Siskiyou Women's Health Care

Homebirth at SWHC

Siskiyou Women's Health Care (SWHC) provides homebirth services throughout the Rogue Valley of Southern Oregon. SWHC is the professional practice of Linda Lieberman, Certified Nurse Midwife and Nurse Practitioner and is located in her attractive home office at 350 Kearney St. in Ashland, Oregon. Linda provides comprehensive homebirth services to families in both Jackson and Josephine counties, supporting a woman's unique opportunity to choose a highly satisfying birth experience in the comfort of her own home.

Linda completed graduate school to obtain licensing as a midwife in all settings: home, hospital, and birth center. She graduated from the Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing in Hyden, Kentucky, and is Certified by the American College of Nurse Midwives. She also received her Masters Degree in Nursing from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. This training qualifies Linda to practice independently as a Nurse Midwife Nurse Practitioner in Oregon, with full prescriptive privileges and advanced preparation for the diagnosis and treatment of many conditions in women's health.

Currently in Oregon more than 14% of women choose nurse midwives for care during birth. In Jackson County, less than 5% of women are attended by nurse midwives. "I think more women will choose midwifery care when there are more midwives available to them," says Linda. "Once women have had a nurse midwife for birth they often return to her for other aspects of their health care, including annual exams and menopausal issues."

Linda also provides newborn care to six weeks of age. "Women are especially pleased when I can continue to care for their needs, and their baby's needs, through the entire postpartum period. It provides continuity of care, and supports families through this incredible change in their lives."

Midwives provide hands on care

Linda Lieberman and Associates
Linda Lieberman, CNM and Associates

Linda provides complete prenatal care in her home office, where she has created a space that is warm and relaxed. She works as many nurse midwives work in the U.S., providing all of the care for her own clients, and consulting with physicians when necessary. Linda has gathered together a supportive group of homebirth professionals to provide skilled teams for each birth. Most of her assistants have birthed at home themselves, and greatly enhance every woman's experience during this transformational time.

"I've had exceptionally good experiences assisting families to birth in the warmth and security of their own homes. It makes such a difference to women to have providers they know well, so they can relax and allow birth to flow," states Linda. "When you witness birth in its most natural form, you come to respect and honor the power of the process."

Linda began attending homebirths in 1976, and birthed all three of her daughters at home. "I am most fulfilled when I am able to attend 'woman-centered' birth." Linda admits. "And I know how joyful and sensitive birth can be when care is centered around the needs of the mother and the baby. Birth is not about efficiency and schedules. It is a timeless experience, full of mystery and wonder."

Waterbirth is an option for women choosing to birth with Linda and her teams, and families can choose to rent Linda's Sevylor Aquarius pool, purchase an Ocean Reef pool, or rent a larger pool designed for waterbirth, with heating elements, from Waterbirth Intenational. Water has been proven to reduce the pain and discomfort of labor without compromising the baby's well being. In fact, eliminating the need for drugs for relief of pain in labor is highly advantageous for both mother and baby. Linda encourages women to stay flexible in imagining where they might give birth. Women usually birth best where they feel the safest and most comfortable.

Water Birth
The Ocean Reef Pool

If an emergency situation arises, Linda and her teams are trained to provide highly skilled care until help arrives. Linda carries oxygen, drugs that stop bleeding, IV fluids, antibiotics, and other helpful supplies for situations that require additional medical treatment. Most planned homebirths that require transfer to the hospital are not done in haste; a nurse midwife is well trained in assessing which situations are normal, and which situations may need additional support from hospital personnel and equipment. When necessary, Linda relies on the cooperative effort of the local obstetrical community to accept transfer of care of homebirth clients.

Linda offers free consultation for homebirths at Siskiyou Women's Health Care in Ashland. Insurance is accepted, and Linda provides a significant discount to those that pay at the time of service. Her office phone is 541-482-9445.