Precious Passage Birth Services, Ltd.  Erika Obert, DEM, CD(DONA) erikao1@roadrunner.com Ravenna, Ohio 330 577-5180

What is a Direct-Entry Midwife?

The term midwife generally implies one of three things, either a woman has chosen to become a DEM, CPM, or CNM.  Certified Professional Midwives and Direct Entry Midwives practice in the homebirth or sometimes the birth-center setting depending on the state in which they practice.  In Ohio, CPM's and DEM's practice only in the homebirth setting while Certified Nurse Midwives practice in a hospital setting and maintain a collaborative relationship with doctors. 

The path through which a midwife has chosen her education varies from woman to woman and includes an academic program of study, an apprenticeship or both.  There is no "more correct" method of education.  Rather, there are different paths that lead to the same goal of serving birthing couples in the homebirth or hospital setting.  Interview your midwife as you would any other care provider.  Ask a lot of questions and make sure you are comfortable with the answers. 

As your DEM I will provide prenatal care for the mother as well as labor and postpartum care for both the mother and the baby.  I have a special interest in prenatal nutrition, VBAC and waterbirth.  My education is through the Michigan School of Traditional Midwifery.  Additional training includes adult, child and infant CPR with AED,  First Aid, Neonatal Resuscitation, and breastfeeding certifications.    My birth experience has included lots of natural vaginal birth as well as twins, episiotomy, vacuum, cesarean section, epidural/narcotic anesthesia, water birth, VBAC, single mothers, breastfeeding, bottle feeding and special needs infants.

Homebirth requires a large amount of personal responsibility for both your pregnancy and your birth.  While I am present to safeguard the passage of mother and child through the birth process, you are ultimately responsible for your birth.  A high level of commitment to health (mental, physical and spiritual) through birth preparation and prenatal nutrition is essential.  I cannot stress this enough; if you do not honestly prepare for your birth during your pregnancy, no amount of midwifery care will change the outcome. 

Midwifery Service Package

  • Free initial prenatal consultation with mother and partner to get acquainted.   We need to feel comfortable with each other before we proceed.
  •  Monthly prenatal appointments in my home from when we initiate care until 32 weeks gestation during which I will assess the general well-being of mom and baby.  We will discuss your preferences for labor support throughout the pregnancy.
  • The 36 week appointment must be in your home so that I can help you prepare for your homebirth and become familiar with your house and any children or pets you have.  I suggest ordering disposable homebirth supplies through In His Hands Birth Supply at www.inhishands.com. 
  • From 37 weeks on, homebirth is safe.  We will meet at least once after the 36 week home visit, most usually at 38 weeks.
  • I supply childbirth education in the form of Breck Hawk's I Care program.   The classes are easily integrated into your prenatal appointments and are designed to supplement any method of natural childbirth.  You will have access to my lending library (books, DVD's, CD's, videos, tapes) throughout your pregnancy and postpartum.
  •  Uninterrupted support during labor , birth and postpartum.  This includes labor/birth care, immediate postpartum care for mom and newborn care for baby.
  •  Use of my labor support tools such as hot/cold rice packs, TENS Unit, birth ball, aromatherapy diffuser,  aromatherapy oils, massage oils & music.                                         
  •  Help initiating breastfeeding as soon as possible after birth.
  •  Complete postpartum care with in home visits on day 1 and day 5 - 10 as well as a  4 - 6 week follow up by phone to assess the well-being of mom and baby.  We will discuss your birth experience and any concerns you have for your baby. 
  •  Monthly telephone and e-mail contact for one year after delivery.
    I am authorized by the state of Ohio to sign for verification of pregnancy and live birth so you can file for a birth certificate.
    •

 

I offer rental of the La Bassine birth pool kit to my clients for $50.  This includes delivery, set-up, filling, draining, clean-up and removal of the tub.  You only need to supply a full sized sheet or blanket to place over the protective plastic floor tarp so you don't slip on wet plastic when entering or exiting the tub.

Service  Area
           It is my goal to provide continuous, high quality support to my clients in the atmosphere of their choice.    When you choose homebirth, you have the unique opportunity to create your own, very special, very private birth environment.  I respectfully honor any birth wishes you have so long as they do not compromise the health of mother or child.  My service area includes but is not limited to the Cleveland/Akron/Canton area of Ohio.  If you think you are close to my service area and desire a homebirth, call me.  I will travel.   Homebirth does not need to be prohibitively expensive.  In fact, cost should be your last concern.   
 
  It is my belief that every family deserves the
option of a homebirth.   To this end, I work
to keep my costs to a minimum.  Payment
arrangements can be made. 
 
       It is entirely possible to have the birth experience you want and deserve.   Much  research has shown that when women and their partners are provided with continuous, compassionate support, they recall the birth experience with greater satisfaction and bond to their infants sooner, even if the experience they had wasn't what they would describe as "ideal".  My goal is to give you the gift of a birth experience you will WANT to remember.  Please feel free to e-mail me with any questions or comments at erikao1@roadrunner.com I also welcome phone calls at 330 577-5180.
 
Please consider ordering your birth kit from In His Hands.  My family
has been using this company for 8 years.  In His Hands is a family run
Christian company.  They have helped me create a custom birth kit for my
clients.  When you order, just type in my name and they will send you the kit. 
The cost, including shipping, is $48.

We are a provider of birth supplies to
midwives, birth centers and expectant
mothers all over the United States.
www.traditionalmidwives.org
Your Water Birth .com offers the most comfortable and affordable water birth pools and kits on the market. Add accessories like an underwater flashlight, waterbirth videos, or a submersible pump. www.yourwaterbirth.com

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