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Midwives specialize in normal birth, respecting choices and options of the birthing woman. Midwifery care provides safe care for low risk pregnancies. In Santa Cruz County we have midwives who do home births and those who do hospital births. If complications should arise in a home birth, you will be transferred to a hospital for care by an obstetrician. If complications arise at a midwife-attended hospital birth, your midwife will consult with and/or care will be transferred to an obstetrician. In Santa Cruz County, hospital midwives are all Certified Nurse Midwives (CNM). Those who do home births are either CNM or Licensed Midwives (LM), licensed by the state of California. Some midwives choose not to be licensed by the state. To find out about midwives and midwifery related issues go to Midwifery
Midwives specialize in normal birth, respecting choices and options of the birthing woman. Midwifery care provides safe care for low risk pregnancies. In Santa Cruz County we have midwives who do home births and those who do hospital births. If complications should arise in a home birth, you will be transferred to a hospital for care by an obstetrician. If complications arise at a midwife-attended hospital birth, your midwife will consult with and/or care will be transferred to an obstetrician. In Santa Cruz County, hospital midwives are all Certified Nurse Midwives (CNM). Those who do home births are either CNM or Licensed Midwives (LM), licensed by the state of California. Some midwives choose not to be licensed by the state.
To find out about midwives and midwifery related issues go to Midwifery
Some Family Practice MDs deliver babies. They often offer a lower-tech birth experience than obstetricians and are able to care for your entire family. If complications arise in a family practice MD attended birth, your care provider will consult with and/or care will be transferred to an obstetrician.
Obstetrics is a surgical specialty. If you have pregnancy complications or a high risk pregnancy, you will want an obstetrician who has experience dealing with your situation, while still respecting the process of birth. Be sure to spend plenty of time interviewing your obstetrician about his or her rate of intervention. Some obstetricians promote interventions that can lead to complications in both normal labors or higher risk labors.
To find out more about obstetricians go to Obstetricians
A birth doula, or professional labor assistant, provides labor support, and some prenatal/postpartum services. A birth doula is experienced in birth and knows how to provide physical and emotional support to a woman and her partner during labor and birth. Studies have shown that using a birth doula can: shorten labor, reduce the use of pain medications and augmentation of labor (pitocin), as well as increase a woman's satisfaction with her birth, enhance bonding and breastfeeding success, and reduce postpartum depression.
To find out more about birth doulas go to Birth Doulas
Chiropractors specialize in health care through the manipulation of the spine. Many women enjoy the care of a chiropractor during pregnancy to maintain health and reduce back and body aches and pains. Chiropractors also can care for infants after birth. Newborns may have difficulties after birth, related to neck and spine trauma, especially after a hard birth or the use of forceps or vacuum extractors.
To find out more about Chiropractors go to Chiropractors
Childbirth education can be one of the most important elements of your birth preparation. Independent classes (those not associated with a hospital or clinic) are recommended by the Birth Network. These include The Bradley Method, Birthing from Within, ALACE, and other independent instructors. While you may have free or very low cost classes available through your insurance or health plan, these classes are often crowded and are more limited in what they can offer. If you choose to attend a provider sponsored class, be sure to do your own research on drugs, interventions and options in birth.
To find out more about childbirth education go to Childbirth Education
Breastfeeding begins just minutes after birth. Be prepared by connecting with someone who can help when your baby arrives. There are several programs in Santa Cruz county that offer help and support with breastfeeding. County programs, volunteer programs, hospital and independent lactation consultants, as well as birth doulas and postpartum doulas can all be of help. Please don't hesitate to contact someone from a breastfeeding help line, chances are they were once a new mother with the same kinds of questions. Many doctors (including pediatricians) use breastfeeding information provided by formula manufacturers and don't have extensive knowledge of breastfeeding, such as analyzing a baby's sucking problems, to managing a successful breastfeeding relationship beyond a few months. Go to a breastfeeding expert instead and share your information with your doctor.
Go to Breastfeeding to find out more about breastfeeding
Prenatal/Postpartum Counselors
Prenatal/postpartum counseling can be invaluable in preparing for the birth of your child especially for those women who have had a traumatic first birth involving a cesarean section, unexpected emergency, or other disturbing situation. Women who have experienced physical or sexual abuse can benefit from prenatal counseling. These counselors can include hypnotherapy, marriage and family counseling, or other types of counselors.
To find out more about prenatal/postnatal counseling go to Prenatal/Postnatal Counseling
Prenatal/postpartum massage from a specially trained massage therapist can help a woman relax and adjust to the dramatic changes happening to her body. The physical discomforts of pregnancy and postpartum can be reduced through the nurturing touch of massage. Prenatal massage practitioners have massage tables specially designed for pregnant and postpartum women. Some practitioners will come to your home.
To find out more about massage go to Massage
Infant massage classes teach parents how to interact with their baby through a very personal and individualized massage technique. Babies and parents benefit from the soothing massage. Group classes encourage networking between parents.
The goal of prenatal yoga is to increase physical comfort while assisting women to cultivate confidence in their bodies and minds as they prepare for birth. Some prenatal yoga classes include time for sharing and provide a much needed supportive environment for women to celebrate what's wonderful and acknowledge what's difficult about the physical, emotional and spiritual changes of pregnancy.
Basic Hatha yoga stretches and deep relaxation exercises are adapted to the special needs of pregnant women. The yoga postures develop strength, flexibility, balance and concentration - all important elements in preparing for labor. The relaxation exercises reinforce the techniques learned in childbirth preparation classes as well as teach women to maintain these states while working in appropriately challenging positions. This may give them some insight into how their focus can actually lessen their perception of discomfort during labor.
To find out more about yoga go to Yoga
A postpartum doula helps a new mother, and partner, make the transition into parenthood. She offers physical and emotional support and shares her experience with babies. Postpartum doulas help with cooking, light housekeeping, entertaining siblings, as well as, providing breastfeeding and basic baby care tips. The supportive ear and attentive eye of the postpartum doula can help to ease the worries of the first weeks of motherhood and to connect the family to resources and information. Partners also benefit from postpartum doula help by freeing them to be able to spend more time with mom and baby.
To find out more about postpartum doulas go to Postpartum Doulas and also Organizations and Resources
Acupuncture/Traditional Chinese Medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupuncture, acupressure, massage, herbal and supplemental remedies are ideally suited as therapy for prenatal, labor and postpartum care. It orginated in China more than 3,000 years ago and due to its proven effectiveness, has been embraced throughout the world.
Acupuncture is a complete medical system that is used to diagnose and treat illness, prevent disease and improve well-being. It is effective for physical, psychological and emotional conditions and fine tuning. It is aimed at restoring balance in the whole person and enhancing the body's own innate mechanisms for healing in order to relieve symptoms and strengthen the person as a whole.
During the passage of pregnancy and childbirth the woman as well as her family goes through physical, emotional and spiritual changes which can be addressed by her and her practioner in an effective and caring way.
Common conditions are:
Prenatal: Preparation for conception, morning sickness, cystitis, edema, cough, depression,threatened misscarriage, eclampsia, malposition of fetus, low energy, low back pain, hemmroids etc.
Labor: Prolonged labor, weak contractions, pain, fatigue, back labor, etc. Postpartum: Fatigue, diarrhea, anemia, dizziness, postpartum depression, mastitis, insomnia, agalactia, constipation, incontinence, abdominal pain etc.
There are many forms of health/supportive care in our community. Exploring these options may introduce you to some new ideas or reaffirm your current beliefs. Some of these providers may not be specific to pregnancy, but offer some services to pregnant/postpartum families.
There are many organizations and resources in our community to support birth and new families. Get involved with your community and find a way to stay involved. Your volunteer energy (even with baby in tow) is welcomed in many organizations and is a great way to keep active while caring for a baby.
Robbie Davis-Floyd, Mayri Sagady, Roberta Scaer, Jan Tritten, Suzanne Arms, Henci Goer, and others have been hard at work on creating an official slide show for CIMS, which is nearing completion and should be available for showing by any interested group by early September. The slide show is approximately 45 minutes long. It explains the history and purpose of CIMS and the MFCI, and each of the 10 steps, illustrating each step with images of women during labor and birth.
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The CIMS slide show is available through the Birth Network. Please contact us if you are interested in having the slide show presented at your business, school or organization. Please let us know if you would like us to also arrange for continuing education units.
