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We would like to introduce ourselves; we are the nurse-midwives who work in the department of ob/gyn offices at Hayward and Fremont, and on Labor and Delivery at Kaiser Hospital, Hayward. We are all registered nurses who have had graduate education in midwifery. It is the purpose of this letter to let you know how we function within the Kaiser System and how we can help you in the birth of your child.
We provide care to 'low risk' women. Most of the vaginal deliveries at Kaiser Hayward are done by our nurse-midwifery service. Midwives can evaluate you in our triage unit and admit you onto the labor floor. We can manage your labor, order necessary medications for you, deliver your baby and take care of concerns in the immediate and delayed postpartum period.
Named from left to right-back row: Margaret Greenwood, Alison Stuart, Maryann Bloyer, Doris Untalan, Linda Strite and Faye Morin. From left to right second row: Elizabeth Edwards, Christine Cox-Jude, Sylvia Berman, Maria Kammerer and Pat Stewart. Front row: Dione Coleman
OUR "BIRTH PLAN"
It is our intention for every women/family to be greeted and treated with respect for their individuality and personal preferences.
We fully support the intention of women who would like a birth that is unmedicated. We advocate women having persons present with them in labor who can and will support this decision. Some of our patients hire doulas to help them achieve this goal.
We also support the many women who come into our department having a preference for a birth that is as pain free as possible. To this end we can provide certain medications to decrease the pain of childbirth and also work closely with our anesthesia department so that epidural anesthesia can be ordered at the optimal time.
We strongly recommend childbirth preparation classes. Even for women planning on epidurals during labor, childbirth classes help them to develop the skills necessary to deal with early labor when they may have conteactions that are painful yet they are too early in the process to receive medication or anesthesia.
When all is going well we recommend that women drink clear fluids in active labor. We can provide these for you or you may bring beverages or popsicles of your preference with you and we can refrigerate them for you. If an epidural is placed your oral intake will be restricted to ice chips.
Walking in labor often helps it to progress as does maintaining an upright positon in general. Once you are admitted to the labor floor and the baby's status is assessed you can walk or try a warm shower to help your labor move along. Some studies show that by waiting until a women is four to five centimeters before she gets an epidural the risk for cesarean section is reduced. By speaking with you on the phone before you come in for evaluation we can help you try to avoid coming into the hospital in very early labor when you would probably be more comfortable in your own home.
We do not do routine enemas, shaves or episiotomies. In active labor an intravenous catheter is placed, which can be attached to IV fluids or capped and used later if necessary.
It is our practice to place the baby directly on the mother's abdomen when he/she is born so that mother and baby can maintain skin to skin contact. We encourage mothers to reach down and help deliver their babies if they would like to. We give scissors to the mother's significant other for cutting the umbilical cord. The mother and baby stay in the birthing room for approximately two to three hours after delivery. Breastfeeding can begin very soon after delivery.
Of course special circumstances arise that cannot be predicted and sometimes plans or intentions must be modified. There are physicians in the hospital 24 hours a day available for immediate consultation and/or assistance. The midwives and physicians work closely together.
Above all, we are committed to all mothers, babies and families having a respectful, healthy and safe birth experience. We will try to work with you at all times to keep your birth experience as close to what you want as possible. We are honored to be present with you on this wonderful and miraculous journey and look forward to meeting you and your new baby.
Our clinic and hospital Midwives are
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