Background:
I am a stay at home mom who found my life’s calling during my first pregnancy. I know God works in mysterious ways, but I didn’t realize the journey on which my pregnancy would take me. My husband, Simon, and I took The Bradley Method classes as a pregnant parents-to-be in September 2005. Our teacher, Lara Miller, was also our doula. Lara was wonderful. She really ignited in us an even greater passion to know how our choices during pregnancy affected this new life. Most importantly we learned what we felt strongly about and what we didn’t.
Olivia was born on February 2, 2006. The birth was beautiful. It was the most inspiring event of my life. After laboring and giving birth naturally, my senses and emotions soared. There was nothing I couldn’t accomplish. There is no describing the joy and wonder of your body doing what is was designed to do. I held and breastfed my gorgeous baby girl immediately.
With some encouragement from Lara and Simon I decided to get my childbirth education and doula training in September 2006. I have continued to read and study everything I can about pregnancy and childbirth. The more I read, the more I come to trust my body.
When I found out I was pregnant for the second time, my husband and I planned a home birth. I had my prenatal care with a wonderful Certified Professional Midwife (CPM). My son, Brayden, was born May 15, 2008 safely at home. My labor was so quick that he came before the midwife got to our house. I caught him in the bathtub with just my husband and my sister in the room. The midwife arrived soon after to check both of us and do our postpartum care. We were both great!
The Sunday after Thanksgiving 2008 I found out I was pregnant for a third time! I got pregnant at only five months postpartum while breastfeeding a toddler and an infant. Wasn’t expecting that! Once again we planned and had an amazing home birth. On July 26, 2009 I woke up with my first contraction. One hour and twenty-six minutes later I was holding another gorgeous baby girl! My midwife made it for my last two contractions. We all enjoyed a wonderful few hours postpartum visiting and enjoying the new baby, Emery, before we all had a nap.
When we got pregnant with our fourth baby I decided I wanted to go even further in caring for myself during my pregnancy and birth. I did all of my own prenatal care and had two wonderful CPMs who looked over my records and answered any questions that I had. My husband and I also decided we were going to have an unassisted home birth. This made sense to us since my labors are so fast. On January 22, 2012 I woke up with some low pelvic pain. We were in the mountains with our kids since I wasn’t due for a little over two weeks. After a quick cervical check we realized I may be about to have a baby! After two hours without labor beginning we decided to try and make it home. We borrowed my aunt’s car seat and got several towels just in case the baby came before we got home. We got home at 1:06pm and very soon after labor began. Our son, Kasen, was born at 3:18pm! My kids, husband, mom and sister were all there.
What awesome experiences I have been blessed with!
Philosophy:
I believe that every woman has a right to be informed about all aspects of her pregnancy and labor. It is my desire to inform women of their rights and options. I believe all women will make the best and safest decisions for themselves and their babies if they are given all the information. I want to make sure they have access to that information. I believe that women have a right to choose where they give birth and who attends them. Birth is a natural process and one of the most beautiful and complex processes in life. I feel it should be honored and respected.
I am honored and awed at each birth I attend. I think birth has a lot to teach those willing to open up and learn from it. I enjoy being a member of a woman’s birthing team. My goal is to provide added support and suggestions while still leaving the laboring woman’s partner (if she has one) as her primary source of support. I will be an advocate for her and do everything possible to see that her wishes are respected during her labor and birth.
I am also the Vice President and Secretary of North Carolina Friends of Midwives.
North Carolina Friends of Midwives
www.ncfom.org
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