Quick Note on Midwifery

Becoming a midwife takes a lifetime of commitment. I have been very involved in childbirth in Lane County since 1997 and I am currently attending births as a midwife, an assistant midwife and a doula.

Over the years I have been blessed with the opportunities to attend hundreds of births in different settings. The majority of my education has come from midwifery study groups, self study, workshops, observation in a midwifery clinic that I was employed, and assistance to other midwives in the United States and Mexico.

I observed more than 300 births in this setting as an OB Tech in Oregon, a few as a CNA in Arizona during a 3 month stay there. I have also attended several as a doula and I am a doula instructor.

I have also attended several homebirths and birth center births as an assistant midwife and over 30 births as Primary Midwife under Supervision.

In early 2006 I made the decision to start offering entry level "Lay Midwifery" services to low risk families in my community.

The definition for a "Lay Midwife" according to Midwives of North America (MANA) is as follows:

The term "Lay Midwife" has been used to designate an uncertified or unlicensed midwife who was educated through informal routes such as self-study or apprenticeship rather than through a formal program. This term does not necessarily mean a low level of education, just that the midwife either chose not to become certified or licensed, or there was no certification available for her type of education (as was the fact before the Certified Professional Midwife credential was available). Other similar terms to describe uncertified or unlicensed midwives are traditional midwife, traditional birth attendant, granny midwife and independent midwife.

Philosophy

I feel that pregnancy and birth are not only amazing and miraculous they are also beautiful and natural. Birth can potentially be one of the most positive and transformational moments in a woman’s life.

As a midwife I support the women, babies, and families in my community and surrounding areas through the pregnancy, labor, birth and postpartum journey. It is my goals to help the people that I work with have an experience that is respectful, safe and empowering.

I believe that babies deserve to be born gently.  I do my best to ensure that they are born into a loving, warm and peaceful environment in which transitioning into this world and bonding are optimal.  

If anything falls outside of the range of normal I will discuss this with the parents so that the best decisions can be made together.

 

The Midwives Model of Care is based on the fact that pregnancy and birth are normal life processes.

The Midwives Model of Care includes:

§ Monitoring the physical, psychological, and social well-being of the mother throughout the childbearing cycle

§ Providing the mother with individualized education, counseling, and prenatal care, continuous hands-on assistance during labor and delivery, and postpartum support

§ Minimizing technological interventions

§ Identifying and referring women who require obstetrical attention

The application of this woman-centered model of care has been proven to reduce the incidence of birth injury, trauma, and cesarean section.

 

I am currently working to meet all requirements for National Certification through the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) to become a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM). I am also be working towards voluntary licensure through the State of Oregon Health Licensing Division to become a Licensed Direct Entry Midwife (LDM).

I also hold a current Birthingway College of Midwifery certification in Neonatal Resuscitation as well as a certification in American Heart Association Health Care Provider CPR. I have learned over the years that intervention is risky and that birth is a sacred and natural that should be respected in that way. I have also learned that there is a beautiful balance in nature.

In May 2007 I joined the amazing midwifery team at Sacred Waters Community Birth Center .

Patricia M. Couch
Phone: (541) 556-8415

Email: pcmidwife@gmail.com