I had the honor of speaking to three accomplished women about the current state of birth both locally and nationally. We discuss the increasing interest in home births, the advantages and disadvantages of home versus hospital births and how those expecting, or expecting to be expecting, can best prepare especially with the extra consideration of Covid19.

Corrine Pellard is an Empath, Psychic Medium and Reiki Master. She is also a mom of two and tells us about her experience of both a hospital birth and an at-home birth. Corrine discusses the lack of control over the birthing experience that she experienced with her first child. She discusses being considered high risk because of her age and weight and how the entire birth experience was centered around preconceived notions based on the masses and not her individually. She was induced, unnecessarily in her view, was sick from the drug used to induce and delivered by cesarean section. She shares, “It was traumatic, and my healing my first two months of being a mother was physically painful and my anxiety post, I had postpartum anxiety to a very severe degree.” When Corrine became pregnant again, she knew she wanted a different birthing experience. She found Birth Matters and decided to try a natural, vaginal delivery at home.
Jodi Churchill Chapin has been a Registered Nurse for 32 years, most of which she has spent in Labor and Delivery. Jodi discusses bridging the traditional birth and hospital procedures with less traditional therapies such as Reiki. Jodi states, “And we incorporated, you know, you're there, you’re exchanging energy. It's how the patient uses her energy and is able to focus on the birth process. And I think what’s important is that being able to balance, you know, following policy and procedure, but also carrying out the patient (and) the family's wishes of how they envisioned birth. I mean birth is, you know, one of those things, it's like, even planning a wedding, you look forward to this one day you plan you plan you plan, you think it's going to go one way and then plans change on a dime. And how it's handled can make it or break it.”

Jessica Petrone is a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM), RN and BSN who has been in practice for 13 years. Her practice saw a record number of home births last year and Jessica believes that number will continue to grow. She relates, “But I think specifically in the last couple of years, there seems to be a shift in people just taking charge of their health care even in the medical setting. There's more conscious awareness, practices and practitioners breaking away from the traditional systems and framework but yeah, we love home birth. We do a lot of water birth we work with a lot of different practitioners to enhance really healthy pregnancies. We absolutely consult with medical providers when it's necessary.” Corrine shared about her experience with Jessica and Birth Matters, “So, I will say one of the biggest differences that I noticed on my very first appointment with a Birth Matters in the home birth midwives is they asked my consent, which nobody asked my consent. I mean, sure I signed forms but before touching me, nobody offered before examining me, nobody asked permission to touch my body.”

The conversation continues to the state of birth currently with the threat of COVID19. Jodi discusses the difficulty of taking the necessary precautions in the time of a pandemic while trying to connect with an expectant mom during the labor and delivery process. “This Covid19 has put a huge damper on healthy women wanting to come in to have their normal birth. Especially right now, today. Anybody and everybody walking into the hospital or around the hospital has to wear a mask. You cannot take that mask off anytime you are on hospital property that includes in the labor room, that includes the patient that includes the patient's one person that's helping them with birth, there are no visitors allowed, no children, family, nobody else. The only person allowed in the room is the one that will be wearing that second baby bracelet that's given out when a baby's born. I mean, labor, you're breathing with women, you're teaching. I mean, it's all about the closeness. How do you socially distance yourself from somebody who needs your support, your encouragement, your empowerment?”

Jessica discusses the fact that more women are considering home births currently. “The influx of inquiries is so unexpected, I can't keep up. I'm getting probably 10 emails a day, which it is impossible for us to entertain the idea of taking all these women on. And that's true of a lot of midwives across the state, really. Not everybody is a good candidate. I mean most people probably inquiring last minute. We had yesterday, a woman inquire and she's due March 30. That's like, less than a week from now. If people are making choices out of fear and panic it is not what's happening, and whenever we get an inquiry that somebody is so afraid of the hospital and so afraid of other providers and afraid of needles, I mean, we all encounter that in patient care, but they may not be a great candidate. But that's not what's happening right now. These are women that are realizing that their birth plan, what they thought they were going to experience in the hospital, is drastically different and there is obviously a great concern about becoming sick and being exposed but a lot of the women are making the choice based on the fact that their support person might not be able to be present with them.” Jessica recommends that women do their research before opting for a home birth.
I am grateful to these remarkable women for sharing their wisdom.

Corrine Pellard is an Empath and a Psychic Medium. Even as a small child, Corrine has had a special insight into other people’s emotions. Beginning in her early teenage years, her intuition would alert her when something important was about to occur, either for herself or a loved one. At age 14, Corrine began using the wisdom of Tarot Cards to enhance her psychic connection. As years went on, Corrine became more aware of her ability as her readings became more accurate and her predictions began to materialize. At the age of 30, she began having premonition dreams. After seeking the guidance of her Shaman, she came to accept that she is an Empath & an Intuitive. Corrine is a natural healer, using her Empathy, Intuition, and Reiki to heal others emotionally, spiritually, and physically. Corrine is also able to mediate communication between people who are no longer living to those who still are. She offers private readings and hearings and in-home parties. She is a wedding officiant offering custom designed ceremonies. Her true passion is teaching others to honor their own abilities and helping others heal themselves.
Beyond the Gate
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gobeyondthegate@gmail.com
https://www.gobeyondthegate.com/
https://www.buzzsprout.com/865777/2868628-sobriety-as-an-empath-corrine-s-story

Jodi Churchill Chapin has been a Registered Nurse for 32 years. She has an extensive background in women’s health as a labor and delivery nurse and has also worked in oncology. She resides in Framingham with her husband of 25 years. Together, they have 3 children ranging from middle school age to college, 2 dogs, 2 cats and a bunny named Kiwi. Jodi firmly believes that vulnerability is to be met with compassion, respect, and active listening to ensure that her patients have the very best outcomes. She credits her extensive nursing career and healer background with these virtues and skills. Jodi is also a Usui Shiki Ryoho Reiki Level II Practitioner. Through this healing art, Jodi may be able to help people who are struggling with a wide range of health conditions such as headaches, insomnia, back pain, cancer, heart disease, chronic pain, depression, anxiety, and may even be used to help in the recovery from injuries and surgery. As an active member of the American Cannabis Nurses Association and a GNG team member, she helps advocate for people who choose to use cannabis as a complementary or alternative treatment, providing education, insight, guidance, and support in the process.
https://www.greennursegroup.com/our-team
https://www.emedevents.com/speaker-profile/jodi-churchill-chapin
https://green-nurse-sandbox.iriebliss.com/green_nurse_staff/jodi-chapin/

Jessica Petrone, CPM, RN, BSN
Jessica's experience in birth includes her work as a doula, her completion of a 3 year midwifery apprenticeship in a very busy home birth practice and being a mother of four, with the last being an unassisted home birth attended only by her husband and herself. Her own births led her to become a doula which led her to become an apprentice and, in turn, a midwife. But that’s the abbreviated version! Jessica has been attending home births since 2006. She is co-president of the Massachusetts Midwives Alliance, a member of ALACE (Association of Labor Assistants and Childbirth Educators), and a member of the Birth Year Network (a Southeastern Mass, Cape and Islands Birth Resource Network). She holds certifications in CPR and Neonatal Resuscitation. She completed her formal education remotely through the National College of Midwifery in Taos, New Mexico, where she earned a degree in the Science of Midwifery. Most recently, Jessica has completed a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, which included a 6-month preceptorship in a high volume/high risk maternity unit at Massachusetts General Hospital.
https://homebirthmatters.com/about/jessica-petrone/
https://www.modernmamamidwifery.com/the-midwives
http://bostonvoyager.com/interview/meet-jessica-petrone-sarafina-kennedy-birthmatters-llc-boson/
Supplemental Article:
https://nypost.com/2020/03/23/pregnant-women-share-what-its-like-to-be-expecting-during-coronavirus-pandemic/