CARE

C esarean

A lternatives

R esources &

Education

Working Together Toward Positive Birth

CARE meetings are monthly and are free to the public. We invite you to join us at 7 :00 p.m. the first Monday of every month at the :

Woodbridge Professional Bldg. 5460 Schaefer, Dearborn , MT 48 126

Phone(3 13) 582-5764

CARE helps women to realize that they

have both rights and responsibilities regarding birth which they need to accept. By doing so, they gain control over their bodies and their births. CARE works to insure that women have easy access to accurate information about preg­nancy and birth . That information needs to include the risks and benefits of a vaginal birth, cesarean, drugs during labor, and other proce­dures.

A birthing woman's emotions can profoundly affect the birth outcomes--which in turn can affect her life. Women need to feel free to express all their birth-related feelings. We provide a safe place where people can explore and share their feelings, become aware of birth options, and learn new information. In this supportive environment men and women begin to realize that they are not alone.

Birth is a normal physiological process. With emotional support and education, more than 90 percent of women can deliver their babies as nature intended. Yet medical personnel and society in general often regard pregnancy and birth as a traumatic event for both mother and baby.

Unfortunately, roetine use of medical proce­dures such as fetal monitoring, ultrasound, intravenous fluids (IVs), repeated pelvic exams and the extensive use of drugs can interfere needlessly with labor. Though these medical procedures are sometimes necessary and helpful, their routine use along with negative terminology such as "trial oflabor," "inadequate pelvis," and "failure to progress" can cause even the most self-assured woman to lose confidence in her body's ability to give birth.

Join us each month in working together toward positive birth . For more information contact: Fran 58 I -5933 Trish581 -5660 Valerie 582-5764

Center for Mothercare and Natural Birth

August 6th , 1993

Dear Toni ,

My son brought my attention to your excellant article in the Metro Times . We, he-r-e--at the Garden of- Life> r ea d -i t with ap p-rec i a -t:ion and enthusia sm and thought that you might be interested in our center .

I am enclosing our brochure to introduce you to us and we would love for you to come and pay us a visit! We have been here in Dearborn for four years now and are proud to provide low cost high quality care to our clients. In addition to Rahima and myself , we have a CNM on staff which enhances our ability to offer a broader spectr um of care, including well women care, birth control/family planning and to be able to accept t hird party reimbursements.

Thank you again for your timely and positive article!

Sincere ~y,

Y£~ ~<-<-· Z&h<-PG Valerie El Halta, Midwife

~~~ Rahima Baldwin, Midwife

Woodbridge Professional Building, 5460 Schaefer, Dearborn, Ml 48126. Phone (313)582-5764

At the~~ ,tile Center for Mothercare and Natural Birth, we offer: Delivery in the Birth Center Filing the Birth Certificate

Pre-Pregnancy Counseling Pregnancy Tests Nutritional Counseling Risk Screening and Evaluation Complete Prenatal Care

Postpartum Care for Mother and Baby Complete Newborn Examination Newborn Screening

Routine Prenatal Laboratory Work Labor Support

Breastfeeding Support and Counseling Family Planning Counseling

All services listed are included in our one comprehenisve fee. Most insurance accepted.

1/ateue &t ~alta. has been practicing midwifery for nearly twenty years. She has assisted in bringing 2000 babies into the world. Beginning in Califor­nia, she offered a homebirth service to clients there and has worked in Oregon, Kuwait, Jordan and the West Bank as well. She is currently writing a book on midwifery and teaches professional seminars for midwives nationwide. She served for three years as Director of Midwifery Training at Casa de Nacimiento, a birth center in El Paso, Texas before moving to Michigan with her husband Nairn and three of her six children to establish the Garden of Life center with long-time friend, Rahima Baldwin.

ie~ ~became a midwife in 1978 in Colorado and practiced in Texas and Georgia before moving to Michigan in 1980. She is the mother of three children born at home--Seth, 18; Faith, 16; and Jasmine 11. She has written three nationally-acclaimed books on birth and early childhood: Special Delivery, Pregnant Feelings and You Are Your Child's First Teacher. She is founder and president of Informed Homebirth/Informed Birth & Parenting, a national nonprofit educational organization that has been serving birthing couples since 1977. She has travelled throughout the Middle East and Mexico and taught childbirth classes at ACCESS and Latino Family Services.

1-96

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Since opening in October, 1989 the Garden of Life has provided culturally-sensitive care to parents from 23 different nations. It is located in the Woodbridge Professional Building in East Dearborn at 5460 Schaefer, between Ford Road and Michigan A venue.

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Midwives at the Center are members of the Michigan Midwives Assocation and the Midwives' Alliance of North America.

.... ·- 0 ~ X +- w Michl an Ave. -+

(f)

1-94

Exit chaefer N. Exit Mich Ave W.

~ ~ Lije, 5460 Schaefer, Dearborn, Michigan. Phone (313) 582-5764.

Garden of

Lift Motliercare and Natural Birtli

The Garden of Life is a free-standing birth center directed by highly experienced professional midwives. We provide total maternity care for the low-risk, healthy woman who desires a natural birth. Birth is not an illness, and at the Garden of Life, you and your baby are treated with the attention and care each woman and baby deserve.

1fJWa~te~ ~~~at a-~~? You give birth with women who know you well, not with strangers.

The same midwives are with you throughout labor and delivery, not just to catch the baby.

Your and your baby's safety and comfort are evaluated individually, not according to institu­tional rules.

Iatrogenic problems (those caused by hospital procedures such as IV's, episiotomy and drugs) are avoided. Mothers can eat, drink, walk, squat--do what their bodies tell them.

Your labor will be shorter if you feel relaxed and can work with your body.

You are far less likely to need a cesarean when you birth with midwives.

The integrity of the family is honored. The mother can have whomever she chooses be with her.

The importance of the birth experience for the baby and the need for uninterrupted contact with the mother are recognized. You and your baby are never separated.

The midwives are here to serve you.

~euttU~~? With knowledge, relaxation skills and on-going support, birthing women can actively work with

their labors and joyously give birth with their own power. Relaxing in our deep-tub jacuzzi is also a great help during active labor.

14- et ~ ~ et 44/e fdau t6 ~ a, da4? A healthy, well-nourished woman whose labor is carefully monitored by a skilled attendant can

expect to give birth with a high degree of safety. As midwives, we are trained to recognize complica­tions of pregnancy, labor and delivery. We are also trained in emergency procedures to safeguard the mother's and baby's health. By watching the mother continually for any signs of problems, should they occur during pregnancy, labor or delivery, we are prepared to transfer her care before an emergency develops in the small number of births requiring medical attention.

14- tk ~ ~ ~ fAI.it4 a,~? No.,_the Garden_ollifeis_a_free-standing birth c..enteLQwned and Qpe.rated by proiessiunaLmidwive_s

Should a mother become ill during her pregnancy, she would see her family doctor, or we have a family practice physician on staff. If she requires obstetrical intervention, referral would be made to an obste­trician, and one of the midwives would stay with you if desired. The nearest hospital is only a few minutes away should emergency transport ever be necessary.

~(Utt ~ ~ ~ fAI.it4 ~ ~? Our fee includes complete prenatal care, labor, delivery and postpartum follow-up as detailed on the

next page. The cost is 114 to 113 of usual hospital delivery and physician's fees. Many insurance com­panies will cover the costs. If you have no maternity coverage, we will work with you to develop a manageable payment plan. We also accept Mastercard and Visa.

~~ ~ 1 ~ ~ &ua tk ~~~fie? We welcome you call, and there is no charge to see the facilities, meet the midwives and get your

questions answered. For an appointment, please call (313) 582-5764.

(jarden of Life Please Post

Center for Mothercare and Natural Birth

with Professional Midwives

Valerie El Halta and

Rahima Baldwin

5460 Shaefer Dearborn, MI 48126

....- Forinfonnation or a free initial consultation, call-(313) 582-5764-.

• Have your baby your way in a home-like environment with professional midwives whose experience includes 2000 births.

• Prenatal care, lab work, labor and delivery at the center, and post-partum care. Low cost--most insurance accepted.

• Specializing in cesarean prevention and vaginal birth after cesarean.

• Well-woman exams and cervical cap fitting.

The way your baby is born can impact his or her entire life. Your baby deserves a drug-free, gentle birth. You deserve a safe and joyous family-centered birth experience. At the Garden of Life your baby never leaves your arms ...

Valerie El Halta has been a midwife for 18 years and was Director of Midwifery Training at Casa de Nacimiento Birth Center in El Paso, TX before opening the Garden of Life with Rahima in October, 1989.

Rahima Baldwin began midwifing in 1977. She is internationally known as a childbirth educator and founder of Informed Homebirth. She is the author . of Special Delivery, Pregnant Feelings and You Are Your Child's First Teacher.

Vitae of Rahima•Baldwin, Midwife, C.C.E. (Certified Childbirth Educator)

Address: Rahima Baldwin, 3555 Pratt Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48103 (313) 662-9381

Birth place: USA. Religion: Muslim. German: some French: studying Arabic.

Foreign Languages: Fluent in Spanish and Marital Status: Married, with 3 children

BA Mills College, Oakland, CA. Double major in German and World Lit. (1970) Waldorf Teacher Training, Waldorf Institute of Mercy College of Detroit (1981) Waldorf Early Childhood Training, Waldorf Institute of Mercy College {1982}

Certified Childbirth Educator since 1973.

Midwife with active practice in Colorado (1978), Texas and Mexico (1978-79), Georgia (1979-80) and Michigan (1988-present). Currently doing home births with OB/GYN backup. Active member of the Michigan Midwives Association and the Midwives Alliance of North America

Author of Special Delivery (1979, revised 1986): co-author of Pregnant Feelings (1986): You Are Your Child's First Teacher (1989): numerous articles.

Founder and President of Informed Homebirth/Informed Birth & Parenting (IH/IBP, 1977-present), a national nonprofit educational organization promoting alternatives in childbirth, parenting and education.

Developed the IH/IBP Childbirth Educator Certification Program, which bas trained more than 1500 childbirth educators since 1977. Given childbirth educator and midwifery workshops throughout the US and Canada.

In private practice offering counseling for ~irth-related experiences: miscarriage or stillbirth, cesarean, infertility, etc. (1985- present).

Waldorf preschool and kindergarten teacher, Rudolf Steiner School of Ann Arbor (1982-86).

Speaker and producer of workshops, including: "Magical Years," Annual Conference on the Young Child (7th year in Ann

Arbor, also given in MA, GA, VT, WI, OH and Alaska) "Trusting Women and Birth" with Harriette Hartigan, (1987-88, 6 times) "Childbirth Educator Enrichment," Southfield, MI 1981 "Alternatives in Birth," Denver, Colorado, 1978 "Birth and Beyond," Los Angeles, 1977

Guest Lecturer: First International Conference on Home Birth, London, England, 1987 Michigan State University College of Medicine, Lansing University of Texas School of Medicine, San Antonio International Childbirth Education Association Conferences (ICEA) Ontario Association of Midwives Conference The Birth Place, Palo Alto, CA Taught OB/GYN one semester at Life Chiropractic College, Atlanta, GA

Served on the professional advisory board of the International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA), Midwifery Today, Positive Pregnancy Fitness.

Listed in The World Who's Who of Women, Ninth Edition, May 1986.

Vitae of Valerie El Balta

Address: 6548 Middlepoint, Dearborn, Michigan 48126

Midwifery Experience: Professional Midwife and Co-Director of The Garden of Life Birth Center, Dearborn, Michigan

October 1989-present Director of Midwifery Internship Program at Casa de Nacimiento Birth Center, El Paso, Texas,

from June 1986 through September, 1989 Midwifery Permit, City ofEl Paso Lay Midwifery Commision (1986-1989) Homebirth practice in Oregon from October 1983 until June 1986 Homebirth practice in California from September 1976 until October 1983

Total births to date: 2200 Experience as Midwifery Educator and Preceptor

Taught midwifery interns at Casa de Nacimiento Birth Center, El Paso, Texas, 1986-1989 Preceptor for Seattle Midwifery School, Seattle, Washington Preceptor in midwifery for John Bastyr School of Naturopathy, Seattle, Washington Preceptor for State of New Mexico, Midwifery Registration and Licensing Taught seminar for advanced midwives nationwide from 1989 to present

"Moving Midwifery Forward" has been presented to midwives, nurses, and physicians in ten states and CEU's have been assigned from both the International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA) and the American College of Nurse­Midwives (ACNM)

12-week course in midwifery didactics, Garden of Life, 1990 Guest Lecturer/Instructor on Birth and Midwifery:

Michigan State University College of Medicine, Lansing, Michigan Symposium on Cesarean Prevention, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut Kuwait University College of Medicine Orange Coast Community College, Costa Mesa, California Santa Ana Community College School of Nursing ACHI International Midwifery Conference, Anaheim, California Delta Community College, Stockton, California Helping Hands Conference on Home Birth and Midwifery, Houston, Texas Midwifery Conference, El Paso, Texas Michigan Midwives' Association Conference

Professional Affiliations: Member of Midwives' Alliance of North America (MANA) Member of the Michigan Midwives' Association (MMA)

Writing and Publications Author of Moving Midwifery Forward advanced midwifery seminar handbook Articles for Special Delivery journal Articles for Midw{fery Today journal Protocol Handbook for Casa de Nacimiento Birth Center, El Paso, Texas Intern Curriculum for Casa de Nacimiento Birth Center, El Paso, Texas

Training: Psychiatric technician in California for nine years, trained at Modesto State Hospital Intensive study of midwifery didactics, preceptored by

Dr. Ettinghausen of Long Beach, California; Dr. Howard Marchbanks of Anaheim California; Dr. Lon Work, Anaheim, California and Dr. Jeffrey Osborne, of Santa Ana, California

Continuing education in El Paso, Texas directed by TheEl Paso Department of Public Health and the El Paso Midwifery Commision, received Midwifery Permit

Certified childbirth educator for the Association for Childbirth at Home (A CHI)

Monday, July 1, 1991/The Monroe Guardian

Oh, baby, baby ... Mom4 oe couple experiences child birth

·under the care of a modern midwife

Tracy Lewis of Monroe rests comfortably with her new-born daughter, Kaylah, after giving birth at the Garden of Life In Dearborn. The delivery was

Photo by 'Millard

accomplished under the care of a midwife rather than a physician.

By MARGARET WEERTZ births, midwives Valerie El ·But learning that took some un-Halta and Rahima Baldwin prom- learning. Heritage Newspapers

Tracy Lewis is getting nervous driving up I-75. She has to vomit but her husban~ has to keep driv­ing. And he refuses to speed.

"Dennis, will you please hurry," she pleads. "No one's on the road." It is 3:45a.m. and the

ise to transfer to a hospital any AFTER SHE HAD Matthew, laboring woman having compli- she didn't see him for eight cations. In the more than IW'UISO hours. And when she finally saw births at the center, they have him, she had to wear a mask be­a zero transfer rate. cause, doctors said, "you might

Now all Tracy is worrying contaminate him."

baby is coming. Tracy refuses to pull over· to

throw up. She just wants to get there and live out her wish - that

about is whether she will break This time there would be no that record. All these trips would · metal bed, no stirrups, no hospi­be wasted. She again would feel tal staff stepping into moonsuits like a failure. and inasks ·before they come

Tracy won't give specifics near her.

· she won't have to go to a hospi­tal.

about the birth of her first chil~, This time the Lewises walk 3-year-old Matthew. She just into a modest store front, next­terms it a bad experience. . door neighbors with the Moby

"I lost all my modesty," she DickLounge,andindecipherable says. "Everyone who's anyone from the meat shops and book came in the room. I wasn't a per- stores that line Schaefer. This son, I was a patient." . . ·· time she would lie on a ~oral cov-

THE MONROE couple decided their goal early and started look­ing for birth centers unaffiliated with hospitals. When they learned about the Garden·of Life birth center on Schaefer near Ford Road, they started their monthly pilgrimages up the in-

She delivered Matthew m sbr- ered brass bed.

terstate. . A simple brochure initially

calmed their fears about having a baby in a center that can't ad­minister a shot or a stitch.

rups oh a metal bed. Her face · ·. Little things in the room com­was sheeted off from the rest of fort her the way they offended her body. The hospital staff and scared her during. Matthew's didn't talk to her. They talked birth. Ruffied, sky bllU! curtains about her like she wasn't there. encase the windows. A pedestal

They didn't see the face at- bathtub rests in the corner of the · tached to the humped body. They room. A huge leather La-Z-Boy didn't see the heart or the his- chair invites her comfort.

·tory. The mind or the modesty. What most comforts Tracy is What if the baby has the cord around its neck? What if my wife THE LEWISES learned needs a Caesarean? Won't she· enough from that experience to need to be cut for the delivery? vow never to repeat tt. The hos­Seven questions target the big- pital, that is, not birth. gest fears that keep most women The Lewises wait for Brenda from having babies outside a hos- Pawlicki, a friend from· their pital. · church, who Tracy asked ·to be

The cord is around the baby's at the birth. When Brenda shows, neck in about one-third of all they all head. up I-75 and reac~ births but usually poses no prob- Dearborn in the dark May morn­lem the brochure explains. The d b fi M th •s mid~ives can gently pull it over · ing two · ays e ore 0 er the baby's head if it's delaying D~~spite the jarring contrac­the birth. tions, just walking in the door of

The Caesarean rate in this coun- the Garden of Life comforts try has clim~ed to about 25 per- Tracy. Valerie meets her at the cen~ of all births ye~ the cou~- door and s_ta~.h~J'. ~~~§~~ ... S9on try s I_q.f.~nt..JlUll".talit~cr~ lS.----ane·r, Valerie exammes Tracy among the highest of industrial- and finds her dilated to six centi-ized nations. Sixteen other West- meters. · ern countries have lo~erCa~sar- "Come on now, quit sucking ean ra~es and heal~h!er babi~s. that thumb," Valerie says to the

Cuttmg, or an epis~otomy,_Is a womb-bound baby. common proced~re m hospitals Tracy already feels comfort­to enlarg~ the birth ca_nal. But able. Valerie has this command­the midwives say this 1~ rarelr ing personality, this way ofmak­if ever necessary. ~omebmes, It ing you feel foolish for expecting even produc~s tearmg. T~ey opt the worst. She makes it all seem ~o us.e tech.mques t.o avOid tear- natural and purposeful. Tracy mg, mcludmg holdmg the open- keeps reminding herself that ing together. things will be OK. This isn't a dis-

DESPITE ALL their confi- ease, after all. Everybody gets dence and promotion of natural here this way.

Valerie. After delivering so many babies, Valerie shows her confidence and knowledge about birthing. She compares her own six births to those of the family cat. ,

"I just like to ball up in a cor­ner," Valerie says, "and come out when I'm done."

. BUT NO TWO women are. alike. And no two women want the same birth experience .. One woman who had her baby at the center wanted recognition for her work. She wanted the whole ex­perience recorded and cele­brated. She directed a midwife

_to_ tak..e a.J)ictu.re of-!he.r:eiling fan _:_ because that's what she looked at for several laborious hours and that's how she wanted to remember them. They com-plied. ·

Another woman chose the La-Z­Boy and her husband's arms for her delivery. ,

Tracy stares at the bathtub. "I want to go in," she says. And the midwives comply.

The Lewises came to the cen­ter this tepid night as if they were going to Pine Knob. They already paid the $1,200 ticket and they came with a plastic tape player.

!I

several praise tapes, and a black briefcase that holds a video cam­era . They brought cranberry juice and a 35 nun camera.

her labor song. Her singing is a way to reduce the tension."

· each contraction is gone forever.

The cost to them is a stea l. When Matthew was born, they were uninsured and had to cough up payment on a $7,000 bill. To­day they are insured, prepared and anxious. "Oh God , I don 't want to come for one more checkup," Tracy ~ays a week be­fore her due date. She miscalcu­lated and would have to wait two more weeks.

Carrying the baby is a little more comfortable than Matthew because this baby is low. But there's some pressure on her pel­vic bones and much desire to get on with it. ·

"I WANT THIS baby out ," Tracy says as the pains grow • stronger. But Valerie reminds her that this is the thing she missed last time. Doctors robbed her of a sense of mission and ac­complishment.

"This is the only thing in life that you work so hard for some­thing so wonderful," Val erie says. "I think it's sad when they take that work away."

"I don't want to do this much loooonger," Tracy interrupts, go­ing into a contraction.

"A good job and you won't have to," Valerie quips and smiles reassuringly.

While Valerie bows out to eat an English muffin, Rahima slips into the room where Brenda is panning warm water over Tracy's stomach. As the contrac­tions come, Tracy moans. They get stronger. "Wow, wooooow," she whimpers.

"Rahima, keep talking to me," Tracy says to the characteristi­cally sofl-spoken midwife. And Rahima's calm is just what she needs.

Ann Sterling, a midwife assis­tant, explains how this is Tracy's stage and the· cast only embel­lishes her act, only supports her when she doesn't know the next scene.

"SHE'S NOT whimpering," Ann says. "She's singing. That's

Ann interprets Tracy's actions like Jane Goodall in the jungle. "The water takes away the sharp­ness of the cramps." It helps her relax and relaxing is important. Tension makes all pain more in­tense.

That's why, Ann explains, eve­rybody's speaking softly. Every~ body's heeding Tracy's signals of what she wants. To stop the warm water, Tracy just raises her hand ~ The midwives are serv­ing her.

"Wow, it's almost over, right?" Tracy says.

Valerie comes to the emotional rescue again. She tells Tracy that .

THE MONROE GUARDIAN ·

NUCLEAR NIRVANA - Midwife Rahi.ma Baldwin watches as the Lewises get on wl~h the business

3

"Pushing is like doing big potty,"·Valerie says.

PART OF VALERIE'S confi­dence is from counseling Tracy over several months. She told her how to balance her diet. The Gar­den of Life's diet plan is simple. Each and any time a pregnant woman eats, she has to eat a pro­tein and a raw fruit, vegetable or whole grain.

"We never deprive a woman of German chocolate cake," Val­erie says. "If you sat down to eat German chocolate cake, they'd eat most of it. But if they eat all those groups, the German choco­late cake would just be a treat."

Please see BIRTH, Page 12-A

Monday, July 1, 1991

of bringing up baby - feeding their two-hour-ole! Kaylah. The Lewlses also have a son, Matthew, 3.

Birth __________________ __ Continued from Page 5-A

Valerie knows Tracy is low­risk. She has a good weight. Her complexion is ruddy and she's in great health.

But Tracy doesn't feel great at this early morning hour.

"Oh guys, it hurts right now," she says back in bed. Dennis holds her hand, looks into her eyes, and sings the lyrics of a praise song. The sun breaks through the blinds.

Tracy is hitting the transition period. The baby is moving through the birth canal. The pain is so intense that Tracy grabs her thighs and lets out a scream that startles the midwives.

"Don't scream," Rahima says. "You'll just have a bad sore throat."

"IT'S ALI\IOST over," Dennis says. "It's almost over."

"I'm sorry," Tracy says. "Don't be sorry," Valerie re­

assures.' "You're marvelous."

Continued from r ·age 12-A

can't believe 'it's alf over." Valerie is astonished Kaylah is

nlrcndy sucking. "Oh my gosh, she's nursing

and she's 12 minutes old," Vai­PI'iP says.

After letting Dennis-and Brenda hold Kaylah, she asks for her back. She wants to examine her toes while they wait for Mat­thew. His babysitter is rushing up 1-75 to show hjm his new sis­ter.

Finally the camcorder and the cast await Matthew walking into the room.

He shields his eyes from the

Tracy asks for a hot washrag to ~oothe the stinging at the open­mg.

"I wish the head just had to come out," she says.

"Oh, after that it's just slippy­slide," Valerie says.

"You're moving really fast, maybe 10 more minutes," Rahima says, sitting at the end of the bed and looking Tracy in the eye. "You're not going to push much longer, honey." ·

That would be great, Tracy says. But the pain comes again and Tracy tries to coax her baby.

"Baby, I want you out please," she says. "I love you, baby. But I don't want to hurt no more. Can you comeput, please?"

Valerie remembers a strategy that always works and reminds Rahima to let Tracy's hand feel the baby's head stretching her opening. A smile darts across Tracy's face. She remembers she is stinging and stretching and

"She's not whimper-· ing. She's singing. That's her labor song. Her singing is a way to reduce ttie ten­sion."

Ann Sterling, midwife assistant

sight of his mother holding some­one else.

"I'm hungry, I want to go

hurting so bad not for death but for birth.

MOMENTS LATER, at 9:31 a.m., the head pops out. The body follows like a stream. Tracy fin­ishes 11 minutes of actual push-· ing and 61/2 hours oflabor.

Rahima pulls the baby up to Tracy's breast. Instinctively, the baby sucks. All the pain vanishes from Tracy's face. "Are you cry­ing? Your mommy's here."

For the next hour, Tracy will talk to her baby, attempting to make her understand the last six hours. Seven-pound, two-ounce Kaylah won't part from he'r mother for hours. The midwives wait for Tracy to tell them to weigh and measure Kaylah.

"Was it hard for you?" she asks the baby girl. "It wasn't too hard for mommy. Did you have a hard time sitting in mommy's bones?

"You're so beautiful. I just: Please see BIRTH, Page 13-At

home," Matthew says . . "Come look at your little sis­

ter," Tracy beckons. "You are mommy's only boy. And you wanted a little girl."

"No I don't want a girl," he cries. "No, I don't want anyone. No."

"Well, we'IJ talk about it," Tracy says .. Later she interests Matthew in the new baby's feet. "You have to teach her piggy."

The sun is streaming through the blinds now and the pain is more distant than Monroe. She looks down at her creation.

"Your mommy and you are go­ing to be best friends."

-

- . '"

Join us at the (jarden of Life's

4tfi .Jtnnua{ Labor 'Day Picnic

We want to see you and to see how your baby or children have grown! Please join the festivities at our fourth annual Labor Day Picnic!

Saturday, September 4, 1993

11:00 am- 4:00 pm

at Hemlock Park in Dearborn

Please bring a dish to share for lunch at 12:30. We will provide soft drinks and plates, cups, etc.

And bring any musical instruments--we have some talented people! We do not have the pavilion, so in case of rain, there will be an Open House at the Gard~n--come by to see the new facili­ties (we have the whole building now!)

Bring tpe family September 4th for a fun afternoon. just stop by even if you can't stay the wh0l'e time!

Wa--rrC.fJ Love,

~ II-~/?'! I CJ c-1! L) Ya[erie, 'Raliima, \) Xaren, .Jl.nn and ~ I P~t<f ':::: ~ ~::: Lisa ~ F-& I-'d ~

.. r

News from the

(]arden of Life Karen Beesley, CNM and Dr. Gothamy Welcomed

We are pleased to welcome Karen Beesley into the practice. Karen is a Certified Nurse­Midwife who is originally from Michigan, but has been midwifing in other states (most recently Oregon and Kentucky) after completing her training as a CNM at the Medical University of South Carolina. She is a wonderful addition to our center, enabling us to accept a limited number of medicaid clients and to offer expanded well­woman services (see below).

Dr. Gothamy is a General Practitioner who works part time as Medical Director ofthe Garden in addition to practicing as an Ear-Nose­and-Throat specialist. He trained at the Univer­sity in Cairo as well as doing advanced work in London, where he attended home births. He is very supportive of midwifery care, and we are very happy to have him working with us!

Expanded Well-Woman Care Now Available

Karen does complete well-woman care, including annual exams and the diagnosis and treatment of vaginal infections, and she is able to offer a complete range of birth control metho<;l s, including the pill, diaphragm and cervical cap fitting, natural family planning, Norplant and depoprovera.

If you haven't had a pap smear in the past year, call us for an appointment. -. •

Garden Expands into the Entire Building!

There have been a lot of changes recently at the Garden. We are really happy to now be renting the entire building, so prenatal care is now done on the new side (with two prenatal rooms and a third birth room), while the older side is used for births. And the waiting room has been refurnished!

Thanks for all Your Help! So many parents helped in redecorating the new

side! Special thanks for extended work from Patrick Wheeker for plumbing, Mark Guido for electrical work, Byron Baker for knocking down walls, Mark Hoerauf for plastering and Seth Bald­win for painting. Jodi Ciolli, Fran Baker, Lisa Guido, Wendy Whalen-Hickson, Bill Kamalay, and others (sorry ifwe missed your name!) helped us with stripping wallpaper and painting. And Bridgett Ciupke is stencilling a beautiful pattern in the new birth room!

And so many people have made donations: we have a wonderful crab apple tree in the back thanks to Jeff Jones (who also did the beautifullandscap- ' ing in fi·ont!); Tami Titus donated a dowble bed; the Ciupke's donated a reclining chair,~a - s .,. donated a butcher block cabinet and a set of towels; Rita Petranovich donated an antique bath tub for the new birth room; Dr. Ed Linkner donated a second exam table. Thank you all!

Jacuzzi Fund Started and Help Still Needed .... .

We plan to redecorate the former prenatal room to include a jacuzzi that will be accessible to women birthing in any room. Only lack of money is holding us up! If you appreciated the tub during your labor, why not make a donation to our "Jacuzzi Fund '' and heip other women enjoy a realiy deep tub with water jets (contributions will also help insure it will be there by your next birth!).

We will also need help with low cost plumbing services and would appreciate help knocking down the wall between the kitchen and the old reception area to make a larger kitchen accessible from both hallways. When that is finished, we will be looking for an apartment-sized stove, so keep us in mind!

We Hope You'll Join Us Sep­tember 4 for the Picnic (see other side)

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Moving Midwifery Forward Three-Day Advanced Midwifery

Seminar

with Valerie El Halta November 11-13, 1994 in Needham, MA

Contact: Susan Blaum, 75 Memorial Circle Andover, MA 01810 (508) 475-3814

Valerie El Halta has been a midwife for 20 years and has attended more than 2300 births. She was Midwifery Direc­tor and Intern Supervisor for three years at Casa de Nacimiento in El Paso, Texas. She and Rahima Baldwin Dancy are the co-founders and directors of The Birth Center in Dearborn, Michigan, where they also train mid­wifery apprentices. She has given this workshop through­out the country over the past five years.

•

What Participants Are Saying

Participants at these seminars have ranged from beginners to a midwife who has attended over 1,000 births, from apprentices to certified nurse-midwives. Here's what they have to say:

"The information gained over the last three days has been incredible and worth every penny. Nothing that one obtains in nursing school, only through long hard years of experience." --B.M., RN, Southfield, MI.

"In three days I learned more than a year's worth of study. I am leaving these sessions with more knowledge and cour­age to go forward with my work as a birth assistant and to eventually become a midwife. Valerie's stories and helpful "tricks" gave so much clarity to questions I've held for years. Thank you, Valerie, for expanding and inspiring me." --N.H., Park Ridge, NJ

Before I came to this seminar, I didn't know what to expect. As a CNM, I've never felt a part of the CNM "group." The group in the room was very warm and I was made to feel at home. Your information was not only accurate and current but conveyed in a humorous and sensitive way. In a nutshell, you are a very effective teacher; and I hope that you will continue what you are doing. Above all you are a very special person who touches the lives of those you meet and I felt very fortunate to have had the opportunity to spend three very special days with you." -­D.R., Bala Cynwyd, P A.

"Attending this seminar was one of the best things that I have done for myself in a long time!" -L.H., Battle Creek, MI.

"I have learned more from you in these three days than any other seminar I have attended or from any book! My brain is fried!" -­R.S., Parker, CO .

"Periodically, I question if I have any busi­ness being a midwife. You have given me assurance that my intuitions are right and my skills are good. I thank you for your wisdom and love." --P.K., Boulder, CO.

"You have touched my mind, my heart and my spirit. Besides the tremendous training that we have received at this seminar, the most impor­tant thing that you have brought us is a sense of sisterhood. We are a more united community because of your visit here." --I.S., Denver, CO.

"These last three days have renewed by spirit, and revived my motivation as I have learned, healed and loved with you. What more could I ask?" --T.L., Chicago, IL.

"Your inspiration and enthusiasm has been the most unifying event to happen to Chicago birth people in a long time! In spending this weekend with you, I am moved by the feeling of being part of a world of midwives, midwives of all times and places." --M.L., Chicago, IL.

"I am an OB nurse and a practicing midwife who has hungered for the kind of knowledge Valerie has shared with us the past three days. This was a seminar full of substantial learning with laughs and tears along the way. I am leaving much better equipped to recog­nize complications early, meet them with caution and creativity and deal with sur­prises confidently." --M.D., RN, Ypsilanti, MI.

Moving Midwifery Forward Advanced Midwifery Seminar

With Valerie El Halta

Brought to you from the Garden of Life Mothercare and Natural Birth Center in Dearborn, Michi­gan. Co-Founders and Directors: Rahima Baldwin and Valerie El Halta.

Take advantage of this unique opportunity to learn more about birth from the women who know it best! It isn't often that you get to spend three days sharing with a midwife who has this depth of experience.

Valerie will be gearing this seminar to practicing midwives and their apprentices. Labor and delivery nurses, aspiring midwives, birth assistants, childbirth educators and others with a back­ground in birth will also benefit from this seminar.

The seminar is designed t<?:

- Upgrade midwifery skills - Increase knowledge levels - Increase confidence levels - Decrease transport rates while increasing safety - Advance the profession of midwifery to meet the challeng~s of the next century

Some of the topics which will be addressed are:

- The Midwife in Balance -Intervention or Intercession? - Prevention of PIH Through Education and Nutrition - Malpresentations and "Surprises" - Recognition and Management of Second Stage Emergencies -Taking the Fear Out of Third Stage - "Tricks of the Trade" - Providing Total Support for the Childbearing Year - The Midwife as Counselor - Issues in Prenatal Care - Comprehensive Risk Evaluation

Cost of the seminar is $250.00. Deposits should be sent as soon as possible to assure your place. For registration less than two weeks prior to the workshop, please call to confirm that space is still available. (313/ 582-5764.) The fee includes:

- ~ree full days of sharing with Valerie (9 a.m.- 6 p.m.) -A printed handbook of Valerie's "Essays and Outlines" dealing with seminar topics.

To register, please send payment in full or your $100 deposit along with a brief description of your background in birth. Checks should be payable to The Birth Center, 5460 Schaefer, Dearborn, MI 48126. Sorry, we cannot accept charge authorizations. Payment is fully refundable if you are called to a birth or cancel more tban two weeks in advance. Hotel information and maps will be sent with confirmation. If you have further questions, write or call today (313/582-9353). .

Seminar Topics

1. The Midwife in Balance The importance of maintaining balance in our personal and professional lives. Mother/Wife/ Friend/Citizen/Midwife. Preventing "burnout." Achieving financial security. Developing confidence and self-esteem.

2. Intervention or Intercession? When is it appropriate to take an active role in labor management?

3. Prevention of Pm through Education and Nutrition Prevention and effective management of toxemia. Evaluation of risk, importance of early inter­vention. A proven program of nutritional management.

4. Malpresentations and "Surprises" Emergency breech delivery, multiples, asynclitism, posterior labor and transverse arrest. Per­forming external version.

5. Recognition and Management of Second Stage Emergencies "Orange Lights" in first stage. Assessing fetal compromise, uterine inertia, shoulder dystocia, the depressed baby, hypothermia, cord prolapse, etc.

6. Taking the Fear Out of Third Stage "Hands off'' management of third stage and relationship of postpartum hemorrhage to mismat1 agement. Benefits of delayed cord cutting. A discussion of the psychological aspects of mater­nal-infant separation.

7. "Tricks of the Trade" Lessons and suggestions in empirical midwifery from Auntie Val's collage of experience. Every­thing from dealing with morning sickness to "duck walking" for asynclitism.

8. Providing Total Support for the Childbearing Year The importance ofproviding continuity of care through the fourth trimester. Preventing postpar­tum depression. Initiating programs that work. Introducing "Mothercraft," a support group for new mothers.

9. The Midwife as Counselor Psycho-social issues. The "Chameleon Effect." Working with families whose cultural, ethnic, religious or socio-economic backgrounds differ from our own. Dealing with loss and grief. The art of active listening.

10. Issues in Prenatal Care Controversial prenatal issues, i.e., ultrasound, antenatal Rhogam, routine diabetes screening, amniocentesis, etc.

ll.Comprehensive Risk Evaluation Identifying risk factors and the woman at risk. Continuing care in high and moderate risk preg­nancies. Realizing our limitations. Making appropria~e transfer of care while maintaining our "with woman" role.