Do you offer weekend or evening visits?
Your midwife understands the unique demands of parents with busy schedules, and offers flexible appointment scheduling with some weekend and evening visits available on a first-come first-served basis. Madeleine offers private visits on a common or task-based schedule.
Your midwife is available on-call for urgent concerns.
Your midwife is available on-call for urgent concerns.
how many people will be in my home at the birth?
An ideal birth team involves three people: the primary midwife, an assistant midwife, and someone to document the events of the birth. Madeleine involves other Licensed Midwives, Midwife Assistants, and Student Midwives in her practice. Students and assistants will be involved in your care, however their level of participation will always depend on their level of training and of course your preferences. Students and assistants only care for you with your midwife present and available.
Some families like to have many people present for the birth, and some parents prefer birth to be a quiet and intimate time. Madeleine's midwifery practice is accommodating to the needs and desires of your family. Your midwife and the personnel assisting her work carefully for you to have a safe birth with your chosen support.
Some families like to have many people present for the birth, and some parents prefer birth to be a quiet and intimate time. Madeleine's midwifery practice is accommodating to the needs and desires of your family. Your midwife and the personnel assisting her work carefully for you to have a safe birth with your chosen support.
is my home suitable for a home birth?
Madeleine has attended out-of-hospital births in many settings, including houses, birth centers, apartments, trailers, and hotel rooms. Being in a small or shared home does not exclude you from out-of-hospital birth.
Madeleine's practice requires the following for safe out-of-hospital birth:
Madeleine's practice requires the following for safe out-of-hospital birth:
- A client who is clinically eligible for out-of-hospital birth with a California Licensed Midwife. This means the client is experiencing a normal and "low-risk" pregnancy.
- A home with running water, electricity, heat, and air conditioning. If you are having issues accessing any of these utilities, let your midwife know and she will refer you to a resource that can help.
- A clean restroom.
- A place for the care team to rest.
- A vehicle in the event that you need to be transported to the hospital for a non-urgent reason.
- Emergency vehicle access.
what pain relief options are available at home?
Pain is a normal and healthy part of giving birth, and your midwifery team may make suggestions to help your labor be more comfortable and efficient.
These suggestions might include:
Madeleine does not offer medications for labor pain.
If you are concerned about labor pain but want to give birth at home, your midwife will strongly recommend that you hire a doula alongside your midwife team. Ample research suggests that doulas can decrease labor pain, and in addition they can lower the rate of cesarean birth, shorten the length of labor, and help babies breastfeed more easily.
There is no reason to not have a doula at a home birth. Doulas and midwives fulfill different but equally necessary roles.
If you would like a referral for doula services, contact Madeleine today.
These suggestions might include:
- Eating food and drinking fluids throughout labor
- Changes in position
- The use of water (such as a a shower or tub)
- The use of heat (such as a heating pad, hot water bottle, or warm compresses)
- Changes in activity
- Breathing techniques
- Techniques to help your baby be in the best possible position for birth
Madeleine does not offer medications for labor pain.
If you are concerned about labor pain but want to give birth at home, your midwife will strongly recommend that you hire a doula alongside your midwife team. Ample research suggests that doulas can decrease labor pain, and in addition they can lower the rate of cesarean birth, shorten the length of labor, and help babies breastfeed more easily.
There is no reason to not have a doula at a home birth. Doulas and midwives fulfill different but equally necessary roles.
If you would like a referral for doula services, contact Madeleine today.
What types of help can you offer my baby in an emergency?
Madeleine and her assistants are trained and experienced with Neonatal Resuscitation, a process of facilitating a healthy transition for your baby in the minutes following the birth.
This process can include brief stimulation of the baby, breathing for the baby (using a bag and mask or mouth-to-mouth, depending on the circumstance), clearing the baby's airway, performing chest compressions, and/or administering oxygen.
Although most babies need absolutely no help with their transition when they are born, your midwifery team is prepared and equipped at all births in the event that your newborn needs assistance. For more information about the ways Madeleine helps families have safe home births, click here.
This process can include brief stimulation of the baby, breathing for the baby (using a bag and mask or mouth-to-mouth, depending on the circumstance), clearing the baby's airway, performing chest compressions, and/or administering oxygen.
Although most babies need absolutely no help with their transition when they are born, your midwifery team is prepared and equipped at all births in the event that your newborn needs assistance. For more information about the ways Madeleine helps families have safe home births, click here.
do you offer water birth services?
Definitely. Clients are encouraged to use a tub during labor, birth, or both.
Madeleine will give you a short list of additional supplies to have available for water birth.
Madeleine will give you a short list of additional supplies to have available for water birth.
do you attend vaginal births after cesarean (VBAC)?
VBAC and HBAC (home birth after cesarean) are choices that Madeleine offers for all healthy families. If you are considering birthing at home for your upcoming VBAC, please obtain copies of your operative report(s) prior to your consultation with Madeleine.
Your midwife also has experience working with the unique needs and safety concerns of planned home birth after more than one cesarean (HBAMC).
Madeleine is also happy to offer collaborative midwifery care for families planning a hospital VBAC.
For more information about collaborative care, click here.
Your midwife also has experience working with the unique needs and safety concerns of planned home birth after more than one cesarean (HBAMC).
Madeleine is also happy to offer collaborative midwifery care for families planning a hospital VBAC.
For more information about collaborative care, click here.
who regulates midwives in california?
There are two recognized credentials for midwives in the state of California:
Licensed Midwives (LM) are licensed and regulated by the Medical Board of California.
Licensed Midwives provide primary care services to birthing clients and their and babies during the childbearing year. Most Licensed Midwives provide care in homes, however Licensed Midwives are legally able to provide care in birth centers, clinics, and hospitals.
Madeleine Wisner (née Madeleine Shernock) is a Licensed Midwife.
Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNM) are certified and regulated by the California Board of Registered Nurses. Certified Nurse-Midwives are primary care providers for people throughout the lifespan. Certified Nurse-Midwives mostly provide care in hospitals, however sometimes provide care in homes, birth centers, and clinics.
Licensed Midwives (LM) are licensed and regulated by the Medical Board of California.
Licensed Midwives provide primary care services to birthing clients and their and babies during the childbearing year. Most Licensed Midwives provide care in homes, however Licensed Midwives are legally able to provide care in birth centers, clinics, and hospitals.
Madeleine Wisner (née Madeleine Shernock) is a Licensed Midwife.
Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNM) are certified and regulated by the California Board of Registered Nurses. Certified Nurse-Midwives are primary care providers for people throughout the lifespan. Certified Nurse-Midwives mostly provide care in hospitals, however sometimes provide care in homes, birth centers, and clinics.
what supplies do i need for a home birth?
Your midwife will provide a list of items you will need for a birth at home. These supplies include a kit of sterile supplies (which includes gloves, underpads, gauze, and cord clamps) which can be ordered in a package online for about $60, as well as a list of items you will need to acquire separately. Additional supplies are necessary if you plan to use a tub in labor.
Are you accepting students/apprentices?
Madeleine is not currently a NARM-approved preceptor.
Please consider applying for the Future Midwives program at Welcome Home Midwifery Services, Inc. if you are interested in learning beginning and intermediate midwifery skills.
Please consider applying for the Future Midwives program at Welcome Home Midwifery Services, Inc. if you are interested in learning beginning and intermediate midwifery skills.