We've Delivered Over 200 Babies!

  Pregnancy and childbirth are a natural physiological process during a woman’s reproductive life. This process is rarely in need of medical intervention. A midwife’s responsibility is to assist women through this transition into motherhood and be alert for signs of concern. While childbirth for healthy women is usually low-risk, birth in any setting is not risk-free. Current research addressing the safety of birth center deliveries has consistently concluded that those attended by qualified caregivers is a safe option for low-risk pregnancies. Out of hospital births are an option for healthy women who have essentially normal pregnancies and labor. Our midwives provide childbirth classes and prenatal yoga classes throughout pregnancy and foster close relationships with their prenatal patients in order to best prepare for  the birth. La Clinica provides a comfortable, peaceful, home-like environment for mothers interested in un-medicated labor and delivery. Our birth center consists of two birth rooms, a full kitchen, outdoor space, and a waiting area for family and friends. During labor at La Clinica, moms are encouraged to eat, drink, and walk. Moms may move freely in and outside of the birth center. Birthing tubs are available in all birthing rooms for moms who are interested. Moms are invited to bring whatever they need to feel comfortable to their births (candles, music, pictures, etc.)  Moms may choose the members and the size of their birthing team, which typically consists of family and friends. In attendance of every La Clinica birth is one midwife and at least one birthing assistant/midwife's apprentice. Our midwives provide prenatal care leading up to labor and delivery, as well as continual care for mom and baby postpartum. 

• Out-of-Hospital Birth: http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/07/13/419254906/should-more-women-give-birth-outside-the-hospital                                         
• Water Birth: http://www.midwife.org/ACNM/files/ACNMLibraryData/UPLOADFILENAME/000000000286/Hydrotherapy-During-Labor-and-Birth-April-2014.pdf 
• Empowered Choice: https://evidencebasedbirth.com/

Miscellaneous Favorite Links:

https://www.aanp.org/

https://www.newmexicomidwifery.org/

http://www.birthcenters.org/

"La Clinica is such a blessing to have here in Silver City. I had a natural birth with my first child nine years ago in a hospital in Ruidoso, NM and would of loved to have had the opportunity of working with a Certified Nurse Midwife at a Birthing Center at that time. However, that was not an option. When we planned to get pregnant nine years later we knew we had to seek alternatives to a regular hospital birth. When a friend told us about her wonderful experience with a natural birth with Shauna at La Clinica we knew we had found a dream come true. My experience with Shauna, Erin, and all of Shauna’s team of birth assistants has been such a blessing and I appreciate each and every one of them tremendously. From each prenatal appointment to my actual labor, the love and support I have received has been amazing. After, hours of laboring at La Clinica and Shauna doing everything possible to help my labor progress smoothly, I had complications and had to ultimately go to the hospital for delivery. However, Shauna was right there beside me and both Shauna and Erin made sure I had everything I needed while I was at the hospital. I am also blessed that Shauna is our Family Practitioner. I could not have wished for someone better to take care of both my children. La Clinica offers a cozy home-like environment and the water birth option is wonderful option. Even though I ended up delivering our healthy baby girl at the hospital due to complications, I will always remember my prenatal and labor experience at La Clinica as a positive experience and I recommend La Clinica to all the pregnant mamas here is Silver City and beyond. "

"Nothing I can say would capture the perfection of my birthing experience at La Clinica with the most awesome midwife around—Shauna. While reminiscing on Ezra’s birth, it was definitely another one of those experiences. Ezra sure came fast and furiously! So thankful that Shauna was in tune with everything happening at each moment. Ezra didn’t give us much warning time for when he was ready to make his entry but regardless of that, Shauna was quick to take action!"

"She is perfect in every way imaginable and what a great delivery at La Clinica Health and Birth Center. Midwives are a serious threat to American Births as we know it! If you are pregnant and want a low key, natural birth FIND THE NEAREST MIDWIFE!"   

 "Today at 4:00 pm our baby girl Serenity Joy turns 2. Her birthday always makes me think back to the day she came into the world. My two girls have birth stories that are very different. At the young age of 18, I became pregnant with my daughter. I saw an OB that was recommended to me by a first born program. My visits were rushed and impersonal. On my due date, the physician roughly checked my cervix for dilatation and told me that I was maybe dilated to 1 cm and I needed to be induced. This induction had to occur on a Thursday night because the physician only delivered inductions on Fridays.  I went to the hospital at midnight a few days later to begin my induction. From the beginning, I felt the nurses dismiss my choices. When I told them I did not want an epidural they laughed and said: “we’ll ask you in a few hours.” They very roughly checked my cervix and were upset with me that they couldn’t continuously monitor my babies heart beat; they asked me not to move around so much.  The staff was rough and rude, my physician induced me out of convenience, and at no point was I comfortable.  The overall experience of my birth was unpleasant and left me afraid to give birth again.  Nine years later I was pregnant again and I considered not seeking prenatal care and having a home delivery.  I spoke with a friend who recommended Shauna and told me about her new birthing center.  Before I made an appointment I did a lot of research on midwifery and natural births. I knew the things I wanted and the things I didn’t. I made my first appointment and hoped for the best. When I met Shauna she set me at ease; she talked to me about myself and the things I wanted. She took time and never once acted as though my appointment needed to hurry so the next could begin. I knew from my first appointment that this was the right choice for me. Throughout my care my wishes were honored, my concerns were addressed, and I was comfortable at all times. I felt like I was being treated by a friend. When my due date came there was no rush to schedule inductions and two days later I began to labor, naturally.  I labored comfortably at home for several hours and then we decided it was time to head to the birthing center. Once there, it was only a matter of minutes before our daughter arrived. Shauna was encouraging, comforting, and put me at ease the whole time I was delivering.  I got my delayed cord clamping, immediate skin to skin, and assistance with breastfeeding just like we had talked about. The next six hours were relaxing and gave my family wonderful time to bond with our new baby. My overall experience was incredible and everything I wanted it to be. It completely changed my views of my body and the process of birth.   Thank you, Shauna, for making my birth such a positive experience, it made me feel empowered as a woman."