Siskiyou Women's Health Care (SWHC) provides advanced homebirth services to families throughout Jackson County, Oregon, supporting a woman's unique opportunity to choose a highly satisfying birth experience in the comfort of her own home. SWHC is the professional practice of Linda Lieberman, Certified Nurse Midwife and Nurse Practitioner, established in Ashland, Oregon since 1999.

Linda is a registered nurse who obtained a graduate degree in nurse midwifery. She is currently licensed to provide matenity care in all settings: home, hospital, clinic and birth center. She graduated from the Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing in Hyden, Kentucky, and maintains certification through the American Midwifery Certification Board. 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 6% 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 is licensed to provide newborn care to six weeks of age, but currently covers care of healthy newborns to two weeks of age, due to her busy schedule. "Women are especially pleased when I can continue to care for the needs of their baby through two weeks postpartum. It provides continuity of care, and supports families through this incredible change in their lives."

Linda provides complete prenatal care in a traditional manner. After meeting families and accepting them into care, she provides visits exclusively in client's homes. 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 purchase an inexpensive Ocean Reef children's pool, or rent or buy a larger pool designed specifically for waterbirth. Warm water immersion has 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.

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 consultations to families interested in homebirth. Insurance reimbursement at usual and customary rates is the norm, when choosing a nurse midwife for maternity care, regardless of the location of your birth. As a non-par provider, Linda assists families in navigating commercial insurance claims submissions, and accepts Medicaid recipients with open cards. Her office phone is 541-482-9445.

Midwives provide hands on care

Linda Lieberman, CNM and Associates

The Ocean Reef Pool