You’ve got questions. I’ve got answers.

  • The birth of a child is a very important event that will affect a woman and/or couple’s life forever. As such, choosing the right provider and the right place of birth is an important factor to consider. Midwives recognize pregnancy and birth as normal life events. Homebirth has not only proven to be beneficial for the mom, but for the baby and partner as well because: 

    * The care offered is individualized, which means that all the decisions made about your care or your baby’s care are made together with you. You will be provided with educational tools and information to make an informed, safe decision.

    * Midwives offer evidence-based care, which means that we are up-to-date on the research regarding pregnancy, birth, postpartum and breastfeeding.

    * Your care is delivered in your own home - your own environment - which means you can feel comfortable and move around without restrictions. You are in control of the situation.

    * The normal process of birth is not interrupted. As your body moves in response to the labor, progress happens more easily, decreasing the need for medical intervention.

    * Bonding with your baby is facilitated through immediate skin-to-skin contact, delayed cord clamping and the early initiation of breastfeeding. You will never be separated from your baby or your partner in a home birth.

    * Giving birth with a licensed midwife at home offers a woman a measure of control that is generally unavailable in the hospital (freedom to move, eat, bathe).

  • Some of the equipment we bring includes:

    * Doppler or fetoscope to intermittently auscultate (listen to) your baby’s heartbeat

    * Blood presssure cuff and stethoscope to monitor your blood pressure

    * Sterile instruments for cutting the umbilical cord

    * Suturing kit and local anesthesia

    * Baby scale, tape measure, infant stethoscope 

    * Medication for emergency situations: resuscitation equipment, IV fluids, pharmaceutical medicines (antihemorrhagic drugs to stop excessive bleeding postpartum.

  • The majority of my clients choose to birth in the water, though some just use their birth pools throughout labor. I offer birth pools for clients use as part of my package or can make recommendations to find the ideal set up for you.

    How do I cope with the pain of birth without an epidural? 

    Education, midwifery care, and a support team are all important pieces to prepare for natural birth.

    While at home you do not have the option of an epidural however, many women find that birth in their own home is less painful than in a hospital. Midwives use water, massage, acupressure, and other therapies to guide you in relaxing and opening. You will also have a supportive birth team that may include your partner, a friend, a family member or doula that would provide comfort during labor. Also, take into consideration that freedom of movement  and rest helps you to work with your body and make the contractions more manageable.

  • We are not an in network provider with any insurance. However we do have an insurance biller who can help you get reimbursed if you have a PPO insurance plan!

  • If something develops that appears concerning, I will consult with my community, which includes OBGYN’s I work closely with, and may possibly refer the client to a specialized doctor who will make a further assessment. It may be that the issue is benign and of no concern, or the client may need further specialized medical care. In the case that a problem develops that is outside of my normal scope of midwifery, the care of low-risk women, I will help you find the best doctor for your needs and continue to support you in your pregnancy and birth as you desire.

  • Prenatal visits are to assess your and your baby’s emotional and physical well-being as well as developing a foundation of trust and connection. The basics of the visit includes blood pressure monitoring, nutrition assessment, fetal growth assessment, fetal heart rate monitoring and fetal position assessment. Additionally, your midwife will review all of your options for routine prenatal screening and testing, including ultrasounds. Another important aspect of the prenatal visit is the discussion of concerns or questions that you may have. Education is the mainstream of optimal prenatal care.

  • Recently published studies show that planned home births with skilled midwives are safe for low-risk pregnancies. Evidence also demonstrates that women at low risk of complications during the birth have the same outcomes, whether they have their baby in the hospital or in their home with qualified midwives.

    Safe outcomes with positive benefits include:

    * High rate of vaginal birth

    * Low intrapartum and neonatal fetal death rate

    * Low rate of low APGAR scores

    * High rate of breastfeeding

    * Few emergency transfers

    * Low rates of intervention like cesarean section or the use of pitocin.

    As a Midwife, my central goal is for you and your baby to thrive. I work with low-risk individuals and use my clinical skills and screenings for ongoing risk assessment. I am trained and experienced in identifying and managing situations which fall outside normal ranges and I am adept at facilitating transfers into medical care when indicated.  

    Here is some research addressing the safety of homebirth:

    * Canadian Medical Association Journal: Outcomes associated with planned place of birth among women with low-risk pregnancies (https://www.cmaj.ca/content/188/5/E80)

    * Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health: The Midwives Alliance of North America Statistics Project, 2004 to 2009 (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jmwh.12172)

    * University of Oxford: Birthplace in England Research Program (https://www.npeu.ox.ac.uk/birthplace)

  • Studies on the safety of home birth:

    * BMJ: Outcomes of Planned Home Births with Certified Professional Midwives: Large Prospective Study in North America (https://www.bmj.com/content/330/7505/1416.full)

    * CMAJ: Outcomes of planned home birth with registered midwife versus planned hospital birth with midwife or physician (https://www.cmaj.ca/content/181/6-7/377.full)

    Both the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and Academy of Pediatrics recognize each person's right to exercise autonomy and choose a planned home birth.

  • Homebirth midwives offer comprehensive care during pregnancy, birth and postpartum and the first week after the baby is born. You do not need to see a doctor for your prenatal care if you are under the care of a homebirth midwife. My care includes recognizing clinical situations requiring the attention of an obstetrician or pediatrician and referring you to one if necessary. I however do have established relationships with doctors available for consultation when appropriate.

  • Birth is not as messy as you may think. We use chux pads to protect your bed or carpet and we use waterproof liners as well, which makes it easy to clean up. We help with collecting the trash and the linens that need to go in the laundry.

  • Homebirth is for anyone who wants to receive individualized, respectful and low intervention care AND whose pregnancy is not complicated by any medical condition. Homebirth is for families seeking to be heard and to have their questions answered but who also are healthy and practice a healthy lifestyle. The World Health Organization estimates that approximately 85% of pregnancies can be categorized as low risk. 

  • A midwife is a primary maternity care provider with medical skills and training that supports women to maintain healthy pregnancies and have optimal births and recoveries during the postpartum period. A midwife cares for mothers and their infants and provides women with individualized care uniquely suited to their physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and cultural needs. (Taken from mana.org website)

    A doula is a professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to a mother before, during and shortly after childbirth. (Taken from DONA website)

    Doulas have understanding and knowledge of the phases of labor and offer emotional support through labor and birth.  While doula’s are well versed in helping their client’s navigate labor and birth, in and out of the hospital, they are not medical care providers like a Midwife is. Some doulas train with and gain (optional) certification through professional doula organizations. Many doulas learn their trade through their labor and birth experiences.

  • Yes! For my clients I provide local resources and referrals for providers in our area.

  • Prenatal Visits. Up to 14 office visits are scheduled depending on when you hire and when you give birth. These appts are with Jessie at the Gold Soul offices n La Mirada CA.

    36 Week Home Visit: Your home visit is provided by Jessie in the comfort of your home.

We offer complimentary 30 minute consultations for every family.

Reach out today to schedule yours!

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