Hi!

BIRTH PHILOSOPHY        I'm Janna and I own and operate the Birth Centre of Charlottesville. Midwifery is more than just my profession; I think it has always been in my blood. I grew up on a little farm in West Virginia and some of my fondest early memories are wildcrafting medicinal herbs with my grandmother. Three of my great-grandmothers and one great-great-grandmother were traditional Appalachian midwives. Somehow, I always knew I was called to birth work and I feel honored to carry a calling that began generations before me.

I'm the homeschooling mom to 5 children (most of whom have grown and flown) and all of my own births were attended by midwives in one fashion or another.

Since beginning my journey to birth work in 1996, I have had the privilege of attending approximately 1500 births, including twins and VBAC births. My training began under the guidance of a Mennonite midwife who was a well-known herbalist followed by several years of mentorship with a certified nurse midwife. I developed a strong foundation in both herbal and holistic medicine and in the more medical aspects of birth including IV therapies and medical emergency management. My experience bridges traditional medicine with evidence based clinical care including a special interest in IV therapies such as Myers cocktails and IV iron infusions when traditional methods fail. I believe this blend of knowledge and experience allows me to be a balanced midwife who honors the wisdom of traditional midwifery while embracing the benefits of modern medicine to provide thoughtful, individualized care.

 I opened the Birth Centre of Charlottesville in 2010 to bridge the gap between home and hospital birth and create a space where community families could feel supported, respected and empowered throughout their birth journey.

My philosophy of birth is deeply rooted in my Christian faith and my belief that all life is precious and deserving of  kindness, respect, and thoughtful support. The heart of my birth philosophy can be encompassed by a quote from midwife Shawn Walker "When all is well, respect the mechanism. When all is not well, restore the mechanism".  

It is my belief that recognizing and responding appropriately to small issues can make a profound difference in birth outcomes. I also believe that the success of this approach is reflected by my low c-section rates (less than 2%).

I strive to balance a respect for the normal process of labor with a willingness to intervene, often with natural measures such as spinning babies techniques, body and pelvic balancing, use of movement and various laboring positions, natural supplements, chiropractic care and nourishment. I find that well-timed identification of issues and proactive care can often prevent further complications, address emerging problems and may help preserve the possibility of a natural, vaginal birth. From identifying fetal positioning concerns early to recognizing when additional more medical measures are needed, my goal is to understand what is happening when things are not going as expected, respond in a timely and thoughtful manner and help each mother navigate her individual birth experience to obtain the best outcome with the least possible intervention .

THREATENED MISCARRIAGE    As a mother who has experienced nine pregnancy losses, caring for families experiencing threatened miscarriage, miscarriage and IUFD holds a deeply personal place in my heart. If your baby still has a heartbeat, my goal is to find out why your pregnancy is threatened and find therapies to maintain the pregnancy if at all possible. I use appropriate testing to find the cause of threatened miscarriage (rare infectious bacterium, hormonal imbalance, implantation concerns, clotting disorders ect) and employment of treatments such as NaPro or other medications as needed. I have helped countless mamas with viable pregnancies who were told by other providers that their miscarriage was inevitable give birth to strong, healthy babies.

WHEN HELLO IS GOODBYE    I understand that pregnancy loss is more than a medical event. It is the loss of a precious child, the loss of hopes and dreams and a deeply personal grief that deserves to be acknowledged with tenderness, dignity and compassion.

 I offer out-of-hospital alternatives to surgical management of miscarriage/stillbirth, including guidance through expectant management at home or in-clinic induction when needed while prioritizing safety protocols with careful monitoring to prevent complications.

It is my honor to walk with families through every step of navigating their loss. I believe that every life, no matter how brief, is sacred, that every baby matters, and that every loss deserves to be honored. I help families remember their babies through birth and water photography, help with tiny cloths and mementos, footprints and handprints and by giving time and space for families to grieve while including siblings and extended family members if desired. I also help with appropriate birth and death certificates and tiny burial or cremation arrangements. 

 I currently serve repeat clients at The Birth Centre of Charlottesville and attend home births in Afton, Augusta County and Rockingham counties. I am accepting new clients at my new birth center, Olive Vine Midwifery, on rte 340 in Stuarts Draft.

You can contact me for a free consult by text or phone 434-471-0419