife during your home birth.

    The advantages of a home birth

    You are in complete control. Home birth typically have soft lighting, your own bed (which implies your partner can snuggle with you, if you're up for it), your midwife can bring a birthing tub. Some families are like to have burning candles or special music to help them relax into labor paterns. Greater personal privacy in your home -- whereas at a hospital, unless your insurance covers a personal room (lots of don't), you'll be moved to a semi-private space after delivery. More liberty in your home. You can walk and be as active as you like, wear what you desire, and give birth in whatever position feels most comfy. You even get to eat a snack or snack and beverage during and after labor (no food or beverages throughout the pushing phase though). At a healthcare facility, on the other hand, all food and fluids (except for ice chips) are normally a no-go, your motions will probably be limited (considering that there is normally continuous electronic fetal tracking), and you'll likely need to give birth pushing on your back on the bed. Also, in a healthcare facility delivery, your baby will be taken to a various space for his/her very first checkup, and a few times more for other treatments. At a home birth, however, unless the baby needs emergency care, your baby will not be whisked off to another space after the birth (and family and friends will not be sent away either-- unless you desire them to be). Whatever-- from preventative care like the vitamin K shot to child's first bath and examination-- happens in the exact same room. Because fewer medications and medical interventions are included, healing time is much shorter than at a hospital. With the majority of families the midwife will leave in 2 to 4 hours after the birth, compared to you being 24 to 48 hours at a health center. Decreased danger of a C-section. The rate of C-sections for ladies who chose a home birth to deliver is around 6% (compared to just under 26% for comparable low-risk ladies in healthcare facilities). No epidural. Midwives do not offer epidurals at home. Instead, they rely on alternative discomfort relief choices, such as hydrotherapy, breathing exercises, massage and acupuncture. The downsides of delivering at home with a midwife are the lack of midwives in certain areas. Possible transfer to a health center. If there is an issue or emergency situation, you'll be moved to a health center. Thankfully, less than 2 percent of transfers are because of emergencies (they're primarily due to mother having an incredibly tough labor and/or requests for an epidural.) However midwives do carry, oxygen and baby resuscitators for use throughout the transfer procedure. No insurance coverage. Some insurance provider don't cover home births with a midwife. Contact your insurance provider to discuss your protection. When you can't deliver at a at home with a midwife. Midwives manage just low-risk pregnancies. If you have hypertension, diabetes or gestational diabetes, your child is in the breech position, you're pregnant with multiples, or you have other issues that might cause problems, a home birth isn't the right option for you.

    Who can attend my home birth

    It's completely approximately you to decide who and how many people will be present throughout labor and delivery. Unlike the medical facility experience, you're not limited to a particular number (and kids won't get the automated boot when it's time for you to push). Naturally, that does not indicate you must attempt to pack 30 people in the space! Natural birth supporters frequently recommend restricting the variety of people who are present, as having too many individuals around can be an interruption and make labor take longer. Remember, those who miss the live event can capture the replay through photos or video recordings, which are welcome by midwives at home births.

    How much it costs for a home birth

    The cost varies depending upon where you live and the midwife you choose. In general, prenatal care and delivery at a home with a midwife will be around $3,000 to $4,000 (normally much less than the grand overall for a medical facility birth). Once again, talk to your insurance provider to identify coverage and out-of-pocket costs.

    When to find your midwife

    Midwives aren't able to deal with as many home births as a medical facility-- which suggests you ought to reserve your spot as early as possible (as soon as you identify you wish to deliver at a home-- the first trimester isn't prematurely). Know: Some medical facilities call their labor and delivery department a "birth center." So just because "birth center" is in a place's name does not always suggest it focuses on the homier, midwife-led childbirth experience. Visit the Commission for the Accreditation of Birthing Centers' site to find a center near you. As soon as you've discovered one, you can set up to visit it. You'll have the ability to discover more about the center, fulfill the staff, and find out what you can do to prepare for the terrific experience that's quickly to come.

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    Friday, November 9, 2018

    The Best Pregnancy Advice For Future Moms!

    The Best Pregnancy Advice For Future Moms!

    Congratulations! Now that you have found out you are expecting a little bundle of joy, you may have a lot of questions about what the next nine months will hold for you. While pregnancy is a great experience, there are some tips and tricks to getting through it that we want to share here with you.

    Use a cold-water bath for swollen feet. One highly common symptom of pregnancy is swollen feet and ankles, especially in the heat. A cold water bath can reduce the blood flow to your feet, which in turn will reduce the inflammation. It also cools you down and gives you an excuse to be off your feet for a few minutes.

    Regular exercise is essential when you are pregnant. This will decrease your chances of suffering a miscarriage, reduce the amount of time you are in labor, and it will make it easier to go back to your regular size, after you give birth.

    Increase your intake of cereals, asparagus, lentils, oranges and orange juice. These foods are all rich in folic acid, which helps the development of the baby's neural cord and creates red blood cells for your unborn child. It is ideal to begin consuming these foods even before you start trying to conceive.

    Keep exercising, even after your pregnancy is over and you have your baby. Pay attention to how you feel and take it slow, but keep active as much as you can. Staying fit after birth, will help you to recover faster from the effects of the pregnancy and labor.

    Keep a journal during pregnancy, and fill it with stories and pictures from your pregnancy. Once your child grows up a little, they will appreciate the effort that you put into this! Seeing pictures of how their mom looked like while she was pregnant is something children love. Take a lot of pictures during each stage of pregnancy, and write down your thoughts into a journal that you can share with them later.

    Talk to your family or friends who have already given birth. Obtaining advice from a person who has already been pregnant is vital, because she will be experienced in the matter and can help advise you.

    Make sure you take time for yourself. After you deliver your baby, your life is going to be far more complex than now, and you won't have as much time to pamper yourself. Watch some anime, go out to the pub with friends, or just have fun doing whatever you like to do. You'll feel better, which means your baby will too.

    One of the best ways to find relief in the late stages of pregnancy is by going swimming. You can just soak in your pool or you can even consider a water aerobics class. It will relieve many of the aches and pains that you are experiencing and it will make you feel weightless which can really help your ankles and feet.

    Signing up early for your childbirth class can prevent the disappointment of not getting the dates and times that you want. While the birth of your baby may seem a long way away, it is never too early to find the classes you want and make your reservation with the providers.

    Attend a breastfeeding class during pregnancy to learn the basics of nursing. These classes prepare you for the experience of breastfeeding your baby, and may provide tips for dealing with commonly encountered issues. You can also find out about resources for breastfeeding support in your community, such as local La Leche League chapters and meetings.

    Keep away from alcohol when pregnant. When a woman drinks during her pregnancy, the alcohol will pass through her placenta directly to her unborn fetus. The best advice for women trying for a pregnancy and those who are pregnant is to stop drinking alcohol. Alcohol consumption when you are pregnant can result in miscarriage or pre-term labor, and it can also result in birth defects for your baby.

    When comparing your pregnancy to those of your friends or even your own previous pregnancies, remember that each one is different. Each pregnancy can vary from the amount of weight you gain to the rate at which your belly grows. Also, the presence or absence of certain symptoms does not necessarily mean that something is wrong.

    Find out what blood type you and your partner have. If you have incompatible blood types, there is a possibility that you could also be incompatible with your baby's blood type. This can lead to a condition called anemia, which causes complications during the pregnancy and birth of your child.

    You can learn a great deal during your pregnancy to prepare for the birth of your child by reading about the birth experiences of others. Reading the stories that others share, and watching videos that they have posted online can give you valuable information about the wonders of birth, as well as the challenges.

    Midwife

    Do not skip your prenatal appointments. Every appointment that you have is a chance for your doctor or midwife to identify any issues while it is early enough to do something about it. Make your appointments your highest priority and do not allow anything to make you skip them.

    Once you find out that you are pregnant, make sure that you find a doctor or midwife that you are comfortable with. Many times, women choose the first doctor that they see and end up having an unpleasant experience with them. Ask friends and family if they know of a good, reliable midwife.

    Do not hesitate to inform your obstetrician or midwife if you experience depression during pregnancy. There are antidepressants that are considered safe for pregnant and nursing mothers, and in many cases, the benefits of taking them outweigh the risks of letting your depression go untreated. You do not have to suffer, and you are doing a great thing for both your baby and yourself by speaking up and getting help.

    Having a baby is an unimaginable joy. The pregnant part is sometimes not so joyful. Lots of uncomfortable days and nights can make for a testy experience. If you remember what you read here though you can sail through it much easier and get on to the good part of being a mommy.

    Tuesday, January 27, 2015

    What Makes A Good Birth Story?

    I love reading birth stories. I love hearing how empowered women become after going through the act of giving birth. The victory they have achieved allows them to know they can do anything.

    Some birth stories tell of endless hours of labors and triumph of delivery.
    These are the stories where the mother has a very long prodromal or latent stage with contractions spaced out just far enough to keep her from sleeping well but not close enough together to be effective for dilation. She may speak of the people supporting her, bringing in food for her family, helping take care of other children, rubbing her back and wiping her brow.

    Some birth stories are of fast and furious labors where the mom barely makes it to the birth center or hospital or the midwives barely make it to her home...or not. These stories often tell of a frantic husband who is relieved to turn the responsibility over to the care provider and take a moment to breathe for himself. She is often shocked and bewildered that it is all over.

    And then there is everything in between. Fast labors, textbook labors, sorrowful labors, joyous labors.

    What makes a good birth story? The ones that are told. Women need to tell their stories and they need to be heard. Women are resilient. They can handle the good, the bad and the ugly. They can effect change when their expectations are not met. They can make the world a better place for their daughters, daughter in laws and grand daughters to give birth.

    Tell your story. Allow others to learn. Help us as caregivers to learn what was important to you.


    Tuesday, January 20, 2015

    5 Easy Steps to Bonding



    The wait is finally over; your new baby is going to arrive today. You have done everything in your power to have a healthy pregnancy and birth. You want to be the best mom for your precious gift.

    A crucial part of this is bonding.

    Bonding is the connection between the newborn and family or other humans. Babies who bond well are happier, healthier and better adjusted.

    5 Easy Steps to Bonding

    1. Skin to skin contact: Immediately after the birth, your newborn should be placed in your arms. This contact allows you to groom and clean your baby. You gently touch, explore, massage, and smell your newborn. This act allows you to release a chemical in your brain called oxytocin also known as the “love” hormone. You fall in love with your baby and your baby falls in love with you.

    2. Eye contact: You baby will be alert and awake the first hour after birth. Your baby’s eyes will be searching for yours. Your baby knows you. He has heard your voice, your heartbeat and felt your rhythms. Now he is ready to see you. This contact allows new pathways to form in his brain that will impact him for a lifetime.

    3. Talk to your baby: You baby knows your voice. Hearing it brings calmness to his world. Birth is a difficult event for your baby. Your voice brings back normalcy. Sing to your baby if that is what you have done during your pregnancy. The human voice is powerful. Let your baby hear YOUR voice first and above all others in the room.

    4. Listen to your maternal voice: During your pregnancy you have bonded with your baby. Your nurturing brain has changed and grown. You know how to care for your new baby. Listen. Your brain will tell you what to do. No website, magazine article or book can replace your maternal instinct. Love your baby and trust yourself.

    5. Spend time with your new baby: Don’t allow your baby to be separated from you. Often babies are taken away for baths, screenings and evaluation. Ask that these procedures be done in your room. Ask for rooming in, so that your baby is not taken to a nursery. This allows you to get to know your babies needs so that you can be responsive without relying on someone else to make that observation and then respond.


    Under the Old Tin Roof: Make My Blog Pretty

    Under the Old Tin Roof: Make My Blog Pretty

    Tuesday, September 24, 2013

    What Happened to the Contractions

    It happens frequently, contractions are strong and regular. You are coping with them well but you know if you are going to make it to the hospital, you need to leave now. You get in the car, the excitement building and begin your journey to your new life. Your life with a new baby.


    You arrive at the hospital, you are questioned, examined, asked to sign a stack of papers, put on monitors and finally settled nicely into your bed to labor. But oddly enough your contractions have spaced out and not as intense. What happened to the contractions. The contractions that you were so excited to be having. The contractions that were going to bring your baby.

    This is an all to common scenario. How it is handled can be the difference between a natural birth and a c-section.


    Let's address first what happened.  Oxytocin is the  hormone released by the brain to cause contractions. The more oxytocin, the more contractions which will eventually bring baby to delivery. Oxytocin has some natural inhibitors-stress, observation, cold, speech, and bright lights. Michel Odent has taught this concept for years and has written several books on the subject. So when one arrives at the hospital with all the excitement, questions, bright lights, people talking and having to think and making decisions, the oxytocin level can drop drastically. When the oxytocin drops, contractions slow or even stop. Usually in time, if the stressors are removed, the oxytocin returns and labor will intensify. This may take a few hours or days.



    I recently attended a hospital birth and got to see this event first hand. It was very dramatic. Contractions had been strong and 3 minutes apart. Everything slowed to the point that the mom was working diligently just to keep contractions going. After 10 hours of latent labor with no change, the wonderful OB we were working with suggested everyone go home. Once back home, contractions picked back up and once back at the hospital, labor was advanced enough that all the distractions were ignored and this mom reached complete.



    The next slow down happened during pushing. The mom had been laboring in the tub, the lights were low, there was no talking, the water was warm and she gently moved her baby down behind a bulging bag of waters. She had to be moved to the bed for delivery, all the staff comes in for the big event, the lights are turned on so the scene can be visualized. Legs are spread, perineum is exposed and all stand expectantly waiting for the big event. This mom pushed her babies head out as instructed and then contractions stalled again. Of course this created quite a panic. The OB even commented that the one contraction that was bringing the body just quit. Go with me just for a moment  What would happen if you were in the middle of lovemaking ( the other time in our life when we produce a lot of oxytocin) and six strangers walked in to your room and started observing you and cheering you on? 


    All ended well, but it was a  great illustration reminding me of how important it is to be vigilant in our preparation of the environment we invite women to give birth in.



    As a guardian of the natural process of birth, I want to always  honor and respect the God's design  and not interfere in such a way that will inhibit labor or birth.

    Sunday, September 15, 2013

    Midwife Documentary

    http://vimeo.com/71202401

    This trailer reveals  the most important issue women face today in regards to birth. 

    Birth is a woman's right.

    She should be able to decide:

    • where she gives birth
    • with whom she gives birth or alone
    • if she wants to allow her body to go into labor naturally
    • if she wants to have a VBAC at home, a birth center or a hospital
    •  if she wants to have her 7th baby at a birth center ( currently this is forbidden)
    • if she wants to have any testing done on her or her baby
    This list could go on and I'm sure everyone has their pet cause. The bottom line is that women should be allowed to make these decisions for themselves and their families.

    Friday, March 29, 2013

    Murder...Really??

    http://www.foxcarolina.com/story/21820796/police-unlicensed-midwife-charged-with-murder-of-unborn-child

    This story was published with very few details of what actually happened. It is unfortunate because in our society she has already been convicted of the crime of murder simply because she is a midwife attending births out of the hospital.

    Let's look at what we know. She is a woman. She practices midwifery. She is unlicensed. She attended a labor where a baby died. She has been charge with the crime of murder.

    What don't we know? How long has she practiced midwifery? Why is she not licensed (wait I know that one...the state of NC doesn't have a licensing procedure even though it has been asked for by members of the state for YEARS) Would this baby have died if the mom had been in the care of an OB? If this baby had died in the care of an OB, would they have been charged with murder? Did she do anything wrong in the management of this labor? Did she misrepresent herself to be something she is not? What are the parents opinions of the care they were given?

    I don't know the answers to these questions and I am not here to defend this midwife or to judge her. I understand from someone who knew her that she was well respected in her community.

    There are some things I do know. If NC had licensure, this woman would have been investigated by a board who had an understanding of what midwifery is, what is normal and what risk factors where involved. She would have met a standardized set of requirements in order to have become licensed and remained licensed. Instead she is being judged by individuals who have no understanding of birth, nature, medicine or informed choice.

    What if every physician who lost a patient, was sued for murder? Ridiculous you say. Well of course it is. If every physician who lost a patient was convicted of murder, we would not be able to train physicians fast enough to keep up with demands of our health care system.  Is this because they are neglectful or unskilled? No, it is because unfortunately bad things happen to good people.

    I can tell you this, midwives care for their clients, they put their client's needs ahead of their own on a regular basis. They become involved in their lives and share an incredibly intimate event with them. They are invited as guest into their home and often leave as a member of their family. They stay in touch with them sometime for years after their last delivery. They deliver their daughter's children. They often spend 15 to 20 times as much time with their clients than an OB. They miss family events, anniversary dinners and worshipping with their church family if the phone rings and it is a client in labor. Does this sound like someone who would murder a baby? Premeditated, planned, intentional neglect?? I can tell you that midwives grieve when a client calls to report a miscarriage. They are not static individuals who robotically go from client to client. They are dynamic, feeling, personally effected individuals who sacrifice their lives for their clients...and LOVE it and can't imagine doing
    anything else.

    Would licensing have prevented this stillbirth? Honestly, probably not. Licensure does not make good doctors, lawyers, midwives, plumber or hairstylist. There are skilled and knowledgeable people all over the world who are practice the  craft licensed or not. It is my opinion that licensing is a way for people to give their control over to the government to some how protect them. This is an impossible task. Good practitioners will be good whether big brother is watching or not. Bad practitioners will be bad whether big brother is watching or not. Having licensure give credibility to a profession although I would argue it is a false sense of credibility.

    On a personal note, I grieve for this family and their lost. I hurt for the fact that they too will be persecuted because of their decision to work with a midwife. People are cruel and make unkind ignorant comments . 
    I grieve for this midwife who has given so much of her life to serve others. I can't imagine how frightening  it must be for her to face the uncertainty of the future.

    Sunday, March 24, 2013

    Let Nature Take It's Course

     James T. Breeden, MD, President of ACOG wrote the article following : 

    My comments are in italics


    “Let nature take its course.”
    I couldn't agree more. 


    "Over the years, I’ve found this saying particularly applies to the process of giving birth. My personal experience as an ob-gyn and reams of scientific research demonstrate that Mother Nature knows best when a child is ready to be born. The start of natural labor is the main sign, but we’re not always patient enough to wait for it."

    My personal experience also has been when we wait for labor to begin on it's own, birth is much more straightforward and effective. My clients also get tired of being pregnant and uncomfortable. As a midwife, I too sometime grow weary of waiting for God's perfect timing. 
    I also find it difficult when we approach that 42 week mark, not because I don't think mom's are capable of delivering at that point, but because I know if we have a transport into the hospital, we are all going to be looked at like we have 3 heads. "nothing good happens after 40 weeks" is a popular quote at our local hospital. Although I find this statement untrue and very restrictive, I certainly understand why it is said. We as people like to be in control, allowing women to go into labor on their own shows lack of control. That can be very frightening if you are then going to be held responsible for the outcome.

     "Today, one in three babies in the US are born by cesarean—the delivery of a baby through an incision in the mother’s abdomen and uterus."


    This stat is staggering! But TRUE! Let's break that down...three babies are born in your neighborhood this spring...one is going to be by C-Section.  This rate should be 10% or less. In midwifery run birth centers, the rate is 6%


    "The rate of labor induction is also at an all-time high. Unfortunately, many of these births occur before the pregnancy is considered “term” at 39 weeks. These upward trends have long been a source of concern in the medical community, especially considering the increased risks to a baby who may not be fully developed at delivery."

    I don't know that rate of induction at our local hospital, but informally I know my clients are under a microscope by their friends and family to be induced. They are often pressured, even before their due date at 40 weeks with statements like "when are you going in for your induction?" or "how long is your midwife going to let you go?" As if that would be my call... Our birth culture is one of fear and control. Bad things are going to happen if we don't intervene. The TRUTH: Bad things happen when we DO intervene. 


    " Among cesarean deliveries, an estimated 2.5% (more than 100,000 births each year) are scheduled on a designated date by the mother and her doctor. Some women cite reasons such as a lower risk of future incontinence, better sexual functioning after childbirth, and fear of pain as motivations to schedule cesareans. Inevitably, some cesareans (and labor inductions, too) are scheduled before a pregnancy is full term, increasing the risk of negative outcomes for the newborn, including respiratory problems and time spent in the neonatal intensive care unit. The fact remains that due dates are estimates, and you can never be sure that the infant will have reached optimal maturity at the time of a scheduled delivery."

    All excellent points and let's add to that the cost. 
    This quote is from a study published in the  Journal of Midwifery and Women's Health www.jmwh.org

    The cesarean birth rate in this cohort was 6% versus the estimated rate of 25% for similarly low-risk women in a hospital setting. Had this same group of 15,574 low-risk women been cared for in a hospital, an additional 2934 cesarean births could be expected. The Medicare facility reimbursement for an uncomplicated cesarean birth in a hospital in 2011 was $4465.49 Given the increased payments for facility services for cesarean birth compared with vaginal birth in the hospital, the lower cesarean birth rate potentially saved an additional $4,487,524. In total, one could expect a potential savings in costs for facility services of more than $30 million for these 15,574 births.



    " Women should keep in mind that cesarean delivery is no walk in the park. While it’s a safe option, cesarean delivery is a major surgery and comes with a number of risks, such as placental complications in future pregnancies, problems with anesthesia, infection, and longer recovery times. Certain urgent situations—such as preeclampsia, eclampsia, multiple fetuses, fetal growth restriction, and poorly controlled diabetes—may make it necessary to deliver the baby before the onset of natural labor."

    Again, totally agree. There is a time and place for everything. Good midwifery care involves transferring care to an appropriate care provider if then mom and baby are no longer low risk. Good collaborative care is essential.


    "However, newly issued guidelines from ACOG remind women and ob-gyns that in uncomplicated pregnancies, a vaginal birth that occurs after the natural onset of labor is ideal."

    Say it again!!! 


    "Additional new ACOG guidelines reaffirm that cesareans and labor inductions should only be performed when medically-necessary. Delaying delivery until labor starts naturally may not make ob-gyns too popular with a patient who’s uncomfortable and near the end of her pregnancy, but it’s a decision that will pay dividends by giving the baby the extra time it needs to face the world. 

    So hoping more and more OBGYNs latch on to this concept and support women with low risk pregnancies. 
    In the meantime, this is the philosophy midwives has held to for all of history.


     We trust women, 
    We trust God in His perfect design. 
    We trust the TRUTH is be told with all the research being done.

    Thursday, March 4, 2010

    Off Call

    I am off call for 13 days...what does that mean?

    The short version ...
    ...not taking 2 cars to family functions, events, or church if you think someone might go into labor
    ...not listening for my phone while in the shower
    ...not committing to every event in my life with the disclaimer "you know I will be there, unless there is a birth"
    ...not making dinner reservations with my wonderful husband knowing I may have to leave before the main course arrives
    ...not being able to ride to Greenville with Amy on days we are both there
    ...not going to bed at night wondering if you will get called out
    ...not being able to take a sleep aid or cold medicine when needed
    ...not taking a drive to the mountains (45 minutes away) on a beautiful fall day or to see the fresh snow fall
    ...starting a movie that you know you may never see the end of
    ...not being able to drive to Montgomery to see my daughter and her family or any place more than 45 min away without making back up plans


    Lest you think I am complaining, I will stop because I think you get the point. I LOVE what I do! I can't imagine life any other way. I am well suited for this lifestyle. I get bore easily, so this keeps things fresh, exciting and especially rewarding. There is nothing that compares.


    So for now, I am going to enjoy my time off call and rejoice in the opportunities it affords me. And when I am back on call, I will embrace that also.

    Monday, August 17, 2009

    You work with babies...ah, how sweet !

    I always find this statement very interesting. Yes, I love babies. I was a preschool directoress for many years, I love children. I am fascinated by them. But, what I really like is working with women!
    Women are the most complex beings God created.
    • We are strong and powerful, but like to be protected. (I am going to speak in generalities. I know this is not politically correct. If you don't agree with me, it's ok. I know there are exceptions to every rule.)
    • We are tough when they have to be and incredibly gentle. Women have insecurities that may have began at very young age about the oddest things--"you would have been a tall girl if you didn't have so much turned under for feet" and we believe them!
    • We hear and process everything around us as if it appied to us. We are protective of our children--I have seen women beat the *snot* out of their child, but you let a neighborhood child call them a name and the claws come out.
    • Women can whine about a hangnail to the point you would have thought amputation was going to be necessary, and endure difficult long labors without a peep.
    • We want independence at time, but love support-emotionally and physically.
    • Women are highly emotional, but try to come across as cool and collected at all time.

    I love working with women! There is always a delicate dance when women are together. We are intuitive, but miss the signs at times. We put out feelers to see what is going to be helpful and thrive on feedback. It gives me no greater thrill for an expectant woman to call me and express an interest in natural birth. We walk through the pregnancy together, week by week. We get to know each other. I learn likes and dislikes. I hear of insecurities and tried to provide wise counsel. We overcome fears and inhabitions. We process news reports, scarey stories, comments from the guy at WalMart, The Baby Story, and what aunt Susie's 2nd cousin once removed had to happen to her back in 1909. Sometimes we cry together at the end of pregnancy when the pregnancy just seems too long or when someone has dealt with just one too many negative comments about how "big" they are getting.

    In labor the dance continues. What is working, what isn't. What helps, what makes it worse. The baby's heart beat gives delight...to both of us. I rub backs and talk moms through contractions when that seems needed or I stay completely out of the way and facilitate normacy. When women get ready to push their baby into my welcoming hands, I trust them to know when to push and how to push. I am watchful and expect everything to go just as it is planned because we are wonderfully created to give birth.

    I receive their new baby as I would a gift, with a thankful heart. I rejoice that another young woman has been empowered with the knowledge and confidence that giving birth brings. I treat that newborn with all the love and respect possible holding them gently and welcoming them to this world. I want their first experience with people to be positive. I believe we can change the world by treating other like we want to be treated... this includes babies.

    I love watching women become mothers. We are tender, warm and compassionate. We have an inborn ability to be responsive to our little ones. We have the ability to provide that newborn everything he/she needs just as we did when they were growing inside of our bodies.

    Women are strong, amazing beings created in the image of God.

    Have I told you how much I love working with women?

    Friday, July 31, 2009

    Wait Upon the Lord

    As many know I had the awesome privilege of catching my beautiful granddaughter, Kensley. Jennifer and her husband Corey came to stay with us when she approached 40 weeks. We all thought baby would be here any day and the anticipation of her birth was on our minds constantly. Jennifer took all my advice to not be too consumed with a due date, after all most women when left alone, deliver around 41 weeks. She took walks daily, visited family, ate well, watched movies, relaxed in the hot tub and of course went shopping.

    As the days wore on, tension grew, doubts crept in, fear took root and I worried. That is hard for me as a christian to admit as I am always the one who tells others that fear is of the devil and we are the trust in the Lord. One day, my Bible reading was in Psalms 27. In Verse 14, it says "wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. " The same God that David was speaking of is the same God we serve today. He still offers the same promises and gives the same comfort. That verse strengthened my heart in a difficult time. I still had anxiety, we still tried every trick known in the midwifery community to try to get labor started but in the end labor started on it's own and Jennifer's body, designed by God to work perfectly, did exactly what it needed to do to give birth naturally.

    I was again tested when labor did start. Jennifer's labor was long and difficult. Watching your child suffer is heart wrenching even when you know it is the right thing to do. All the years of birth stories came back to me from my daughter as she never waivered from her goal of giving birth intervention free. Progress was very slow as she had to work hard to reposition Kensley so that she would come through the birth canal. Jennifer's strength and resolve were amazing. Again those words echoed in my mind...wait on the Lord.

    Now lest anyone think I blindly sit back and do nothing in the face of crisis, let me assure you that we were constantly keeping track of warning signs that may indicate there was a problem. If there had been, action would have been taken immediately.

    I am of the opinion that we go through events in our lives so that we can learn of God's mercy and grace and we can minister to others. Why is it that we have such a hard time waiting? I am beginning to believe due dates are evil and create much unnecessary stress. We all know babies do not have a calendar, they have no idea that someone came to the conclusion that gestation is 40 weeks, they don't care that the world has stopped to wait for their arrival or should they. What moms and babies do know is that there is a perfect balance and a intricate dance of hormones between them and they communicate with each other constantly. The two of them decide when is the best time to be born. The baby releases hormones that signal the mom to prepare for birth, the mom releases hormone that signal the baby's lungs to develop.

    As a mom, what can you do benefit the most from this process?



    1. Meditate on the Word - take a quiet time each day and read the scriptures, apply them to your life, pray for understanding
    2. Stay active- take walks, visit with friends, go out with our husband, have fun
    3. Trust your body
    4. Surround yourself with supportive people- you are going to encounter those who are negative and create doubt in our mind, love them and accept that they don't know all the answers.

      As friends and family to an expectant mom, what can you do to help?

      1. Support their decisions- trust them
      2. Don't call and ask "have you had that baby yet?" or "aren't they going to induce you" or "you know that baby is getting too big for you to have" (I thought I would absolutely scream if I heard those phrases one more time and I wasn't even the one having the baby!!!) Calling and talking is fine, ask them about their day, how they are feeling, if there is anything you can do for them or any place they would like to go.
      3. Remember they are still a woman, even if they are carrying a baby within- pregnant women are very sensitive to comments. "you sure are big for x months", "your baby looks so small, are you sure he/she is growing ok?", "how much weight have you gained?"


    Through this process I have learned to be more sensitive to women who are at the end of their pregnancy. I have an understanding of what it is like to field comments from well meaning friends, to wonder what the future holds, to wait and not be weary. I can encourage those moms who are struggling while at the same time informing them of their options and monitoring for anything abnormal. I feel blessed to have had this experience and know I am a better midwife because of it.

    I will trust you Lord...and wait.

    Sunday, March 15, 2009

    Evidence Based Maternity Care

    http://childbirthconnection.com/pdfs/evidence-based-maternity-care.pdf

    This is an awesome article...very LONG, but great about evidence based maternity care and how we in the USA stack up. It give loads of references and is well written. It can be a wonderful resouce for anyone wanting to gather stats, make an informed decision or look at the cost of intervention, both financially, physically and emotionally.

    Saturday, March 7, 2009

    Postpartum-Dads

    I am hearing more and more moms saying they are going to pump breast milk so that dads can be involved in the care of the baby. I have such a difficult time understanding this logic. Let's look at some ways dads can be helpful in the postpartum period and be very involved in the newborn babies life.

    Mom and baby have co-existed for nine months, this relationship is not going to change overnight. Moms and babies need to continue to co-exist after birth only now the position of the baby has change. If you look at the physical needs and psychological needs of the newborn, it would appear that if it were not for size, the baby would stay inside for a longer period of time. This same rate of develop that baby had inside mom, continues outside...baby continues to get nourishment, comfort and care from the mom once outside. What does that mean, the time of separation is not at the time of birth, but is a gradual process over the next few months. The reason the baby is expelled from the body is because if it stayed inside, it would no longer fit through the pelvis. Some look at this period after birth as the fourth trimester. Moms and babies should not be separated at this point for both of their sakes.

    Dads continue to do for your wife what you did during pregnancy for the fourth trimester

    • help with household chores (keeping the house clean or at least not messing it up any more is huge.
    • making sure moms have food to eat (this doesn't mean you have to cook, you may pick up a meal, coordinate friends and family to bring in meals, heat up a frozen dinner)
    • be her legs ( she is likely tired and sore, get her things so she doesn't have to get up)
    • take care of other children (again you don't have to do all this yourself, coordinate with friends and family)
    • encourage her verbally ( she is likely to feel inadequate, hormones are doing crazy things, don't try to fix it, just let her cry if needed, tell her things will get better and hold her)
    • be patient ( you will get your wife back :)

    Some wonderful women wrote on labors of love face book...check it out. You can just hear the love in their hearts as the tell of all the many wonderful, little things their husbands did for them.

    Thursday, March 5, 2009

    Risks of C-section

    This organization have some wonderful handout on many different issues facing pregnant women. Since I had just written about avoiding a c-section, I thought I would post the risks of having one. I find the hazards of repeat cesareans particularly interesting. We hear so much about the hazards of VBAC and the lack of accessibility, I think if most women sat down and looked at the long term risks and benefits, they may work harder to avoid them in the first place and then would fight harder for their right to VBAC. http://www.vbac.com/pdfs/CesareanFactSheet.pdf

    Tuesday, March 3, 2009

    Avoid C-Sections

    As I read this article this morning I was saddened by the fact women have, in many areas, lost their ability to birth naturally after a c-section. This makes birth choices even more important.

    The thought that kept coming to my mind was how can we avoid the first cesarean. I have a heart for those women who have had cesareans and want the option of a VBAC, but my hands are tied. Most women do not go into childbirth desiring to have major abdominal surgery.

    Here are some things to consider:


    1. Educate yourself. Even if you don't desire to have a natural birth, take a non-hospital based class. You will learn about many other aspects of pregnancy, labor, birth, postpartum, baby care and self care. These classes are usually several weeks long. There is a reason for this. You can only retain so much information at one sitting. You will have questions come up after you get home, write them down. If you don't take a class, read and research on your own, ask questions, prepare for you birth. I love The Thinking Woman's Guide to Better Birth by Henci Goer. The other reason to educate yourself is you don't know how things will go with your birth. Your epidural may not work, you may have a very fast labor and there not be time for medication, you may be stranded on a desert island...ok that one is a bit of a stretch. Would it not be better to be prepared than terrified of what is happening to you.

    2. Choose your care provider carefully. Find out what their c-section rate. Find out how many of those c-sections are primary vs. secondary. What is their attitude towards c-sections? This can be altered due to the number of high risk patients they work with, but even that may be a clue to you. Interview the hospital or birth center where you plan to deliver. Ask the same questions. Some facility protocols are normal birth friendly than others. Remember in the rest of the world midwives care for normal, low risk women, doctors care for high risk women.

    3. Choose carefully who is with you during birth. Your support person is vital to the success of your birth. Only invite people expect a positive outcome. If you are birthing in a hospital setting or a birth center that does not offer labor support, hire a doula or invite a friend who can help you reach your goals.

    4. Avoid induction. The rate of induction has skyrocketed! There is a convenience factor for both families and care providers but the risk are huge. When you are induced, you opportunity for having a vaginal birth plummet. There is a delicate dance between mom and baby as to the right time to be born. Babies go through the final stages of developement, moms bodies prepare for labor. Everything works in perfect harmony, leading to shorter, more productive, more satisfying labors and births. The old addage the apple will fall when it is ripe is so true.

    5. Avoid unnecessary intervention. Intervention, when necessary, can be life saving. When used unnecessarily, intervention can lead to higher risk. An example, the simple introduction of IV fluid in the bloodstream distrupts the natural balance of hormones needed for labor to continue. To get labor back up to a productive level, pitocin must be added. Pitocin leads to more painful contractions because of the way it acts of the uterus and brain. Pitocin requires closer monitoring which inhibits movement. It can also lead to fetal distress. Less movement, more restraint and more pain often leaves moms with little option other than asking for pain relief. This is usually in the form of epidurals. Epiruals limit mobility which can cause malpresentation making labor longer and more difficult if not impossible. Most women don't realize when the allow an IV to be placed, they are actually signing up for a "package" deal which could very likely completely sabbotage their orginal plans of a normal birth.

    Childbirth is a normal process. Let's not give up our ability to have babies normally. Count the cost ahead of time.

    http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1880665-2,00.html?iid=perma_share