According to dictionary.com, the word “Sanctuary” has many meanings. Our wonderful center, The Sanctuary Birth and Family Wellness Center embodies two of the meanings of the word “sanctuary”. The first meaning, “a sacred or holy place” fully describes our belief and vision that pregnancy, birth & parenting are all sacred, and that these stages in ones life are worthy of being honored in that way. Beginning with our hour-long prenatal appointments, our classes, our practitioners, all the way through to your birth and beyond, we treat your experience with the respect and reverence so deserving of this most sacred time of you and your child’s life.

To us, You are NOT just another pregnant woman, or new father or mother-to-be. To our staff at The Sanctuary, you are seen as unique individuals, on the incredible, challenging, yet rewarding path to parenthood. We here at The Sanctuary consider ourselves privledged to support growing families on their journey through this extraordinary time.

Another meaning of the word, “sanctuary” describes “a place of refuge; asylum” which I believe also embodies the energy of our center. We have lovingly created a space which is a refuge, a far cry from the mainstream, seven-minute long prenatal appointments which are standard practice in most OB/GYN practices. We are a safe haven, an asylum from overly-medicalized care for low-risk woman.

We are wise enough to know, however, when more medicalized care is needed, and when to use it. However, It is never for our convenience, it is always and only used if that turns out to be the best choice for mother and baby, after weighing all factors and always with informed consent. And if it is needed, we stand with you, every step of the way.

Our care is designed to keep a low-risk mother, low-risk. We have time in our appointments with you to discuss thoroughly your nutrition, (which we take very seriously), your levels of stress, any challenges or triumphs within your relationships, and so much more. In essence, we are caring for the “whole” of you, not just the parts that birth the baby. In that way, when you come to our center and participate in your appointments with us, it can become a time of true nurturing, growth, understanding, love and peace.

Every Family, Every Baby deserves a Sanctuary

–
Kimberly Durdin, IBCLC
Director of Lactation Services and Parent Educator
The Sanctuary Birth & Family Wellness Center

Childbirth: Can the U.S. improve? – Los Angeles Times

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NPR recently did a piece on healthcare in the Netherlands and highlighted birth practices in the country.  Click here to listen to the piece or read excerpts from the report.

*Due to underreporting of midwife-attended deliveries, this figure should be considered a low estimate for the actual number of midwife-attended births.

“For most pregnant women, a key part of their birth plan involves how they’ll get to the hospital. But more and more moms-to-be are skipping that step and planning to deliver at home. Old-school birthing is back in style, with well-read women forsaking obstetricians for midwives and epidurals for warm baths. These women want to give birth in their own bed or tub, with none of the medical interventions that have become staples of modern childbirth, like contraction-inducing medication and C-sections, which now serve as the grand finale in nearly a third of U.S. births.”

Read the article, Giving Birth at Home, in its entirety at Time.com

The center will also provide classes, events and a community, all designed to educate and empower families to make conscientious choices for themselves and the planet. In addition, an eco-boutique, sustainable operating practices and an innovatively green build-out will serve as a guide to sustainable living for families and businesses alike.