I specialize in water births, VBACs, natural methods of facilitating/easing labor & birth, placental encapsulation, and offer a birthing room in my home for those needing or desiring an alternate place to give birth. I offer counseling on: nutrition, natural supplements, fertility, breastfeeding and alternative healthcare.

I am committed to providing you the best care within my knowledge. I believe you have chosen a home birth and midwifery care because you want to do all that you possibly can to have a healthy baby & good birth experience. A commitment to following these eight simple suggestions (just eight!) will help you to get a new start, which is an acronym for: NEW START

Nutritious food – should be eaten at regular intervals in a relaxed atmosphere. Lots of fruit and vegetables, a variety of whole grains and good sources of protein.

Exercise – on a REGULAR basis at whatever you enjoy most, as long as it is not harmful to you or the baby. Brisk walking outside, from 1 to 3 miles a day, is an excellent form of exercise for expectant mothers. A combination of aerobic exercise that gets your heart rate up PLUS stretching/toning exercise especially for parts of the body involved in labor and birth are key. I carry an excellent DVD product to purchase.

Water – inside and out! Drink 2 quarts of pure water (four 16 oz. glasses) between meals. Drinking water with your meal dilutes the enzymes necessary for digestion and slows the process. This can be one cause for indigestion/heartburn. Warm baths or showers daily, to cleanse the skin (which is an elimination organ) help rid the body of unwanted poisons and waste products. Use a body brush, loofah or nylon bath scrubbie to help invigorate the skin & remove toxins.

We will spend a lot of time together during prenatal and postpartum visits, establishing a trusting relationship. We will become partners in a shared responsibility. You will accept the responsibility to do the best you can in terms of nutrition, exercise, elimination of stress (see A NEW START), taking necessary supplements and discussing anything out of the ordinary with me. I will accept the responsibility to guide you and offer suggestions when needed, to be attentive and alert to subtle signs of impending complications and to answer your questions honestly and directly. I will be available to you at all times or will have a back-up midwife available should I need to be away for any reason. I provide personalized, high quality care with the goal of a natural birth with minimal intervention. An interview, at no charge, will help you make an informed decision on whether Barefoot Midwifery Services is the right fit for your family.

Prenatal Care Care during pregnancy is provided once per month until the 28th week, then every 2 weeks until the 36th week, and then once a week until delivery. Appointments are usually on TUESDAYS, last about a half an hour and are medically thorough. I include all usual prenatal procedures plus more and will explain what I am checking for and allow plenty of time for your questions and concerns. You will be required to obtain certain lab work. I provide counseling on nutrition, exercise, breastfeeding and alternative health care for the whole family. Educational resources are available on this website and in our lending library – childbirth class segments, DVDs, books, etc.

Birth Care Almost all births are done in the birthing suite in MY home – this allows for more thorough care and monitoring and also provides close access to excellent physician back-up, if needed. If the birth takes place in YOUR home, I will stay with the mother during her labor and birth, monitor for signs of abnormalities, remain for about two hours after delivery and do a thorough newborn exam. If transport to a hospital becomes necessary, I will accompany the mother, continuing to provide labor support, consumer awareness and advice for the delivery.

Postpartum Care Following the birth, families are encouraged to stay in my birthing suite for 24 hours if home is distant to allow for continued care, help establish breastfeeding and to do neonatal lab work.  If home is close and the birth takes place in YOUR home, I will return 24-36 hours after delivery and again on the 3rd day. I will see you in MY home 2 weeks after delivery and again at 6 weeks. I am available anytime you have questions or concerns.

Pregnancy is a wonderful and exciting time of great transformation in a woman’s life. It is a time when you are changing and maturing, not only your body, but also your heart and mind. It is a time to reassess how you are choosing to live your life and to make any necessary changes so that your baby can enter the best possible environment. I feel it is an honor to be present during this time of transformation and do not take my role lightly. I am therefore pleased and grateful for the privilege of working with you. I want to support you in having whatever birth experience you desire. We will all have to work together to provide you with that experience. I am very open to your giving birth in whatever position you wish and the degree of the father’s involvement as well as the setting and other people at the birth, are yours to determine. On the other hand, I believe that my experience can be very valuable to you and expect you to respect my suggestions. I see my role as primarily to educate and advise, while maintaining a watchful eye that all is proceeding optimally. I believe birth is a sacred event. I became a midwife because of my love for babies and my desire to see them born in an environment that honors them. I also became a midwife because of my love for mothers and my desire to see them give birth in a manner that affirms their dignity and power. I feel privileged to be a part of this miraculous transformation in so many lives and as I feel that God has called me to this work, I seek to rely on His guidance and wisdom at all times. I also pledge to do my very best for you, to be alert and attentive to all aspects of your well-being and to do my best to see that your child emerges into an atmosphere that is nurturing for the WHOLE FAMILY. I am grateful to you for the opportunity to serve in this way. Please call. I look forward to talking to you and helping you through your pregnancy. God bless you.

• 1979-1983 Private Health and Respiratory Care Provider
• 1986-1987 Certified Childbirth Educator, Doula & Home birth Assistant Informed Homebirth/Informed Birth & Parenting – Texas
• 1987-1989 Apprenticeship with Signe Rogers, Vio Schmidt & Brenda Welsh
• 1989 – Direct-Entry Midwife
• 1997 – Certified Professional Midwife
• 2000 – began work on degree as Naturopathic Doctor – College of Natural Health – Tulsa, OK
• 2011 – Cross-Cultural Maternal/Child Health Care & Disaster Preparedness Intensive – Philippines
• 2013/2016 – mission work in Haiti
• 2016 – Medical mission to Syrian Refugees in Turkey
• 2018 – Medical mission to Syrian Refugees in Lebanon
• Currently certified in CPR and Neonatal Rescusitation