Trust

We trust you as the best decision maker in your care, and value giving you the opportunity to make informed decisions without being pressured or coerced. The process of making informed decisions is called shared decision-making. It’s a process that begins when providers identify the values, beliefs, and roles of the families they work with, including the amount and way information is best received. It requires the midwife to know her own experience, values, and practice style. Benefits and risks of the options available are discussed, including the team’s personal experiences or intuition. Shared-decision making includes giving adequate time for decisions, and checking to see you understand the information given. When information is understood, the team creates an individualized plan, which respects the environment at hand, making a decision with mutual agreement and follow-up.

Equity

Equity means being fair, just, and impartial. Our worth and value are not determined by our performance, connections, physical capabilities or intellect, but dwells within us. We know everyone brings their story and unique perspective, and that’s a gift nobody else can give. Your story is yours. It will influence the way you make decisions, and the way you collect information to support those decisions. We value listening to you and your story. We value non-judgement.

Ambassador

We are ambassadors for ancient tradition and new evidence; doctors and granny midwives; homes and hospitals; retired midwives and future midwives. Our mission is to represent the old and the new, to make a better path for those who come and stand upon the shoulders of the mothers and healers who brought us to this place. We are ambassadors in our community. We educate to give people information to make the choices right for them, with care providers, who will listen without judgement.

Making Life Better

When parents are listened to, informed about their options, and seen as active participants, it leads to satisfying birth experiences. When families have a birth experience they feel proud of, it facilitates an easier and happier postpartum. Studies show women remember their birth experience for the rest of their life! In ancient Chinese medicine it’s believed when mothers are properly nourished after they have a baby, they emerge stronger and healthier than before. We’ve seen that to be true and believe positive birth experiences increase quality of life! We value positive birth experiences and recognize being with families through the transformative experience of birth is at times an overwhelming job! Our center seeks to improve quality of life for parents, babies, midwives, student midwives, and other professionals in this field.

References:

Person-centered decision making: Retrieved from:

https://www.birthplacelab.org/shared-decision-making-tool/

Ou, H (2016). The first forty days: The essential art of nourishing the new mother.

Stewart, Tabouri and Chang: New York, NY.

Real, T (2002) How can I get through to you? Reconnecting men and women.

Scribner: New York, NY.

Simkin, P (1991). Just another day in a woman’s life? Women’s long term perceptions of their

first birth, pt 1. Retrieved from:  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1764149