Midwifery : a birthing option
Casa Natal Birth Center
by Kim Ewertz
Upon entering Casa Natal Birth Center you ’ re immediately struck by the beauty of the hand-painted tree adorning the lobby wall . From each limb hang delicate golden leaves inscribed with the name and date of birth of every child born at the centers , 135 leaves in all .
“ When families come in , they say , ‘ Where ’ s our leaf , we want to see our leaf ’, and they hold their baby up by the leaf ,” Melissa Dean , certified doula , licensed midwife , and owner of Casa Natal , said .
Dean , a mother herself , strongly believes that women should have an alternative to hospitals or home births . That belief was the inspiration behind Casa Natal , which she opened in Morgan Hill in 2013 .
“ The birth with Casa Natal is allowed to unfold naturally and without intervention , giving mama the best chance at an empowered and trauma-free experience ,” Whittaker added . “ You come out of it feeling like the strongest and most amazing woman that ever walked the earth ,” Dean added .
The level of attention offered at Casa Natal is far and above the norm , starting with an hour-long prenatal appointment . “ You want to be able to hear about what ’ s happening and really listen ,” Dean said . “ You ’ ve got to get to know the woman and her partner .”
From her first appointment with Dean , Nicole Zaiss and her partner were convinced they made the right choice . “ We felt heard , respected , and fully supported as soon-to-be parents ,” Zaiss said . “ Our prior experience with pregnancy ended in loss , and the team at Casa Natal soothed all our fears and went out of their way to encourage us every step of the way .”
Even when unexpected situations arise , the birthing center is prepared . In Whittaker ’ s case , when her first delivery of her child , Jubilee , now four , rapidly escalated , leaving no time to make it to the center , the center ’ s staff came to her .
“ I was impressed by the staff ’ s ability to improvise on the fly and deliver my baby at home safely and with all the care that I would have had at the birth center ,” Whittaker said , adding that her second child , Phoebe , two , was born at the center .
“ Women today want more autonomy over their health ,” Dean explained . “ They don ’ t want to be told what they have to do .”
Christina Whittaker , a client of Casa Natal , certainly agrees . “ It is the best feeling as a patient to be in charge of your own healthcare ,” Whittaker said . “ There is nothing like prenatal care and birth with a midwife …. she addresses each aspect of mama ’ s health to facilitate the healthiest pregnancy possible .”
Birthing centers provide mothers-to-be a true sense of empowerment .
Certainly , a significant difference between a birthing center and a traditional hospital birth is the length of stay . “ You do feel confident in your abilities as a woman having a baby and as a woman caring for your baby , they ’ re prepared ,” Dean said , adding , “ they ’ re usually here for three or four hours , as long as everyone is stable .”
The following day Dean returns to the family ’ s home to perform a full assessment of mom and baby . On day three , the family visits the center . “ To do all the things they would at the hospital … as well as checking the emotional well-being of the mom and the physical health of the baby ,” Dean explained .
Zaiss and her partner also benefited from classes offered at the center , including Breastfeeding 101 , which is taught by Emily Brown , former midwife , lactation specialist , and Casa Natal ’ s office manager .
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