TRUST Birth Conference

A few months ago, I became acquainted with the Trust Birth Initiative. That initial interaction and Amy from Crunchy Domestic Goddess prompted me to start this blog (see my early entries). The current push of the Trust Birth Initiative is the Trust Birth Conference taking place in Southern California March 7-9. I would love to attend but family business and responsibilities is keeping me from being able to. But that's okay!

Because Carla Hartley, the founder of the Trust Birth Initiave, is making downloads available after the conference for those who were unable to attend.

I will be able to hear the presentations by Michel Odent, MD, Rixa Freese's presentation on portrayals of birth in media, Henci Goer, Sarah Buckley, Laura Shanley and Carla Hartley herself. Topics will include discussions on unassited birth, the technocatic version of birth, the research and the evidence of cesarean, midwifery managed births, homebirths, prenatal care, circumsision, the power of belief, intuition and touch during prenancy, birth and infancy. Can you tell? I am very excited that this option is available to me.

This is also a great option for those who do attend the Conference but couldn't see all the presentations that were of interest to you. Conferences are like that...you have to prioritze and plan which presentations are most important to you, while missing others presentations of interest happening simultaneously during each session.

The Midwife Search

After my experience with CNMs (Certified Nurse Midwives) in a hospital setting, I feel very strongly that I cannot plan another birth in a hospital. That leaves me with two other settings: a dedicated birth center or at home. The attendants at births in those settings are midwives, whether LMs or CNMs. They are also much more likely to support the Midwifery Model of Care. That's the standard of care I thought I would be getting from the UW Midwives program, but I was mistaken and suffered because of my own ignorance.

This time around, I am interviewing potential midwives BEFORE I get pregnant so I don't feel any pressure to pick one because I have a time bomb in my uterus with a deadline. I started doing internet searches in my area. Living in Seattle(home of the pioneering Seattle Midwivery School), there are lots of midwives around.

Most out of hospital midwives will provide a free consultation appointment where a woman can interview with questions and get a feeling for a particular midwife's philosophy and style. I learned its important to be able to trust a midwife at the vulnerable time during labor and birth where a woman needs loving support and is easily open to suggestion.

Here is a sample of the questions I asked:

How do you employ the Midwifery Model of Care in your practice?

How do you empower women?

What positions do you suggest for birthing?

How do you support a laboring woman?

If a transfer is needed, what do you do? Where to?

What complications necessitate a transport?

Describe the prenatal care.


I interviewed four midwives initially and got enough information where I felt I could compare and choose of those four which I felt most comfortable. Tentatively, I have chosen one who also provides Naturopathic care to families and children. However, the search does continue while I continue to think through my wants while weighing what I feel is safest for me and my next baby.