As Mother’s Day approaches I ponder on the joys of being a parent, full of gratitude to my mom for her love and example.

This past week, my six-month-pregnant baby sister sent me a link to her recent blog post, which made me cry. I felt so proud of her and the beautiful mother that she is, and I share it with all of you.

Sisters, daughters, mothers….  Stand tall and know that you are loved. Marvel at each day and enjoy each moment with those dear to you. Happy Mother’s Day to every woman who loves, mentors, and mothers. Every one of you is amazing.

Love,
Jennifer Gallardo, CPM, LDM
Wife to Fernando, Mother to nine
Director Andaluz Waterbirth Center

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Friday, May 3, 2013
All of Me

A week ago, I had an old lady say I looked like I was about to have my baby any day.  I laughed and said, “Not hardly!  I still have 3 more months to go.”  Her eyes got big and she started talking about other pregnant ladies on island and how one in particular is much smaller than me.  Feeling a little irritated, I said more lighthearted than I felt, “Well, I was a lot smaller with my first, but this is my sixth.”

That weekend I had my husband, Peter, take pictures of my belly to prove to myself that I didn’t look like I was going to pop.  I still think the woman’s assessment was a bit harsh, but I have to say my stomach looks much smaller from the top-view that I usually get!

As the scale creeps up and my belly expands, I have to take deep breaths and remember the amazing work my body is doing.  In remembering, I thought of a conversation I had with Rachel in 2011.

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Journal Entry
Rachel climbed in bed with me one morning and asked sweetly, “What are those?” as she touched the stretch marks on my stomach.

I answered, “They are stretch marks.  Do you like them?”

She responded, “Oh yes,” and then lifted up her shirt and added disappointed, “but I don’t have any.”

She began tracing her finger along my stretch marks again and I said, “They are like silver rivers and I got them because I had you.”

She asked, “Can I have some?”

I laughed and told her, “Yes, when you have babies and are a mommy.”

She dreamily replied, “One day, I will have them and I will be like you,” then she added, “and I will have a big tummy, too.”  It is a nice reminder to me, who wears the badge of my love on my stomach, that it is indeed beautiful.
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Belly shot *with legs!*

Rachel was 3 years old when she yearned for stretch marks of her own.  At five, she still adores me and I’m blessed to hear almost everyday, “When I’m a mommy I will {insert whatever I am doing}.”

Recently, my young son innocently told me my “milks [breasts] are getting long” and asked why I have “so many wrinkles” on my face and I laughed.  I laugh because I feel joy knowing that my milks are long because I nourished all my babies with them and I have so many wrinkles from all the smiles and laughter.  I don’t think I’ll ever feel as my 2 year old does, who when she sees my belly exclaims, “Pretty!” or when she pats my bum tells me, “Fav’vite bum-bum.”  However, every day my body ages a little more, means I had a gift of one more day with those I love the most.

Several months ago, early in the morning, Eva (2) was lying in bed with Peter and I.  My eyes were closed, but I was awake and Eva sweetly whispered, “I love you, Mom,” as she gently stroked my face.  The love I felt was so intense it verged on pain.  Pain that time is slipping too quickly and I will not remember all the tender moments.  Still the pleasure is greater in knowing I am sharing my life with my precious family and that not only do I cherish them, but they also cherish me.

I had requests for pictures of my “baby bump”, although “baby hump” might be more accurate.  I tend to share only pictures where I can crop away lots of me.  You know, ones that don’t show too many wrinkles and bulges.  However, I’ve decided it is time to embrace all of me, because that is what my family loves–all of me.

Face shot with *wrinkles*

..

The triple-whammy: butt, legs, AND six months pregnant diving!

…

When I got pregnant with my third baby I wanted to try something completely different from my prior two hospital births. I had had some bad experiences with my second birth, but it was a first trimester miscarriage the year prior to having Ava that sealed the deal for me.

My experience at Andaluz was everything I had wanted and more! The appointments were longer and more intimate. My midwife paid attention to all the details and made me feel very welcome and comfortable. We had so much more than a doctor/patient relationship. We would end up talking about all kinds of stuff at my appointments. Like my awkwardly uncomfortable sex life or my horrible toilet phobia. I jokingly asked my midwife if she would stand in the parking lot and hum with her fingers in her ears if I had to use the restroom during my labor, which she immediately agreed to without hesitation. I knew she was willing to do anything to make my birthing experience go well. And that felt great.

Laboring like a champ!

After two weeks of being in labor all night, only to have it come to a screeching halt when the sun came up, I was finally in real labor! Hooray! But I refused to believe it. I told my husband that we weren’t going to the birth center until I saw a head crowning. I was tired of getting my hopes up. When we got there I was at seven centimeters. As my midwife put it, I was “laboring like a champ!”

Ava’s dad was definitely ready for the waterbirth!

Yes, Ben took off the goggles and water wings to catch his daughter!

All in all, it was an amazing experience! I’m so happy that I decided to have Ava at Andaluz. And I’m especially pleased with how my family was included during the whole experience. My older two daughters, Kylie and Bailey got to sit on the side of the tub and watch their Daddy catch their new baby sister. A memory I’m sure they will cherish forever. I know I will.

Carrie Duncan

Carrie Duncan began working with Andaluz Waterbirth Center as a midwife in 2004. Families appreciate her laughter, her friendly way of providing care, and her skills. Carrie has practiced midwifery in Portland and Jamaica – and has even been to Haiti to help after the 2010 earthquake.

Tell us a bit about your family

I live with my guy Pasha, two daughters Sierra (16) and Mathaya (7), my baby basset hound Oliver, and five chickens. I’m an Oregon native, so I have lots of extended family in the Portland area. I am very close to my grandparents and live less than a mile from them.

How did you get started in midwifery?

I got started in midwifery in 1997 after the birth of my first daughter… I was attended by a midwife, who patiently waited for me to birth my baby in my converted school bus. Bless her heart, she spent over 12 hours holed up in the bus with me on December 30, 1996. It was…shall we say, an intimate space… there was no running water or indoor bathroom. Very… rustic. I started studying to be a midwife, and attending births while my oldest was an infant.  Basically, I had such a profound experience that I was hooked!

Carrie and a new baby

What is the best thing about being a midwife?

The best part is being witness to the birth of not just a new baby, but a new mother, father…and Family. It is truly (and here’s where I turn into a big ole sap) such a privilege to behold….there are few things as magical.

On a less sappy note, I really enjoy working with families as they become informed consumers of medical services. Providing midwifery care affords us the unique opportunity to help families reclaim their decision making power and gain confidence: in their ability to inform themselves, and do research in order to make choices that reflect their true values and needs. I am so blessed to be a partner in this process.

What is the hardest thing about being a midwife?

The hardest thing is having to be super attached to my phone.

What do you like to do when you’re off call?

Mostly I end up doing family stuff and ‘momming’ out. I am happy to be a super home body – you will often find me in the kitchen where I do a lot of from-scratch cooking. I geek out on holidays and will jump at any chance to celebrate.  I love to travel, as well, and  enjoy sampling all the local spoils of wherever I am.

Favorite restaurant?

Recently had a wonderful meal at: A Cena in Sellwood … I totally recommend!

Favorite book?

Well, “The Poisonwood Bible” by Barbara Kingsolver is a favorite. “The Time Travelers Wife” is amazing. Anything by Tom Robbins. Right now I am reading “Kitchen Confidential” by Anthony Bourdain.

Favorite beverage?

I’m gonna say water, coffee, or wine depending on the accompanying activity.

Favorite movie?

I have no idea… I tend to watch them and then forget the details. If I have to pick one I’d have to say “True Romance”.

Favorite way to spend the weekend?

I enjoy getting outdoors. Going to the coast or the river in the summer, cooking a beautiful meal and sharing it with family and friends. And sleeping in!

If you weren’t a midwife, what could you see yourself doing?

I have often asked myself this question. Besides working at a health food store when I was in school, I have only been a midwife. I have been working in birth since I was 20, folks! I have a little dream I entertain, about opening a food cart…but the truth is I have absolutely no reference point for any other type of life. At this point I identify so strongly with midwifery, it’s hard to imagine doing anything else. But when I’m sleep deprived or when the politics of practicing an ancient art in a modern age starts weighing heavy, I like to fantasize about doing something simpler.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned from being a midwife?

That there is no “right” way to do most anything. To be humble, and vulnerable  and empathetic. And I have learned those lessons over and over…

What are some things about you that your clients may be surprised to hear:

Confession time: OK…[deep breath]

• I drink Red Bull. And I don’t care what’s in it.
• I have A LOT of pairs of shoes…but prefer being bare foot…go figure.
• I prefer to let my man do “man stuff” and could care less about learning to fix the kitchen sink…or whatever (sorry feminism).
• And I have a thing about clean floors, and will not hesitate to vacuum. At anytime…day or night.

From Wikipedia:

Transparency, as used in science, engineering, business, the humanities and in a social context more generally, implies openness, communication, and accountability. Transparency is operating in such a way that it is easy for others to see what actions are performed.

Andaluz Waterbirth Center collectively has done extensive reflection on the type of resource and assets that we wish to bring to the world we all live in and has undergone policy, practice, and professional changes to improve client care.

Part of our movement forward professionally includes transparency, but providing more than lip service. Andaluz seeks to provide an exemplary model of care that is fair, open, and honest about our professional goals and practices.

Statistics are an often-asked inquiry from prospective clients. “What is your cesarean rate?”; “How many mothers typically have to transfer to the hospital in labor?”; etc. Andaluz has complied with the State of Oregon requirement that all Licensed Direct-Entry Midwives (LDEMs) complete information-gathering statistics about their practice. These statistics are collected by Midwives Alliance of North America (MANA) and offer a valuable insight into the safety of midwifery care.

Andaluz began collecting statistics in June 2011 and are committed to continue this practice. We are excited to share these numbers with you, to offer an honest insight into our midwifery practice and birth centers. This will enable consumers to make more informed choices about their care.

Andaluz statistics are posted on our website, under our Resources page. We will add statistics every March for the prior year. Should you have any questions about these statistics, or about our practice, please feel free to contact us via email or phone.

Andaluz is excited to work towards providing the best maternity care for Oregon families.

All shows are held at The Academy Theater in Portland, 7818 SE Stark Street at start at 7pm. There is no charge for admission, however seating is limited and reserved to first come, first seated.

Wednesday, November 28th, 2012:   Special Deliveries: Celebrity Mothers Talk Straight on Birth

Featuring celebrity moms Laila Ali, Gisele Bundchen, Cindy Crawford, Alyson Hannigan, Melissa Joan Hart, Kellie Martin, Alanis Morissette, Christy Turlington-Burns and Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Special Deliveries is a collection of intimate birth stories from a diverse group of mothers. Whether they chose to deliver at a hospital, home or birthing center, these heartfelt and humorous testimonies speak to the lasting power of the birth experience. True inspiration for any mother-to-be, this group of women trusted their bodies and intuitions, taking responsibility for their birth decisions even when things didn’t go according to plan. None of these courageous women has ever spoken on the record in such compelling detail, and, on this DVD, the filmmakers weave together their passionate narratives as a celebration of the journey to motherhood that will leave viewers with a renewed sense of amazement about the power of women.

Thursday, January 10, 2013: Explore Your Options: Doulas, Birth Centers, and C-Sections

The most comprehensive and educational film in the series, Explore Your Options offers birth-planning guidance around key topics such as the role of doulas (labor support specialists,) the advantages of birth centers and the alarming escalation of cesarean sections in the United States and Brazil. Epstein and Lake talk to doulas about why their profession is currently booming and uncover why having a good doula can make-or-break the entire birth experience. They look at the ever-growing rates of inductions and c-sections, which have reached 50% in many US hospitals and more than 99% in some private hospitals in Brazil. How “safe” are these cesarean surgeries, and what are the health implications for the mothers and babies? Explore Your Options examines the pros and cons of birth centers, described as a perfect middle ground between home and hospital. Special features include Alanis Morissette and Alyson Hannigan on the advantages of doulas, Christy Turlington Burns on her unexpected complications at a birth center, Molly Ringwald on how she avoided a cesarean birth with her twins and Gisele Bundchen and Michelle Alves on the cesarean epidemic in their native Brazil.

Thursday, February 7, 2013: The VBAC Dilemma: What Your Options Really Are

The VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean) has become a hot-button issue in the modern maternity care system, as one in three new mothers will give birth via cesarean section. Are all of these mothers then forced to undergo a repeat cesarean the next time around? Epstein and Lake posed that question to dozens of experts, determining the surprising truth about VBACs. They also follow several women’s stories – both those who succeed and fail at attempting a VBAC – including that of filmmaker Abby Epstein, whose first c-section delivery was depicted in the dramatic, final moments of The Business of Being Born.

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Jennifer was familiar with the poverty that is found in developing countries, but the extreme poverty she witnessed in Haiti made her want to do more. She says, “You cannot walk into a pediatric unit and see babies starving, sucking desperately on their little fingers and whimpering, without being forever changed. These babies I witnessed were being fed sugar water, as their mothers had stopped breastfeeding them for various reasons, and formula was much too expensive for any of these mothers to buy.”

Those of us that know Jennifer were hardly surprised by the outpouring of generosity she gave to creating and sustaining this organization. After all, she has helped numerous families in the Portland area with ongoing empathy, grace, and humbleness. Andaluz also sincerely appreciates our clients and community that still raises money for this important cause – and continue to see that the need the Haitian people have is not close to ending.

No amount of time or money is too small – for more information on how you can help MamaBaby Haiti, visit their website.

With love,

The Andaluz Waterbirth Center staff