Modalities Offered (Click to view description)

• Doula
  Doula
  

  A doula is a professional trained in childbirth who provides emotional, physical and informational support to the woman who is expecting, in labor or has recently given birth. The doula's role is to help women have a safe, memorable and empowering birthing experience.
  
  Labor support or birth doulas are trained and experienced labor support professionals who attend to the emotional and physical comfort needs of laboring women. They use massage, aromatherapy, reflexology, positioning suggestions, relaxation techniques, etc., to help labor progress as well as possible. A labor/birth support doula joins a laboring woman either at her home or in a hospital or birth center and remains with her until a few hours after the birth. Some doulas also offer several prenatal visits, phone support, and one postpartum meeting to ensure the mother is well informed and supported. The terms of a labor/birth doula's responsibilities are decided between the doula and the family. In addition to emotional, physical and informational support, doulas work as advocates of their client's wishes and may assist in communicating with medical staff to obtain information for the client to make informed decisions regarding medical procedures.
  
  Postpartum doulas are hired to support the woman after birth, usually in the family's home. They are skilled in offering families evidence-based information and support on breastfeeding, emotional and physical recovery from childbirth, infant soothing, mother-baby bonding, and coping skills for new parents. They may also help with light housework, coordinate freshly made nutritious meals for the mother, and help incorporate older children. The terms of a postpartum doula's responsibilities are decided between the doula and the family. (Definition provided by the Capital Region Doulas. For more information, please visit www.capitalregiondoulas.org)
• Midwifery
  Midwifery
  

  Certified nurse-midwives (CNM) are licensed healthcare practitioners educated in the two disciplines of nursing and midwifery and are certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board.

  They provide primary healthcare to women of childbearing age including prenatal care, labor and delivery care, care after birth, gynecological exams, newborn care, family planning, preconception care, menopausal management and counseling in health maintenance and disease prevention. CNMs attend almost eight percent of the births in the United States. Ninety-six percent of these births are in hospitals.

  A certified midwife (CM) is an individual educated in the discipline of midwifery, who also possesses evidence of certification by the American Midwifery Certification Board. Like CNMs, the CM provides primary healthcare to women of childbearing age. The overwhelming majority of midwives are either CNMs or CMs. Still, a variety of titles are used to label midwifery practice so it can be confusing for consumers.

  A CNM believes that, in the United States, all midwives should graduate from an accredited midwifery education program that is affiliated with an institution of higher education. All CNMs and CMs have earned at least a bachelor's degree, while over 80 percent hold a master's degree or higher. A CNM also believes that midwives should be licensed to practice and should provide their clients with a safe mechanism for consultation, collaboration and referral if needed. Because standards for the education and practice of midwifery may vary, clients should carefully evaluate credentials and look for a well-educated provider who allows direct access to medical care if needed.

Contact Information

Name: Heidi Ricks
Three Sisters
Click to visit this practitioner's website.
406 Fulton St. Suite 513
Troy, NY 12180
Phone: 518-588-7122

Qualifications