Beliefs and Practice
My practice of midwifery is based on the belief that pregnancy and birth are states of health and not states of illness or dysfunction. Our bodies are made to give birth and nourish our young; a system which works astonishinly well when untampered with. Ideally, my role is to help my clients create a safe space to grow and give birth to their babies without intervention.
Midwives are experts in caring for normal, healthy women. Physicians are experts at intervening in cases of abnormality. I highly value the care that physicians have to offer people when it's needed, but believe it should be reserved for cases where it's truly necessary. I am dedicated to spending time with my clients and monitoring their pregnancies in such a way that abnormalities and concerns can be recognized, evaluated, and dealt with appropriately.
I support the rights of birthing women to make decisions about their care and the care of their children. Rather than simply seeking consent for routine procedures, it is my practice to provide balanced information to parents and support them in using that information to make choices which best suit their family. The principles of informed choice and evidence based practice are the backbones of the care I provide.
As a doula, I strive to support women in making informed choices about their care throughout pregnancy. I believe that the most empowering births happen when mothers have taken responsibility for their health and care and that of their child. I encourage women to own their births from conception all the way through labor, and I support them in doing so.
Birth is one of the most transformative events in the lives of women and their partners. It is a process that is at once beautiful, challenging, nerve-racking, humbling, and awe inspiring. I am truly honored to bear witness to the growth of so many families.
-Laura Cochran, CD (CBI), CPM