If you are visiting here because you are newly pregnant: Congratulations!
My name is ALEXANDRA WAGNER and I am a South Carolina Licensed Midwife (LM) and Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) providing prenatal, birth and post partum care for families in South Carolina since 2004. I subscribe to the Midwives Model of Care, which means that I view pregnancy and childbirth as family-centered, normal life processes, and I aim to serve the my clients with comprehensive, individualized care to best meet their needs.
It is my believe that women are inherently strong and that we are gifted with numerous abilities, some of which we might only first discover through our journey into motherhood. I am thankful to have personally traveled this path four times in my life, and to have rejoiced in the glow on the faces of hundreds of new mothers who continue to inspire me to do this work.
Pregnancy is a transformative journey in every sense: along with the physical changes and challenges that you will encounter throughout your trimesters, there is is also a huge opportunity for personal growth. I firmly believe that each pregnancy holds this gift, and that each person involved emerges from the childbirth experience an ever wiser and more loving person. I wish this for every child. As a SC licensed midwife I may provide care for healthy mothers with low risk pregnancies and their newborn babies. This is why an important part of my care centers around careful monitoring of you and your baby to identify any deviations from normal if they were to develop, and informing you of all findings at all times so that we can make any changes and decisions together as needed. That said, our primary focus is not on trouble, but on being pro-active and supporting your good health. In some instances this will require the willingness to make certain lifestyle changes such as smoking cessation, making dietary improvements, or getting more sun and exercise. Treating your body well during pregnancy will set you up for a strong birth and a healthy outcome. After all, it is you who practices prenatal care on a daily basis - your visits with me are to find out how you're doing ;)
In my practice parents' informed choice, as well as special parental requests and traditions will be respected, provided they do not constitute unsafe conditions. I welcome partner and family participation in pregnancy and birth, as long as I can carry out my duties and it does not hinder mother's progression in labor. In return, I expect parents to take full responsibility for their decisions and every-day health, and that they communicate any problems, questions or health concerns immediately to me. This I call partnership in care, and it is how we work towards the birth you desire.
At a home labor and birth we use no pain medications. The natural process will have you endure discomfort unlike anything you have ever felt before. It can be a very challenging process for some and it will certainly try your stamina, but you can do it and you won't have to go it alone: your birth team will come alongside you with encouragement, pointers and praise, and provide physical support such as massaging your hips, wiping your sweat and tears, drawing you a bath, feeding you and reminding you to drink, staying out of your way when that's what you want, help your partner help you, etc. We will see you through to one of the best hours of your life!
I hope you will peruse these web pages, and please use the Contact form provided to let me know if I can assist you with your plans for your childbearing year.
