Birth is Beautiful!

Midwife Janae Sherman was herself born at home–her mother went into labor so fast that they did not have time to travel to a hospital.

Janae operates Trust Homebirth in St. George, Utah, and serves mothers and families in the Southern Utah area.  She offers midwifery homebirth services, doula services, personalized prenatal care, nutritional counseling, and childbirth education classes.

From Trust Homebirth’s website:

In addition to helping women deliver their own children, I, too, have experienced natural child birth at home. With the assistance of Elizabeth and my husband, my three daughters where born, safely, within the walls and the comfort of my own home. At home I had the support of a few select family members and friends who were present and provided various forms of aid. My birth experiences were both intense but peaceful, painful but empowering. In those moments, powerful bonds of love where formed and I felt myself grow stronger. I became something more than I was previously. I cherish those moments. They are among the best I’ve ever had.

I believe that women (parents) have the right to decide where and with whom they will have their children. I have learned that birth is a safe, natural process, that when left to follow it’s natural course, in most cases, results in much better outcomes. I love working with expectant mothers, and asisting where needed at their deliveries. Each one is a unique and sacred experience for me and I feel very privileged to be in attendance.

I’m happy you’re here. I’m excited for you to meet your baby! I’d love to meet and talk about some of your options, should you choose to have your baby at home or naturally in the hospital.

Christine Fiscer, Traditional Midwife

In 2004, Christine Fiscer had a beautiful baby boy.  She also had a completely unnecessary cesarean section.  In her quest to avoid another cesarean, Christine researched and read until she was convinced that birthing at home was not only safe, but the best option for most women.

This research led her to a beautiful VBAC experience at home with a midwife, and eventually led her to become a Traditional Midwife herself.

Christine now serves women in the St. George area at her practice, Joyful Birth Services.

Utah Childbirth caught up with Christine to find out more about her amazing journey:

Utah Childbirth: How have your experiences with VBAC advocacy and your own cesarean affected your midwifery practice?

Christine: Because of my own cesarean and VBAC experience, I am more apt to help women that even some other midwives would not be able to assist.

Beautiful Twins

As long as mom still meets criteria that I consider low risk, I will take her. I am more passionate about helping the women that are most likely to end up in the operating room – such as twin or breech moms, or moms who have had more than 1 or 2 cesareans.

If I can help keep even one mom from having surgery again, I will. So many women are told that they “can’t” have a VBAC if they have had more than one or two cesareans, and it simply isn’t true. The research shows that a VBAMC ( Vaginal Birth After Multiple Cesareans ) has a VERY little increase in uterine rupture rates, and that women should have this option open to them.

Utah Childbirth: What service do you offer?

Christine: I offer pre-conception counseling, complete prenatal care, the option of a waterbirth, complete labor and birth care, postpartum care (until 6 weeks), and complete breastfeeding support.

Under safe conditions, I will attend moms who are carrying twins or a breech baby that will not turn.

Utah Childbirth: You mentioned on your website that you spent some time in the Phillipines.  What was your most valuable experience there?

Christine: It was an amazing personal experience, not just in the way of birth.

Breech Baby Girl

My most valuable experience was, oddly enough, the complications that we encountered on a regular basis.  I don’t think women here in the U.S. understand how wonderful we have it, for the most part.

It reaffirmed just how much good nutrition counts for in over all health of pregnancy and birth.

I saw women’s uteri come down and out with their baby, which is a rare occurrence here without any intervention involved in labor. I saw women tear horribly, even though perineal massage was used, and the head was birthed as gently as possible.

So even though it may sound odd, the complications were the most valuable part of my experience there.

Utah Childbirth: What do you do for fun?

Christine: I love to sew. My current project is to learn how to use a serger. I also read a lot. I love anything from birthy books, to complete fiction. If I can get lost in a book, it’s a good one.

Utah Childbirth: What can a woman in your care expect from you as a midwife?  In other words, what is unique about your approach to midwifery?

Christine: I am completely hands-off, unless an emergency arises. I believe firmly that labor and birth, will unfold best if left alone.  This hands-off approach results in fewer complications, and a more sense of empowerment for moms.

Women are more than capable of giving birth without me. When I have the honor of attending a woman’s birth, I am more of a lifeguard. I simply make sure that things continue safely and jump in only if needed.

Birth is such an intimate time. I do my best to interfere as little as possible, so that it remains an intimate moment … not a medical event.

Christine and Joyful Birth Services is another wonderful birth choice for women in Southern Utah!

A Happy Client and New Baby

Cathy O’Bryant is a CPM and LDEM and has been practicing for over 20 years. Currently, she has attended over 600 women in childbirth. She has experienced amazing things over the course of her career in midwifery, and currently operates Enlightened Birth Midwifery Services located in Payson, Utah.

Cathy offers her clients in the Utah Valley area the option of birthing in the comfort of their own home, and she also has privileges at the beautiful birth center, BellaNatal, in Orem, Utah.

Enlightened Birth Midwifery Services offers all of their clients the option of birthing in the water.  Waterbirth has been found to ease pain of childbirth and help the mother relax.

From Enlightened Birth’s website, Cathy’s philosophy:

I believe birth to be a natural physiological process and not a medical phenomenon.

My style of midwifery is non-interventive.   I encourage and support the laboring woman to make choices surrounding her birth.   I feel that in most cases she intuitively knows what is best for her and her baby.   I respect this knowledge and always support her desires providing they are within safe limits.

I believe that homebirth and care from a Certified Professional Midwife can be of the highest quality and in most cases of the same caliber as other health care providers.   I believe that homebirth isn’t for everyone, but that homebirth should be available as a childbirth alternative for those who desire it.   I do not believe that homebirth is risky, providing that the mother is in good health and has researched the subject extensively, until she feels comfortable with her decision.

Enlightened Birth Midwifery Services, located in Payson, and serving the surrounding areas, is another choice in maternal health care in Utah.

Fern Midwifery

The decision of who will be with you at the delivery of your baby is an important one.

What a wonderful thing to have so many wonderful choices of birth care providers that we have in Utah!

Fern Midwifery is a wonderful childbirth option for mothers and families in Salt Lake or Utah County.  Fern Midwifery offers many wonderful services to expectant mothers:

Free Consultation:

You are more than welcome to schedule a complimentary interview so we can get to know each other and explore what it will be like to work together. Husbands or partners are encouraged to attend this visit, as they are frequently full of questions, and we are delighted to meet them.

Initial Visit:

The first official appointment is quite thorough, we typically plan about 90 minutes for this visit. There will be paperwork to complete in addition to a cursory physical exam, and lots of history to discuss. It would be helpful for you get a head start on paperwork, especially the diet history, by downloading the forms from our links page.

Standard Care:

Prenatal care usually begins around 8-12 weeks of pregnancy and visits continue each month until the 3rd trimester (28th weeks) when we begin seeing each other every 2 weeks. After the home visit (at 36 weeks), we will meet weekly until you give birth.

Visits are scheduled for one full hour, but the clinical component usually takes about 10 minutes. The rest of this time we spend talking about the developments of your pregnancy, troubleshooting common complaints and getting to know each other.

Home Visit:

Around 36 weeks, your midwife will come to your home for a prenatal visit. This will prevent unnecessary delays while driving to your house when you are in labor, and allow us to get acquainted with the layout of your house, so you don’t have to show anyone around during labor. You will also receive your birth kit at this visit with all the personal supplies you will use for labor, birth and immediately postpartum. After this point in your pregnancy you are considered full term, so anytime your baby comes we will be ready!

Briana Blackwelder of Fern Midwives has a wonderful blog as well.  Truly, the midwives at Fern Midwifery have the mother’s best interest in mind.

One Happy Baby

BirthWise Maternity Care serves mothers and families in Davis, Cache and Salt Lake Counties.

Heather Johnston, CPM, LDEM is the primary midwife at BirthWise Maternity Care.  Annie Kuntz is the current assisting midwife.

All of the midwives at BirthWise Maternity Care, LC are Direct-entry Midwives (DEMs) which means their education has focused exclusively on providing midwifery care.  This is contrasted with a Certified Nurse-midwife who first trains as a nurse and then receives midwifery training as part of an advanced-practice nursing program.  In Utah, DEMs are the only providers for homebirths.

All of the midwives maintain current CPR and Neonatal Resuscitation certification and participate in regular continuing education such as workshops and conferences sponsored by the Utah Midwives’ Association, subscribing to pertinent periodicals, continuing personal study in various areas and by attending other regional, national and international conferences as circumstances permit.  They also participate in quality review by attending regular peer review with area midwives.