Ep 17: Homebirth 101: Midwife Carrie LaChapelle Craft Explains Midwifery Care at Home

Thank You, Sponsors! Hatched at Home-Midwife Carrie LaChapelle: www.hatchedathome.com https://www.facebook.com/MidwifeCarrieLachapelleLMCPM/ 864-907-6363 Stephanie Sibbio’s Glowing Mama To Be Course: www.myhappyhomebirth.com/glowingmamacourse  (15% off with the code: happyhomebirth15 ) Instagram: stephsibbiofitness   Body Works Physical Therapy http://bodyworks-physicaltherapy.com/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/MamaBodyWorks Email: [email protected]: (864) 757-2440   Dreckman Family Chiropractic http://www.familychiropracticinsimpsonvillesc.com/ 864-757-9901   Show Notes: Carrie is a Licensed CPM working in the upstate of South Carolina Her first two children were born traditionally in the hospital. After the birth of her first child, she realized she loved all things related to birth.  This was in 1997, so before the ease of internet access.  She learned about becoming a doula, and decided to take a DONA Certified doula training course. Soon after the birth of her second child, she found an ad in a local parenting magazine for a midwife who was looking for midwifery students. She contacted the midwife, who invited her to dinner. This midwife explained to Carrie exactly what her job entailed, and Carrie was shocked.  “People actually do that?  They give birth at home?  And pay you?  That seems so strange to me!” This midwife invited Carrie to a birth, where a precious mother allowed Carrie into her birthing space. Carrie remembers vividly how amazing the experience was.  “It almost like time stood still when that baby was born.”  She mentions how the mother’s thoughts and feelings were taken into consideration, as was the father’s… how this was their experience and it mattered to the midwife that they were respected. Having only worked in the hospital previously, Carrie was overwhelmed with the beauty of this way of giving birth. At that time, in the hospital, there was no such thing as “the golden hour” or “the magic hour,” and babies were typically very quickly and unceremoniously removed from their mothers. Carrie explains her route to midwifery, though schooling has changed since she studied. At that time, she had do a self-study course led by a licensed midwife, complete a certain number of prenatal exams, births, and newborn exams, and once everything was satisfied, she was approved to sit for the NARM exam, which is similar to a nursing exam.  Now, Carrie is on the other end. Not only is she a midwife, but she is a preceptor.  Carrie takes on apprentices and teaches them about midwifery from top to bottom.   “Sometimes it’s still amazing to me that I am a midwife.” Carrie discusses how amazing it is to be able to teach others- to watch them replay and sort out births and process how it all works is very worth it for her. We now compare the similarities and differences of midwifery vs. a typical ob/gyn Carrie shares how all of the same testing is offered: ultrasounds (whether early ultrasound, 20-week anatomy scan, 35 week weight and position scan), gestational diabetes screening, and group b strep. All of these are offered, but more options exist.  Carrie also believes strongly in informed consent.  A mother is given all of the information and asked to consider it and do research on her own if she feels uncertain.  Should she decide to forgo certain tests, Carrie supports her clients in it, knowing that they are owning their own decisions. When it comes to the differences between midwifery and OB/GYN care, Carrie mentions how with midwifery, the experience tends to be much more one-on-one, without any middlemen. For example, when she experienced OB care, typically the nurse did the bulk of the work, with the doctor coming in to speak for a few minutes.  With a midwife, the prenatals are 45 minutes to an hour, and flexible at that.  The midwife is the one checking vitals, listening to baby, palpating the belly (feeling where baby is in the belly—moms love getting to know their baby this one an