Midwifery Services

The choice of who attends the birth of your child is a special one, and I look forward to meeting with you to help you make that important decision.

Unlike a typical appointment with an obstetrician, visits with a midwife last 30 minutes to an hour, as we discuss not only your current physical progress in pregnancy, but how you are doing in all aspects of your life, as well as addressing any concerns, questions, or worries you may have.  I will be available anytime!

My services include, but are not limited to:

• Free Consultations
• Complete Prenatal Care
• 24/7 access to a midwife
• Labwork
• Ultrasound (if desired)
• Nutritional Counseling
• Extra Checkups As Needed
• Free Educational Classes (the first Wednesday of the  month)
• Access to a Video and Book Library
• Home birth
• or Birth at our beautiful facility “The Birth SWEET” (St. George)
• Premarital Exams and Consultations
• Birth Control Counseling
• Well Woman Checkups
• PAP Smears
• Friendship for life.

To set up a free consultation, or to tour The Birth “SWEET” please call me at 435-673-9898.

Philosophy of Childbirth

I believe that birth is a sacred, miraculous transformation from one realm to another.

It is both physical and spiritual.

It is divinely created to be a perfect, safe and strengthening process.

Babies are very aware, sensitive, intelligent beings and must be treated with tender loving care.

Imprinting and bonding are real; and interfering with either may cause lifelong emotional damage to both mother and baby.

During natural childbirth a woman will experience both the most uncomfortable sensations and the most beautiful sensations she will ever feel;  all necessary to experiencing  the fulness of joy.  Epidurals may numb the pain, but they will also numb the pure pleasure of giving birth, not to mention interfering with other natural advantages and posing added risk to both mother and baby.  Why give up the most amazing feeling a woman will ever have the priviledge of experiencing, just to relieve a few moments of pain that will soon be forgotten?  Pain in childbirth is not like other types of pain.  Although it can be overwhelming without the proper moral and physical support, it is totally doable and satisfying with proper preparation, the right atmosphere and the right kind of help, especially from an expert who has helped hundreds of women give birth naturally; AND has experienced it herself (8 wonderful times!)

I believe ANY woman who has the desire can achieve natural childbirth and benefit greatly from it, as long as there are no structural problems and she has the proper support.  I believe that different physical pain tollerance levels are basically a myth.  It is all about understanding the process and believing in yourself.  In other words, even the biggest “wimp” can have a happy and satisfying natural childbirth experience.  (Of course, I don’t believe in “wimps” although we all have a right to “wimp out” once in a while)

Although hospitals have their place, at least 90% of women should give birth at home.

I believe that for most women, home birth, with a qualified attendant, is the safest birth option.

Elizabeth Smith, LDEM, CPM

The experience of my first home birth with my third child was life changing for me.  Although my two previous hospital births had been drug free and mostly pleasant experiences, I was so amazed at how sweetly different it was to birth in my own home, with people who loved me, my own bathroom and my own bed!  Then recovering in my own comfortable space.

My son was received by six loving hands; my own, my husband’s and my midwife’s.  He was 10 lbs 4 oz yet I did not tear.  He was imediately placed on my chest, skin to skin and no one took him away from me.  I didn’t have to ask permission for anything.  It was my home, my germs and MY baby.  The most amazing thing was the spirit that filled the air which lingered for days.  I didn’t anticipate that feeling.  I had no way of knowing before hand what it would feel like.  Within a couple of weeks I felt an intense yearning to become a midwife so I could help provide this experience to others.  I realized a great need for high quality midwives and was determined to become one of the very best!  (At least as good as my own midwife, who is amazing)

I later learned that I had come from a long blood line of prominent midwives and that my life’s journey had guided me here.

After years of home study (I hungered for learning) and completion of nursing prerequisite classes, I was accepted into the nursing program at Clark County Community College in N. Las Vegas.  There was one problem back then.  A nurse, in Nevada, would not be permitted to perform home birth, however I knew there was much knowledge to be gained in taking the college nursing classes, so by special permission and help from the Dean, I was able to customize my educational program.  In November of 1985 I began my apprenticeship, under the wing of my own wonderful midwife, who I considered to be the very best in her field.  Side by side, I helped her care for over 100 women from the beginning of their prenatal care, through their labor and births, and to the end of their post partum care.  Apprenticeships are considered the most thorough and best training a midwife can acquire.   I agree, and for that reason, I too have apprenticed several students and currently am a preceptor for the Utah Midwive’s College.  I have also taught midwife and doula students from other States and places throughout the USA and Canada.  I really love teaching my beloved art of midwifery.

At last count, I have attended 1,184 successful births, including 13 sets of twins and 11 breech deliveries.  I cannot think of any textbook complication that I have not had experience with.

I love people, expecially babies.  I love being involved in a great cause.  I love the fulfillment of seeing parents bond with their babies and the joy they feel in their home births.

I love the “love” and lasting friendships.  I love the relationship I have developed with my Father in Heaven.  I love how midwifery allowed me to work from home while I was raising my eight children, to pack along nursing babies and to often work while the kids slept, enabling me to be a mother at the same time.

I have grown in my understanding of God and truth.  I have learned much from the many diverse people with whom I have been privileged to associate.

Midwifery has made me stronger in every way.  I have learned that I CAN love anyone through service.  I have learned that I don’t have to be popular with everyone in the world;  because I have a big, wonderful family and many friends; AND a Father in Heaven who loves me.  What matters is doing what is right!

I have been blessed beyond measure.

I look forward to many more years and many more babies!

Sarah and Her Family

Liz is the most incredible midwife I have ever met!

My oldest child is now 7 and while I was pregnant we had started off with a traditional doctor, but the farther along I got the more nervous I got.

My sister had used Liz and encouraged me to meet with her. I desperately wanted to–but my husband was a skeptic, he thought of a midwife as some one who would show up with a pair of scissors and a sponge….

I convinced him to attend one of Liz’s monthly meetings and by the time it was over he had tears in his eyes and told me that he KNEW she was the one who needed to deliver our baby girl.

Anna was born Feb. 25th weighing 8 lbs 10 oz and I must say everything went so much better then I could have ever dreamed possible.

Liz also delivered our other daughter Jessica who is now 5 weighing in at 7 lbs 7 oz and of course Liz amazed us again; Jessica decided to come posterior and Liz just knew so many tricks and ways to relieve the discomfort that I really didn’t feel anything more then I did the first time around.

Now that we are expecting again, we of course are seeing Liz, in my opinion there is no one better any where in Southern Utah.

Thank you for a wonderful birthing experience!

Sarah

From another happy family:

I would never pass up the chance to tell the world how blessed, grateful, lucky our family is to Liz Smith, our midwife.

She is very educated in midwifery. She has a way of really making us feel completely comfortable that we are going to be taken care of when we are bringing another child into the world.

We have had our first four children with her and were expecting our fifth child and were using her again. We truly love her and know we are in the best of hands with her.

We love you, Liz!

Amanda Borden