Appalachian Midwifery
I will lift up my eyes to the hills—Whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord. Ps. 121:1-2
Serving South VA & WV
Regina Benbow Photography
Valerie Monterrey CPM
My husband Preston, who is a pastor and I Have Six Children. Preston helps as administrative assistant in the office.
I have been studying midwifery and child birth in the home setting for the past 30 years. I have served communities in Washington, Texas, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania Virginia and West Virginia. I have participated in over 940 out-of-hospital births. I am trained in the use of emergency medical procedures and equipment in the unlikely event they becomes necessary. I am working in Southern WV and VA, as a trained direct entry home birth midwife. I am a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) Certified by North American Registry of Midwives. I am licensed in as well.
Ashley Rice
Ashley is a doula, phase 3 midwifery student, and a mommy of 5! She helps with appointments and births in Waynesboro, Chambersburg, and all areas "on that side of the mountain"! Trained as a CNA, she is compassionate and thoughtful.
Student Midwives:
You should expect to see students at appointments. The best midwives are those that get as much experience with as many midwives as possible. I love teaching midwifery and I support the apprenticeship method of teaching future midwives. I am sometimes a guest teacher at Hartland College in their midwifery or Doula program. I am eternally thankful for the many midwives that took me under their wing and gave me training. There are too many to mention here. One of the ways I give back is giving new students the opportunity to learn with me. Most of my students have college level midwifery training for two or three years before starting their apprenticeship. Please consider allowing a student to attend your birth.
If you would like to learn more about becoming a Midwifery Student, visit https://narm.org/ and https://www.thevirtualpreceptor.com/
I give:
❥Personal attention
❥Meaningful discussions
❥A trusting relationship
❥Educational handouts made upon request
❥Responsible care
Nutrition education
❥Respect for your convictions
❥Freedom to make decisions
❥An active role as a couple in your birth
My statistics:
❥Transport rate 6%
❥Longest Birth 92 hours
❥Shortest Birth 45 min
❥Largest Baby 12#
❥Smallest full term baby 3#4 oz
❥Oldest Mom 47 years old
❥Youngest mom 17 years old
❥Need for perineal repair 10 %
❥Seven sets of twins
❥Clients with a breech at labor 3.3%
❥VBAC choosing homebirth 4%
❥ Mothers choosing Waterbirth 33%
❥I have attended nearly 950 births
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Philosophy
I believe that women are the key to healthy families and thus society. I believe women are fearfully and wonderfully created by God. I believe His design is not defective. I Believe that they are able to birth naturally without intervention except in the most extreme and rare cases.
I want to educate women to become responsible for their own health, to learn all that they can about their bodies and about procedures often proscribed for them and their families. I want them to be aware of their alternatives.
According to the WHO World Health Organization about 7-10% of cases require specialized obstetric services.
World Health Organization, United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) Revised 1990 estimates of maternal mortality: a new approach by WHO and UNICEF. Geneva: WHO; 1996.