Advocating Birth: because "advocate" comes from Latin and means, "One summoned to assist another."

My credentials and experience:

I have been an Arkansas state licensed midwife since 1991 and my practice covers a large portion of the northwest part of the state. Since I live in Siloam Springs on the Arkansas/Oklahoma border, it is possible for me to work in Oklahoma as well.

I have been involved in birth for nearly 20 years and I have successfully apprenticed two excellent midwives over the years. You might also be interested in the story of how I became a midwife.

My services:

As a midwife, I provide prenatal, labor & delivery, and postpartum care.

Prenatal care includes

• nutritional evaluation
• laboratory testing
• childbirth preparation
• exercise information
• breastfeeding education
• herbs, homeopathy, and essential oils

Prenatal visits are an hour long and include listening to your baby's heartbeat, palpating (feeling) your belly to determine baby's position, and spending time with you and your spouse discussing your physical and emotional concerns and questions.  I also have a lending library for my clients, with books about nutrition, exercise, childbirth, and child care.

Labor & delivery care includes

• labor support
• monitoring of mother and baby
  
• sibling participation
• newborn care
• herbs and homeopathy
• essential oils

One of the many benefits of choosing a midwife is that I am with you for your labor as well as your delivery.  I will come to your home when we decide that you are in labor and ready for my presence, and I will support and assist you as you labor at your own pace in the comfort and familiarity of your own home.  I provide the training and experience to monitor the health of your baby and you, while respecting the physical, spiritual, and emotional processes of birth and bonding with your new baby.

Postpartum care includes

• newborn care
  
• breastfeeding education
• exercise information
• herbs and homeopathy
• essential oils

In addition to caring for you and your new baby immediately after birth, I return for a 24-hour and a one-week visit, and welcome you back to my office for your six-week visit.  Since you are in your own home, I let you relax and enjoy your new baby immediately postpartum, and save the paperwork (birth certificate, etc.) for my return visits.

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I understand that choosing your birth location and choosing a midwife are big decisions.  If I can help you by providing an interview, I am glad to do so free of charge.

Janessa Craig, L.M., M.M.T.
479-549-3240