Welcome to
Gentle Hands
Midwifery

 

   The midwives at Gentle Hands Midwifery offer health care to pregnant women during pregnancy, birth, and until 8 weeks postpartum. Catriona Munro, Eloisa Cary and Kristin Effland are Licensed Midwives in Washington State and practice according to the professional guidelines of their state association, Midwives Association of Washington State.

Gentle Hands Midwifery works with expectant mothers who want to give birth at home or at Bellingham Birth Center. They are happy to talk with women who are undecided about what birth setting is best for them.



Philosophy of Care

 

 Pregnancy and birth are normal life events that powerfully transform the lives of women, men, babies, and children. We are committed to providing exceptional and satisfying maternity care that involves all family members without interfering with the natural rhythms of these challenging and immensely rewarding experiences. We believe this is most easily achieved when a woman gives birth at her home or in the home-like setting of a birth center, where she feels comfortable and is surrounded by people she loves and trusts.

Our goal is to help every mother achieve a safe, meaningful birth that she anticipates with joy and confidence. We develop a relationship with each client, invite her active participation in her health care decisions, and help her explore the many issues surrounding pregnancy and birth. We stay with the mother throughout her labor, monitoring the health of the mother and baby, and the progress of labor.

Our extensive training has provided us with the expertise to distinguish between typical body changes that occur during pregnancy and any unusual problems. We consult with physicians when necessary


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Comprehensive Maternity Care

 

 Gentle Hands Midwifery provides personalized, nurturing care that respects the individual wishes of a woman and her family. Midwives Catriona Munro, Eloisa Cary and Kristin Effland spend considerable time discussing each woman's unique needs during the exciting and sometimes challenging transition of pregnancy and birth. This includes:
  • What are her hopes for this birth?
  • What are her concerns?
  • What will help her feel secure during the birth of her baby?
Gentle Hands Midwifery provides unhurried prenatal, intrapartum, and postpartum care that features:
  • A free consultation visit to meet one of the midwives, ask questions, share thoughts and feelings about birth, and have a few laughs while chatting informally.
  • A comprehensive prenatal exam during the first trimester. This initial visit, which takes a little more than an hour, involves a complete medical and obstetrical history; a physical exam; a pelvic exam, if needed; a blood draw for prenatal lab work; and the opportunity for women more than 10 weeks pregnant to listen to the baby's heartbeat.
  • Monthly prenatal visits until about 30 weeks, twice a month visits until about 36 weeks, and then weekly visits until the baby is born. These sessions usually last an hour.
  • Nutritional counseling and discussions about birthing options, procedures, and diagnostic tests with ample time for questions.
  • A home visit at about 36 weeks, for those planning to give birth at home, to provide information about the supplies needed for the birth and discuss birth plans such as where the labor tub will go, if that option is selected.
  • The midwives either come to your home (if you're planning a home birth) or they meet you at the birth center (if you're planning a birth center birth) when you are in active labor. They stay at least three hours after the birth to perform a complete assessment of the baby, monitor the mother's status, insure that the baby is feeding well, and start the laundry.
  • Assistance with breastfeeding and help solving any problems.
  • At least one home visit between 1 and 3 days after the birth to check on mother and baby and answer questions.
  • Two or three postpartum office visits during the first 6-8 weeks after the birth.
  • A final postpartum visit at 6-8 weeks after delivery for a physical exam and a discussion about birth control, if desired.
  • 24-hour availability to address urgent needs.


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Bellingham Birth Center
2430 Cornwall Avenue
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 752-BABY

©2002 Gentle Hands Midwifery, Inc. P.S.