Jen O’Donohoe-Brown of Scotia takes a holistic approach to life – and childbirth – so Capital Region Midwifery was the perfect fit for her.
“I don’t like to take medicine or pills, so they’re willing to explore holistic options and alternative medicine,” said O’Donohoe-Brown.
The mother of three (ages 9, 6 and 18 months) has used a midwife for all of her pregnancies. She first met the midwives of Capital Region Midwifery eight years ago at Seton Health, where they operated out of until the beginning of the year, when they moved to their own independent office.
“We’ve been a midwifery group at Seton for over 10 years, and we decided since the law changed in 2010 (and) allowed us to practice independently without a collaborative agreement with a physician, we decided to become independent,” said Linda Balles, a midwife in the practice.
Now, the midwives see patients out of their office at 2109 15th St. in Troy, and for births, they collaborate with Burdett Care Center in Troy and Bellevue Woman’s Center in Schenectady. Balles said Capital Region Midwifery is one of the only independent midwifery practices to deliver strictly at hospitals and not do home births.
“With the opening of the new Burdett Care Center in Troy, we will continue to offer the same model of care as we did previously,” said Pamela Platis, a nurse-midwife since 1994.
Before the big move, Balles said the group averaged about 30 or more births a month and roughly 450 a year. If you combine Margaret Holcomb, Platis and Balles’ collective experience, they boast thousands of births.
“We have quite a bit of experience all together,” said Balles.
Seeing a midwife during pregnancy is a more intimate approach, said Balles, which honors the natural process of childbirth.
“It’s more of a warm and fuzzy approach. We’re unique in that we spend a lot of time with our women, especially when it comes to labor,” said Balles. “We honor birth plans; we answer questions. There’s no time limit, and we try not to rush anybody.”
One common midwife practice is water birth for those requesting it.
“Water birth is becoming something that’s pretty popular,” said Balles.
A completely natural birth with minimal interference is also something the midwives strive to respect.
“If somebody wants little to no intervention, we try to let the natural process occur … and honor what the family wants out of the childbirth experience,” said Balles.
That freedom to express how a mother wants her pregnancies to go is what O’Donohoe-Brown said attracts her to midwifery, as does the individualized attention.
“It’s the comprehensive care that they provide,” she said. “It’s not a 15-minute appointment, in and out, and you don’t feel like you’ve gotten all your questions answered. They’re available, and they take the time with you; spend the time to explain things to you.”
There are other Capital District practices with midwives on staff, but they also have OB/GYN doctors on rotation, meaning mothers might deliver their child with a doctor instead of a midwife depending on when they go into labor. At Capital Region Midwifery, the midwives will see mothers through their entire pregnancy, including birth.
“With Capital Region Midwifery, expectant mothers can be comforted that they will have Balles, Holcomb or Platis, the same midwives who have been caring for them throughout the pregnancy, in attendance at their hospital birth,” stated information from the practice.
O’Donohoe-Brown said midwifery isn’t for every mother, but it can be the right choice for some.
“If you’re looking for a provider that’s willing to spend more time with you and willing to look at you aside from your body parts, aside from whatever complaint or problem you’re experiencing, look at you as a whole person, then a midwife is a person you should see,” she said.
Capital Region Midwifery also offers well-women care, gynecological exams, family planning and menopausal care. Visit www.capitalregionmidwifery.com or call 326-1620 for more information.
