kharis is the Greek word for grace. Grace has many definitions, my favorites being; unmerited favor, the exercise of love, kindness, mercy, favor; disposition to benefit or serve another
“The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new.” – Rajneesh
Call Schedule
When your labor begins, the personal care and attention you have come to expect at Kharis Midwifery continue. I am on call 24/7. One weekend every month, I take a weekend off call. The time off honors the time I pour into your family. I practice the beliefs I preach about self-care, physical health, caring for relationships, downtime, and restoration.
Early Labor
Early Labor will start with a phone call with me to assess your labor. At that point, you will make a plan together on whether it’s time to have your entire team arrive for a home birth or if it would be beneficial for you to continue resting before active labor begins. I provide labor support during your active labor phase. I hope you rest, nourish, and hydrate yourself during pre or early labor. Through experience and research, we have learned that women do best when surrounded by people they trust in a comfortable environment. Your labor room can include candles, food, music, children, loved ones, and whatever you need to feel comfortable and safe. Some women hire a doula to support them in the hours (sometimes days) of pre or early labor; let me know if you would like this extra support.
Active Labor
Labor support from me or your doula lessens the impression of pain, shortens labor, reduces the need for the medicalization of birth, lowers the cesarean birth rate, and increases a mother’s positive feelings about her birth. A trained labor support person (midwife, assistant, apprentice, doula) will support you through your labor by using kind and encouraging words, touch, and labor support tools like: use of water, change of position, birth stools, walking, lunging, resting with a peanut ball, massage, yoga sling support, endless pillows, acupuncture, and many more modalities, all help you to open and give birth. Ask someone who has birthed with Kharis Midwifery to describe the support they received in labor. My attention is fixed on you and your family.
Privacy is one of the best labor tools. Labor flourishes in an undisturbed environment! For some people oxytocin (the labor & love hormone) flow the best when they are left alone or with their partner. I honor such inward laborers. I will wait just outside the door and quietly tiptoe in to check on you and listen to your baby’s heartbeat. Or sit closer if that is what you need during your time. You may labor in quiet darkness if desired.
How Kharis Midwives Support & Monitor
The availability of free (untethered) movement increases spontaneous vaginal birth. How is safety monitored without being tethered to monitors? My care is human-directed versus technology/machine intensive. It requires me to be with women in an attuned & focused way... after all midwife means “with woman.” This kind of care increases the chances of a spontaneous vaginal birth without decreasing safety.
The Moment of Birth
In the second stage (also called pushing), you can be in the water, on a birth stool, in the shower, squatting on the floor, or in the bed — the birth will happen wherever the baby wishes to be born. No stirrups are available for labor because they are not comfortable for an unmedicated woman. By not cheerleading women to push vigorously, vaginal tearing is reduced.
Most babies are “caught” by the partner with the midwife's guidance and placed on your chest. This is the magical moment! See FAQ for a more detailed description of the tender care given not to disrupt birth - this moment belongs to the family!