Midwife Advice

Ronnie Falcoa in Mountain View caught my second child in my home... she is fabulous, and has a fabulous website resource for midwifery:

http://www.gentlebirth.org/

There are links to South Bay midwives and lots of articles and info.

S.

I used the same midwife for both of my children now 7 and 8. Her name is Veronica Wagner. She has many many many births under her belt and has a good working relationship with many hospital doctors so that Plan B for the possible complication is planned out ahead of time. She delivered both of my babies in the hospital even though I planned a home birth at first. I had total control over my birth even though I was in a hospital setting which is a tribute to the trust she has built with the staff at local hospitals. She is known as a master at perineal massage to prevent tearing. Her experience was also shown in the way she knew exactly which way I should shift to help the baby through the birth canal. I love her bedside manner as well, she really helped me laugh and my Mom loved her too.

After my natural child births with Veronica, the nurses at the hospitals were thanking me for such a beautiful time. They don't get to see how amazingly calm a birth can be when the powerful women who overcome fear and allow the process to happen always do it at home.

Hi
I went to Nurse Midwives of Santa Cruz, with Kate Bowland and Roxanne Cummings, who are absolutly wonderful and are legends n home birth in Santa Cruz, but are also closing there practice, but Kate is still seeing new patients and is awesome! there is also Laura, I cannot remember her last name, who apprenticed with Kate and Rox and lives in Boulder Creek. I saw her for 2 appointments at Rox and Kate's cuz she was there back up midwife and she is a cool lady. I think you can find them in the phone book. Or call the old office(nurse midwives of SC) and I am sure some one can give you info on Kate and Laura. There are a lot of good mama organizations and things going on in Santa Cruz area, my baby is 9 months old and we have so enjoyed birthing and growing here in this wonderful community. There are great prenatal yoga classes, one through Sutter Maternity center with Robin Sale- another awesome woman, and Tria at the Pacific cultural Center on Sat at 12pm
Good Luck to you and your choice for a safe home birth

Congratulations on your pregnancy, A.! I *love* my midwife Yelena Kolodji, as do a number of my friends who have had babies with her. I have also attended births with her as a doula, and was impressed with what I observed (which is why I have been seeing her for the last five years for well-woman care and currently for midwifery care, due in June). She is based in the hills of Los Gatos, and I think would probably go to Boulder Creek. Sunshine Tomlin is wonderful, too, although a newer midwife and is based in the Santa Cruz area. Someone mentioned Laura- her last name is Maxon. I know her personally through La Leche League and would imagine she's a wonderful midwife, but do not have personal experience. Enjoy your pregnancy!

Love, J.

P.S. I highly recommend prenatal yoga...okay, I guess I'm biased since I teach it, but all of my students report a huge range of benefits. And for myself, at 32 weeks I have no structural discomforts that are commonly associated with pregnancy and only sleep with one pillow- under my head. :-) Journey Revington is a *wonderful* teacher who offers classes in Santa Cruz.

Roxanne and Kate are excellent midwives who have been in the Santa Cruz community a long time. They are located on Capitola Road in midtown Santa Cruz.
Good luck!
E.

Hi,
I live in Boulder Creek too. There is a great family group there called Boulder Creek Family Network. Some of the women on there are midwives and I know one at least is a child birth educator. Its website is www.bouldercreekfamily.com We have play groups and tons of activities!

Cassie

Congratulations! Veronica Wagner is a midwife in the Santa Cruz Area as well as San Jose. She has a wonderful practice. I used her as a Doula in the hospital, but most of her practice is home birth. I have a few friends that delivered at home with Veronica and were so impressed. She is fabulous!

There are so many wonderful midwives in this area. The thing you need to decide is if you will be having your baby in a hospital or at home because your choice of midwives will depend on that decision.
I had my second baby at home with Roxanne Potter as my midwife. She was awesome. She used to practice with Kate Bowland, who is also wonderful. It just so happened that Roxanne was on call when I went into labor, but I would have been very happy with either of them. My labor was fast and (relatively!) easy.
Best of luck. See an acupuncturist too!
L.