“Delivering the Best Care on the Banks of the Wabash!” Riverbank Midwifery. My Interview with Sherah Albright, Certified Nurse Midwife.

If you haven’t visited Riverbank Midwifery, located in Creasy Towers on Creasy Lane in Lafayette, you should definitely stop by! It’s a lovely space that feels so homey, fresh and inviting! The couches are covered in lovely cushions, and hanging potted plants adorn the exam room. You would never walk in and think “Medical” space! I immediately felt at home as Sherah greeted me warmly. Any Riverbank client is going to feel loved and cared for, the minute they walk through the door. Sherah Albright, CNM and Cathy Binger CNM, as well as two midwifery students work with Riverbank. I have attended births with both Sherah and Cathy. They each bring warmth, confidence and strength in their own unique styles. I am always thrilled to be on their team and know our clients are receiving the best care. I was able to sit down with Sherah a couple weeks ago and ask her a few questions about Riverbank, her practice and some of the most common questions our clients and the public in general have about homebirth.

Bethany: What kind of education did you receive in your journey to become a CNM?

Sherah: I have a master’s degree and have had at least 8 years of higher education in nursing and midwifery. I was on a track to become an OB before I discovered midwifery. The first birth I attended was my little sister’s birth when I was 9 years old. After witnessing my mom give birth to my sister, I was hooked! I knew I wanted to deliver babies!

Bethany: Sherah, there are several common concerns and questions we get from clients when we talk about having a homebirth. The classic concern is “What if I have an emergency or the baby needs medical attention at birth?”. What kinds of situations as a certified nurse midwife are you prepared to handle?

Sherah: We get this question a lot. We are prepared to handle the most common concerns such as postpartum hemorrhage, shoulder dystocia, and if the baby should need resuscitation. We can intubate infants if necessary as well as having our resusacradle on hand. To be honest, we don’t have as many hemorrhage or shoulder dystocia situations come up because our practice is able to prevent these concerns more effectively then in a hospital setting. Waiting patiently for the placenta to come out when it’s ready is an example of how we prevent hemorrhage. If it is still an issue, we have pitocin, and two other medications on hand to use as needed. We rarely need the extra meds. As nurses, we can give IV fluids if needed and repair 1st and 2nd degree tears no problem. We are also calm in emergencies, so our clients get the care they deserve without causing them to panic and disrupt their natural oxytocin.

Bethany: What kinds of situations are most common to transfer from a home to a hospital setting? What is your C/S rate for those transfers?

Sherah: We have a low transfer rate of about 10%. Most of those mamas are first time moms, exhausted from a long labor and would benefit from an epidural. We also transfer if they have an infection. Our C/S rate last year was just 6%.

Bethany: Do you deliver twins and breech babies? What about VBAC?

Sherah: I love twins! Absolutely! We will deliver breech babies as well! We love VBACs and will do VBAC after 2 cesareans.

Bethany: Do you collaborate with an MD or OB? What does that look like?

Sherah: We do collaborate with an MD in order to be able to prescribe medications as needed. It is super helpful to be able to have a doctor review the prescription so our clients can get the medication they need without hassle.

Bethany: This is just a fun one! What is your favorite movie? Favorite place to vacation?

Sherah: That’s a hard question! Probably Home Alone! We watch it over and over every Christmas! I love it! I love to visit Michigan and any new place is fantastic! Greece is beautiful!

Bethany: Thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me today! It’s so helpful for our clients to have an accurate picture of what homebirth is and how amazing it is! What is your favorite part of being a midwife?

Sherah: I love helping mamas find their strength! Birth is so healing and watching woman triumph in a difficult and intense time is truly transformative!