Our Philosophy
Midwifery Model of Care As Certified Professional Midwives we practice according to the Midwifery Model of Care which believes: pregnancy and birth are normal life processes. women are most likely to labor best in a place where they feel free, safe, have privacy and with attendants whom they know and trust. pregnancy and childbirth involve every part of a woman. Her feelings, hopes, fears, physical and practical needs, and spiritual or religious beliefs can all affect pregnancy and birth. The Midwifery Model of Care addresses all of these aspects to help a women give birth naturally, safely and confidently. in respect for a women and family’s informed decisions about medical tests, recommendations and interventions. in respect for the birth process as it unfolds uniquely each time. Although amazing, being pregnant and giving birth are actually normal life processes for which a woman's body is well-designed. Each woman's experience is unique. in helping discover your own body's ability to give birth, in its own way and in its own time.
The Midwifery Model of Care includes: monitoring the physical, psychological, and emotional well being of the mother throughout the childbearing cycle. providing the mother with individualized education, counseling, and prenatal care, continuous hands-on assistance during labor and delivery, and postpartum support. minimizing technological interventions. identifying and referring women who require obstetrical attention.
The application of this woman-centered model of care has been proven to reduce the incidence of birth injury, trauma, and cesarean section. In addition, women who experience the Midwifery Model of Care report feelings of great satisfaction and empowerment!
 Practice of Informed Choice
Informed choice is a client’s thoughtful decision based on accurate understanding of the full range of options and their possible results. Informed choice is a core value of midwifery care and one that we strongly believe in. Along with each routine obstetrical test and procedure that is offered we also provide information including the risks and benefits of each test and alternatives to it. We encourage our clients to do their own research, we make time for discussion and questions and then have our clients choose what feels most appropriate for themselves and their families. We ask our clients to be active participants in their care by working together to make informed choices about their pregnancy, birth and postpartum. We recognize that it is not our pregnancy, labor or newborn and therefore it is not our decision. We also believe that thorough information gathering, making choices and gaining a sense of empowerment in this decision making process is an important part of becoming parents. Benefits of a CPM Certified Professional Midwives (CPM) are midwives who have completed a rigorous process of education, apprenticeship and documentation of all births attended. Once the documentation is verified, they complete a national certifying exam. Once certified, continuing education is required for renewal. Monica and Pamela both spent over four years at Birthingway College of Midwifery and graduated with a B.S. in Midwifery. Both completed over three years in various apprenticeships and internships and obtained their CPM endorsement. We believe that midwives trained in the midwifery model of care are experts in normal vaginal birth, know how best to facilitate it and are able to recognize when things fall out of the parameters of normal. Our belief in, and our experience of, natural birth provides a deep trust in women’s bodies and the birth process. Most practitioners in the hospital today have limited experience in the natural birth process as it is rare for hospital births to be intervention-free. Intervention disrupts the natural process and often leads to more interventions, which results in such things as the 40% nation-wide c-section rate in major hospitals. Our belief in biodynamic birth Biodynamic birthing was first described by Dr Michel Odent, a French obstetrician-turned-midwife. He details in his book “The Farmer and the Obstetrician” the biodynamic approach to birthing and through his experience shows how well women do when they are supported and allowed to follow their own rhythms during the birth process. “Bio” means biological; the way of nature. Applied to labor and birth this means understanding and trusting the normal physiological process of birth and the instinctive need of birthing women for safety and support. ”Dynamic” refers to motion and change and describes the individual dance between each woman and baby during birth. Biodynamic birthing is unique for each woman and each birth, blending natural and instinctive wisdom with evidenced based practices to facilitate an optimal birth experience.
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