I love that our birth options are growing in Oklahoma City!

Oklahoma City Home birth midwife, Dawn Karlin, CNM (Moments of Bliss Midwifery) began her home birth practice January 2014. I have had the privilege of photographing many births where Dawn was the midwife. I was honored when she asked me for some birth artwork for her Oklahoma City office.

I thought this would be a good opportunity to share some more about her and her practice with you.

 

1) Dawn, How long have you been serving women in OKC?

I have been serving women in OKC area for 6 years. 1.5 as a student midwife at OU,a little over 3 years as a CNM at Ou, and a little over a year in home birth/birth center practice as the owner and midwife at Moments of Bliss Midwifery Services

2) Why did you choose to become a home birth midwife? 

I chose to serve women in out of hospital birth because I believe women and families should have more options in pregnancy and childbirth. I believe out of hospital birth is a viable option for low risk women.

3) How are you different from other midwives in OKC? 

Several things make me unique as an out of hospital birth midwife providing birth services. I am a certified nurse midwife which is the only midwifery certification recognized and regulated by the state of Oklahoma. It means that I am trained as a registered nurse and have an advanced practice nursing degree- masters in midwifery. I am the only CNM providing out of hospital birth services in central and western Oklahoma. Other traits that are unique to me are personality and spirituality traits. I have an overall calmness that surrounds me, it envelops the birth spaces within which I work to provide a calm and nurturing circle of safety.

 

 

4) What makes someone a good candidate for home birth?

A good candidate for home birth will have a desire for a natural birth experience, will take ownership of choices made in pregnancy and the birth process, does not have any underlying uncontrolled health issues, and has a healthy diet and lifestyle.

5) Is home birth safe? 

Home birth is safe for low risk women. The MANA home birth study shows that outcomes were equal or better for low risk women who had a planned home birth.

6) What would you say to someone who is on the fence about home birth? 

For women and families who are struggling with the choice of whether or not to choose homebirth, I would say do your research, interview several home birth midwives to find the one who resonates with you and who has the qualifications you are looking for. Home birth isn’t the right choice for everyone, if you are choosing homebirth, both partners need to be onboard and feel that their voice, concerns and questions have been heard and appropriately addressed. It should be a family decision.

7) What 3 words would you use to describe yourself?

 intelligent, intuitive, spiritual

8) What 3 words would your clients use to describe you? 

Calm, knowledgeable, helpful

9) When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? 

When I was in the 4th grade I wanted to be the president lol. When I was a junior, I wanted to be a supermodel- I actually was approached by a talent agency and called in to do modeling shots but my mama wouldn’t let me- how different my world might have been. I always wanted to be destined for greatness.

 

10) Do you work with birth photographers? 

I love birth photography! I wish I had more of an eye for that, but we each have our God given talents, you know? What I wouldn’t give to be able to have those amazing moments in my own births captured for a lifetime, memories to look back and cherish!

 

Where can people reach you? 

My website is momentsofblissmidwifery.com

Email is Momentsofblissmidwifery@gmail.com

Cell phone is 405-306-4168

Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Moments-of-Bliss-Midwifery-Services/

Thank you Dawn! You’re such a blessing to this community. Thank you for taking the time to chat with me 🙂