San Diego Midwife

Happy Father’s Day to all of the dads in our lives and yours! We love your presence at births as you welcome the newest member of your family, we admire your ability to provide love, support, a hand to hold and security and snuggles for your babies. You are so loved and needed!

Is this the most common fear during childbirth? If it’s not THE most common, it’s still something a lot of people are understandably interested in preventing. Unfortunately there isn’t a lot of high quality evidence to give us a solid answer. There was a Cochrane review of evidence in preventing perineal trauma that was updated in 2017 and it found that warm compresses and perineal massage seemed to slightly decrease 3rd and 4th degree tears but everything else was inconclu...sive or poor data (even though they didn’t study EVERYTHING like slowing down the birth of the head or good nutrition to strengthen tissues for example. Boooo But here are our best suggestions: We think good nutrition helps! Omega 3’s as well as vitamins A, C and E are all excellent for skin integrity so eating oily fish, watermelon, almonds, sesame seeds, red peppers and dark leafy greens is a great place to start! Our 2nd tip is this: at the time of birth, from years of experience we feel it’s well worth it to try to slow down the birth of the head. This can be a big ask because things are INTENSE as the head is emerging but in our practice it just seems like giving the head more time to ease out as it’s starting to crown really reduces tearing m, or at least the extent of it. Remember, nothing works for everyone all the time and it’s actually pretty normal to tear, about half of people do! But we always believe in making it as minimal as we can because, honestly, no perineal trauma makes for an easier recovery. Do you all have suggestions you feel made a difference for you? Share in the comments!

It’s #nationalhomebirthday! And since that is obviously just our thing, we are throwing it back to 2019 and this beautiful homebirth with @morganmacdermott (thanks for these great photos!! ) We are in this work for the connection. It’s everything! The connection between us and our clients and the connection between parents and children. These photos are worth a thousand words. You can see it’s so easy to focus on connection during home births which makes it a beautiful way to bring life into this world. We hope that someday in the US, home birth is available to anyone who wants it! In the meantime, happy home birth day! photos by @brooke_ziegler_photography

Our client @allisonandrews had her baby (quite quickly we might add)! And she wrote so beautifully about the experience, you must go read it for yourself. It warms our midwife hearts to see our clients properly loved and supported postpartum by their friends and family. If you’re giving birth soon or know someone who is, you’ll glean some priceless tips: bring food, take out the trash, hold the baby so the new mom can shower or nap! We love you Allison!

Eating is crucial to the birth process, both during and after labor. Generally laboring people can only tolerate pretty neutral or sweet tastes, think toast, smoothies, fruit, nuts, etc...pungent flavors and lots of roughage, however, can sound repulsive! When a birth takes the long route you need to stay fed even though contractions makes eating totally unappealing. It’s not like you can eat a whole meal but without enough calories, the uterine contractions can really slow... down, so snack, snack, snack! Postpartum we like to offer hot, well balanced meals that include a lot of protein and hopefully a good amount of calories. Eggs and toast are a classic. Either way, you’ll want to keep a lot of these easy to eat foods on hand when you’re close to the end of pregnancy. Mamas, what were your best tolerated or favorite things to eat in labor and postpartum? See more

Maybe it’s because so many people find baths, swimming and the ocean soothing but there is so much curiosity about water births, we thought we would open this space up to your questions! We’ll start by answering some of the frequently asked questions: 1. Is it safe? ... Yes it’s safe for your baby to be born under water! Remember a baby is in a water environment (the amniotic sac is filled with amniotic fluid and the baby’s lungs are collapsed and contain some fluid as well). The baby isn’t stimulated to breathe until their skin is exposed to the air so they don’t take their first breath until they come out of the water! They have land animal instincts ;)! Meanwhile they are still getting oxygenated blood through their umbilical cord. 2. Does it really help with the labor pain? Also, yes! Very few don’t like being in the water but some don’t. They feel ungrounded or too hot but in general people say the tub really takes the edge off their contractions. We often hear people get quieter as they get in the tub because it doesn’t feel quite as intense. Ok, your turn, what are your questions??

We had a new baby at the birth center this week! We’ll leave it to @ima_ima_coolgirl to tell the story (swipe to read). Her words are giving us al the feels! As Jenna explains, every birth can be so different and although it can come as a surprise, sometimes the challenging ones aren’t even first time labors! But when you read this we hope you notice not so much that this labor was hard and challenging, but that women are strong and capable!

Happy International Day of the Midwife! If you have received care from a midwife, let your followers know how much your midwife meant to you! The world deserves to know about the midwifery model of care for prenatal care, labor and birth, postpartum care, IUI and reproductive wellness visits. It’s personalized, and centered on informed consent and the preferences of the person receiving care. It’s the best and we want everyone to be able to experience it! Much love to all our fellow midwives, we make such an amazing community!

It’s so hard to say goodbye at the 6 week visit! We love our clients and babies and miss them when our visits start to space out. Do you know about our postpartum care schedule? Most importantly we have an open door policy so anytime you feel like you need a visit, we will schedule one! We do at least 2 postpartum home visits and an office visit at 6 weeks postpartum, the rest is up to your needs. It’s one of the many important and helpful aspects of midwifery care.

It’s more than just boiling water and towels! Sometimes even when people are interested in home birth they still have some concerns about safety and we find that talking about the equipment we bring to the birth goes a long way in reassuring families. We can talk about the equipment for specific scenarios. For example: What if they baby is born not breathing? We have a bag and mask, deep suction devices, equipment for intubation, oxygen and our hands. ... What if I bleed? We have almost every medication for hemorrhage at home that is used in the hospital. Plus we can administer IV’s. We carry pitocin, methergine, and misoprostol. What if I tear? We have lidocaine and suturing material so we can keep you comfortable while we perform the repair. We can suture 2nd degree tears at home. What if there is a shoulder dystocia? We have our hands which is exactly what is used at the hospital as well. When there is a shoulder dystocia there isn’t time for a cesarean, at home or at the hospital we use manual maneuvers to free the baby. We also have everything to listen to the baby, even while you’re in the water and we take vitals regularly! Do you have any questions about our equipment?

Had so much fun supporting our local author and body worker @magamamas at her book launch in Oceanside this weekend. Have you read her book The Fourth Trimester? I’m excited to get started on this one. Thank you for all you do Kimberly!

Photo via our client @keelyanncostello Will you take a look at these two cuddled up in postpartum bliss! Can you see this photo and believe birth is something to be feared? It’s not! We’re here to tell you what you see in this photo is our norm: families supported, loved and empowered throughout the birth and postpartum processes and women left feeling triumphant and in love.

We welcomed a sweet new baby into the world this week! Although this was mom’s second birth with us, she had to work really hard when it came time to push. Not only was Olivia 8 lbs 10 oz but she also had a hand by her head which makes the circumference you have to push out bigger. @dana.buck3 labored in front of her beautiful wall of birth affirmations and brought her baby earth side. Welcome baby Olivia and congratulations family!

Meeting for the first time your little sister Last night this beautiful baby girl was born at home in the arms of her parents and her two sweet brothers!! Dad was there for every contractions waiting to meet his daughter Today I think of this beautiful family that waited for almost 42 weeks and for this incredible mama who kept her joy and patience while wondering if active labor was ever going to start #empoweringwomen #homebirth #homebirthbaby #homebirthmidwife #midwife #siblinglove #siblings #homebirthdadsrock #sandiegomidwife #almost42weekspregnant #almost42weeks #familylove

Today I am so grateful for all our beautiful families that trusted us with their care and beautiful Midwife Katrina! Katrina graduated from midwifery school 3 years ago and her love and dedication to families have been exemplary. We have been navigating through this roller coaster of a year with joy and tears while keeping a sacred space for Birth and midwifery care. Thank you @melissalfred for sharing this picture. #homebirth #homebirthbaby #homebirthing #lifeofamidwife #bestmidwifeever #pandemicbaby #sandiegomidwife #2020baby

Well early this morning we had an other baby born but this time we had a sweet little peanut 5lbs 8oz!! This first time mama was an absolute rockstar and we are so amazed by her beauty and strength! #birthcenterbirth #babiesinbloom #sandiego #midwife #midwives #midwifery #midwiferyrocks #midwiferycare #midwifelife #midwiferystudent #midwivesmakeadifference #midwives2020 #naturalbirth #birthcenter #holisticbirth #sacredpregnancy #naturalmom #organicmoms #health #wellness #doula #birth #newborn #newbaby #pandemicbaby #love #carlsbad #oceansideca #vistaca

This beautiful mama found the strength to have her baby naturally and requested to have a Lotus Birth. Midwifery care helps mamas make informed choices... #naturalbirth #birthcenterbirth #waterbirth #lotusbirth #midwife

Happy dad welcoming his 4th baby (9lbs 12oz) born at home this morning!! We feel so grateful that we have been by their side for each home birth#happydad #homebirth #midwife #naturallabor #strongmama #bigbaby #empoweringwomen

Enjoying time with our sweet pandemic babies!! #birthwithoutfear #laboranddelivery #birthisbeautiful #birthworker #midwifelife #empoweredbirth #birthprep #lifeofadoula #midwife #midwifery #midwives #pregnancyisbeautiful #fourthtrimester #newbornlove #bundlesofjoy #birthingfromwithin #pregnancyglow #newmoms #birthaffirmations #pregnancylife #givingbirth #naturalbirth #birthmatters

Two hours after being born, Arlie and her mama took advantage of a healing herbal soak. Arlie floated and relaxed in the water, perfectly at ease in the hands of her mom. What a beautiful reminder that newborns, when treated with love and respect, can be calm and happy when taking in their new world. ... #birthcenter #baby #birthcenterbirth #midwife #birthmatters #newborn #babies #pregnant #waterbirth #sandiegomidwife #sandiegomom

Welcome sweet Trey! What a magical way to start the weekend! His mama amazed us by her strength and patience#birthcenterbirth #naturalbirth #waterbirth #midwifecare #babiesinbloom

Happy Mother’s Day to all the incredible mothers that make it all happen... Today even more I want to honor the flexibility, the adaptability and the love that mothers can magically give through these difficult times... They stay strong even thought they have little time and space to hide and recharge... We are so honored to be by their side #strongmothers #naturalbirth #birthcenterbirth #lifeofamidwife #midwives

This beautiful mama just discovered that her 3rd baby is a boy!! Home birth during this time is even more sacred... We forget for a moment everything else... #lovemywork #babyboy #midwife #birthmatters #homebirth #newborn #babies #pregnant #sandiegomidwife #sandiegomoms

Thank you @babies_in_bloom Rochelle, for staying open and making sure that families and Birth Teams stay safe! This beautiful, powerful mama got exactly the Birth she wanted in this time of so much fear... I am so amazed by her strength and the love between her and her husband... One day at a time... #birthcenterbirth #naturalbirth #lifeofamidwife #covidbirth #waterbirth #powerfulwomen @ Babies in Bloom

Our online Lactation Lounge support group is still being held Tuesdays at 1 pm and Fridays at 11 am. Sign up below for the link.

Midwives are needed now -- more than ever! You can help by emailing Governor Gavin Newsom. Ask him to put in place emergency provisions so that pregnant and bir...thing families can have greater access to midwifery care, thereby freeing up obstetricians to handle more complicated situations. As you may know there is increased risk of going to a hospital right now to have a baby. Laboring women are being restricted to one visitor/care-giver. Hospital staff is overwhelmed and resources are stretched. Labor and delivery providers are increasing inductions to get families in and out of the hospital quickly. This is all necessary and probably unavoidable. However, there is an untapped resource for maternity care: community midwives. CALM has a proposal for the governor to open up greater access to midwives, including potentially putting student midwives to work and requiring insurance companies to not discriminate against midwife providers. Please email Governor Newsom to request his office (https://govapps.gov.ca.gov/gov40mail/) contact CALM to coordinate such an effort and understand where the current obstacles stand in order to open up access to midwifery care. The Governor has the power to make this happen. Let’s work together to make this happen. Email Governor Newsom's Office Copyright 2020 CALM All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you are a CALM member, have attended a CALM event, or have requested information from CALM in the past. Our mailing address is: CALM PO Box 104 San Leandro, CA 94577 Want to change how you receive these emails? Click here to update your preferences - this lets us know which emails you would like to receive (or not receive!). You can also unsubscribe from this list if you no longer want to receive ANY emails from CALM. We hope you will consider updating your preferences instead so we can engage your help for crucial legislative efforts!

We are both at the office today... it is such a strange world that we can’t hug our mamas... We are taking one day at a time #lifeofamidwife #coronovirus2020 #homebirth #homebirthmidwife #birthcenterbirth #stayinghome

She had her home birth!! People often ask us what to expect when their first labor was long and difficult. We start by saying that every labor is different... but usually the second one is much faster! We're so proud of this mama. She set out to have a homebirth with us for her first baby and adapted throughout her labor as the plans changed and we went to the hospital. Throughout this pregnancy she worked hard to mentally prepare for a brand new labor experience. ...Once again, she adapted, breathed and surrendered to labor and shortly after, birthed her sweet baby in her bed with her husband at her side. Welcome baby Gracen, who is perfectly named considering the grace his mama showed in labor. #homebirth #homebirthbaby #homesweethomebirth #midwife #empoweredbirthproject #empoweredwomen #baby @ Carlsbad, California