My husband and I have four children. When we were pregnant with our first, we knew that we wanted to have a natural, unmedicated childbirth and prepared to do so. We chose a doctor, chose a hospital, read a ton of books, and took a number of classes. When in labor we quickly found out that the traditional, hospital model of care did not support the kind of birth or experience we wanted. We felt out of control and duped by the whole experience which left both of us a lot of emotional baggage and the question “What went wrong?”.

 

For the birth of our second child, we knew there had to be a better way. We sought out midwife, Sherri Daigle, for a homebirth and this was our first glimpse into the midwifery model of care. The difference was like night and day. She got to know us, spent lots of time finding out exactly what we wanted, helped us form a birth plan, and gave us better and more personalized care than we ever got before. The home birth experience was the natural, unmedicated birth that we wanted and left us totally in control in our own peaceful, positive environment.

 

Five and a half years after our second child, we were pregnant with our third. By this time, the Birth Center of Baton Rouge had opened with Sherri Daigle as one of the head midwives. Feeling extremely comfortable with the level of care, the personalization and support from the home birth, we knew that we wanted Sherri to be a part of our birth experience the third time. We were apprehensive at first about the Birth Center, but after a tour and spending time with the staff and nurses, we knew that we had found the perfect place for our third birth. The Birth Center was our go-to place for childbirth classes, natural birth support groups, La Leche League meetings and of course all of our pre-natal care and ultrasounds. We were interested in having another water birth (like we did for the home birth), and loved how every room was equipped with a tub, walk-in shower and the support for any labor option I wanted. And boy did I need it for this labor! Sherri and the nursing staff never left my side during the 15 hours of labor. I was in the tub, in the shower, standing, sitting, leaning, swaying, and eventually gave birth on the bed. They were midwife, doula, voice of reason, support team and a guiding hand through the whole process. I’ll never forget the nurses and their help after the birth. When I was so vulnerable, so tired, shaky, with my belly deflating, and my modesty long gone, they treated me with such kindness and dignity. After a short stay after the birth, we were able to go home with our precious baby and we had a home visit follow-up the day afterwards. Now you just don’t get that at a hospital! Why would you want to have it any other way? For me, this experience was a moment of empowerment and confirmation that I had a real village to help me.

 

For our fourth child, it was a no-brainer that we’d deliver again at the Birth Center with the midwife team and Sherri by my side. By this time, they had brought on more support staff with Physical Therapist, Dr. Amber Anderson (I had seen Dr. Anderson after my third child at her office in Zachary), and Chiropractor, Dr. Josh Blanchard, on-site. I was so happy to have both of them there and was able to have appointments with Dr. Anderson for pelvic floor and labor and delivery sessions and with Dr. Blanchard for the Webster Technique to help me with better positioning of my anterior facing baby. They also had two new midwives by this point and we got the same great level of care and support that we had before with Sherri. My fourth birth was very different than the third and was a lot quicker. I was able to birth in the tub this time and a lot quicker, but the whole team was still right there by my side. Even though this was my fourth baby and I knew what to expect, they were still there with me, helping, assuring me that everything was fine, encouraging me with a big smile and kind eyes. It’s the small things, but they mean the world.

 

As the old saying goes “It takes a village to raise a child”, we have found our “village” at the Birth Center.

- Jessica Diez