Santa Cruz Midwives Interview

For this week’s blog, we interviewed Sharon Pottinger. Sharon is the owner of Santa Cruz midwives, an herbalist, mother of three, and friend to the Santa Cruz community.  She can calm a room with her presence and make everybody feel comfortable and at ease. Sharon is respected in the birthing community for her experience, knowledge, and professionalism. After a short conversation with Sharon, it is clear that she was born for this work! We hope you enjoy this week’s blog- Santa Cruz Midwives interview with the Owner of Santa Cruz Midwives, Sharon. Let’s dive in!

How long have you been a homebirth midwife? 

I became a student of birth in the 80s and have attended in some capacity ever since. In the early years, it was more labor support, childcare, and cooking and cleaning. It was not long before I found myself catching the babies.

Can you walk us through what home birth looks like? When do your team and you go to a birth? 

Our team is the experts of normal pregnancy, labor, and birth. We are able to provide complete prenatal care including ordering labs and ultrasounds. We follow the same standards of care as any obstetric provider. The difference is we take the time to get to know the pregnant person and their family. It is intimate having someone come to your home to deliver your baby, having a strong relationship of trust is crucial. Each Birth as different as the families we serve. We check in with our clients in early labor, sometimes this may be by phone or in person.

Once active labor starts, one of the midwives on our team comes and stays to provide labor support, and set up for the birth. A second midwife comes as needed, usually around transition and second stage. We want a midwife for each patient during the birth and in the first few hours postpartum. We carry pharmaceutical medications, IVs, Oxygen and are able to suture as needed. Our midwives remain with the family until everyone is stable. And “YES” we clean up after the birth.

Is there an option for pain management at home? 

We encourage everyone to learn Acupressure for labor, breathing techniques, positions for labor, sterile water papules and every one of our clients has access to a birth tub which really helps take the edge off the pain.

If you have to transfer what does that look like? 

If the need arises for a transfer we call ahead and give a report to the practitioner on call at the nearest hospital. We fax the records ahead and usually go via private car or ambulance. One of us goes with you to the hospital as an advocate and the other midwife behind to put the house in order and clean up.

What are some benefits of home birth? 

Homebirth allows you the freedom to eat, drink, move around, and labor in your own environment. Without the restrictions of hospital timelines and protocols. Even if the need arises to transport, women that have planned to birth at home have statistically lower rates of unnecessary interventions and c-sections.

What does homebirth look like during covid 19? 

During covid, we are following the same schedule of care but are doing some of the prenatal visits virtually. We are providing our client’s tools to monitor themselves and the babies at home. We are asking clients to come to appointments alone. (exceptions are made as needed) We are wearing masks when providing client care, and when we attend your labor. We currently are unable to attend transfers into the hospital because of their restrictions. We are available via phone as needed to help educate as the need arises.

What is included in your birth package? 

Our package has been put together with your overall health and well being in mind. It includes prenatal care, attendance during labor and birth, postpartum visits at days 1,3,7,14, and 6 weeks. Birth tub and birth kit, 5 acupuncture treatments, and massage. 

What is the best way to contact you for more information? 

The best way to contact us and learn more is via our website Www.santacruzmidwives.com. We offer potential clients complimentary consultations.

Thank you for joining us Sharon!

We hope you enjoyed this week’s blog, an interview with Santa Cruz Midwives. Thank you, Sharon, for joining us today and telling us more about the care model that your team and you provide families of Santa Cruz and the Bay Area. Bay City Doulas highly recommends talking to Santa Cruz Midwives to any family looking into midwifery care. Plus, under their care, you can take a postpartum planning class with Anathea, Co-Owner of Bay City Doulas and Kem White, Bay City Doulas Postpartum Doula! As always, we want families to choose to birth where feels best to them, whether that is at home, at a birthing center, or a hospital! Your comfortability in your birthing place is our main priority. If you would like help looking into different options, contact us! We are always more than happy to help.

Thank you for reading this week’s blog “Santa Cruz Midwives interview with Owner, Sharon Potteiger. For more information on all things pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and parenthood please check out our weekly blog.