The first visit we will get to know each other. This is a chance for you to meet me and make a decision. You are interviewing me. I will give you hand outs, and will ask you a lot of questions. I will do your first prenatal exam at this visit. A prenatal consists of the following: weight check, blood pressure, urine test for glucose and protein, measurement of your abdomen, (this checks the growth of the infant), and listening to the heart beat of the baby.
The second visit we will go over the paper work that I gave to you at the first visit. We will also do a prenatal exam.
The third visit and each visit after that, we will do a regular prenatal visit. You will always have time to ask as many questions that you need to. I do not want you to feel rushed. We will visit! I always have time to just visit and get to know you and I want for you to have time to get to know me too. Visiting is a wonderful way to do this! I will at various times in your pregnancy be checking your blood sugar and your iron count.These tests can be done in your home or at my home office.
Ireena Keeslar CPM, I became interested with birth with my first pregnancy. I could not find a midwife to assist me with a home birth, and we were not comfortable to have an unattended home birth. I met my husband in 1975. In that first year of knowing him, I knew that he would be my husband. I can still remember where we were, I can point out that exact spot on this earth-when I knew the Lord was telling me"this man will be your husband". We dated for 5 years- and was married in the spring of 1980.
I attended college to become a teacher, but began my family prior to graduation. After giving birth to our first child, a son, in 1982, I decided to be a full time stay-at-home mother. One of the best decisions of my life! Our oldest son is Jason, whose name means 'the healer'. In 1984 I gave birth to our second son, Nathan, his name meaning ![[Photo of midwife and husband.]](../images/om7.jpg)
"prophet", in 1986 our first daughter was born. Her name is Anastasia, meaning "of the springtime of the resurrection". In 1989 our second daughter, Nalani was born. Her name means "calmness of the heavens". Dustin Chad, meaning "warrior and defender for God", was born in 1991. In 1993, our youngest went home to be with the Lord, I was about 4 months pregnant at the time of this child's loss of life.
I home schooled all of our children. The three oldest graduated from home school, and the the two youngest have begun attending public high school. They are in the top of their class with their grades! After the birth of our 5th child, I began teaching childbirth classes in our area. My focus was to change the way women birth in this area, to encourage them to stop routeen episiotomies and having other routeen procedures preformed on them. I am still teaching classes.
I have taken two national exams and passed, receiving the internationally recognized midwifery certification CPM (Certified Professional Midwife). To maintain my certification I am required to keep my child/adult CPR and Neonatal Resuscitation current. I also must have 45 hours of continuing education, when I renew my CPM every three years. I am a member of IMA, MMA, MANA, and the CMI.
When not working with my birthing families, I enjoy spending time with my family, including the two youngest who are still at home, and the 4 grandchildren whom I try to have visit as often as I can. We also take in children from the Lakota Indian Reservation where we have been doing mission work since 1991, Our ministry is called: Helping Hands Ministry Inc. Based on Matthew 25:35-40 (currently no web site but information is at the church web site) My husband and I are the founders of this ministry. I enjoy doing photography, drawing, painting, gardening, both vegetables and herbs. Web site of church messiahfellowshiponline.com
Certified Professional Midwives (CPM) are skilled professionals who provide the midwives Model of Care to women and families in a variety of settings, including birth centers, homes and hospitals. Preparation to become a CPM involves specialized, competency-based education programs and risk assessment training, that requires out-of-hospital clinical experience.
The Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) credential requires that all candidates demonstrate successful mastery of both the didactic information and clinical experience components. The didactic component must include either education in a program accredited by the Midwifery Education Accreditation Council (MEAC) or ACNM Certification Council (ACC), or completion of PEP, a competency-based education program. Each candidate must also complete a clinical component that is at least one year in length and equivalent to 1350 contact hours under the supervision of one or more approved preceptors.
copyright may 1996, Midwifery Task ForceThe midwives Model of Care is based on the fact that pregnancy and birth are normal life events. The midwives Model of Care includes:
