PLEASE SAVE ST. LUKES


I chose St. Luke’s for several reasons: it has one of the lowest Caesarean rates in the country, because it offered a home-style birth in a hospital setting and it was close to my home. This turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life.

The midwives at Home-style Midwifery and Dr. Norrel provided impeccable care throughout my pregnancy and birth, beyond what I could have imagined from the medical industry. I was given very clear, thorough and up-to-date information in all areas of pregnancy and birth, allowing me to make informed decisions about my pregnancy. I was given a lot of love and support from the Home-style team, which helped me come to terms with new motherhood.

What could have been a potentially traumatizing birth experience, (3+ days of labor and virtually no sleep) turned out to be one of the most transformative experiences of my life. Seeing the familiar faces of the midwives and my doula gave me a great deal of courage and sense of security. It was comforting to be coached by women whom I had come to know well, alleviating much of my fear and pain. Thankfully, I gave birth to a very healthy, happy, and strong little boy. I believe given the length of my labor, I would have ended up with a C-Section and perhaps other interventions had I been admitted to another hospital. At St. Luke’s, I was given the time to birth my son naturally and to experience one of the most incredible and challenging rites of passages I will ever know.

In today’s world, most hospitals are medical bureaucracies of records and technology, and the human side of health care has taken a backseat. My birth story is one I hold dear to my heart and will tell my son throughout his life. He will know the names Yeshi, Michelle, Becca, Julie, Cynthia and Dr. Laura Norrell. Having shared my story with other mothers, I have found that my experience in the Bay Area is unique. And many women have told me they would choose Home-style for their first or next birth after hearing my story. I am saddened to think of all the women who would lose that chance if St. Luke’s were closed. As far as I know, St. Luke’s is the ONLY place in the Bay Area that offers a home-style birth in a hospital setting. Other hospitals should learn from St. Luke’s, not close it. To do so, would be a great tragedy and disservice to the citizens of San Francisco. I feel extremely fortunate that I, the underinsured, actually had a choice and an opportunity to get the BEST obstetric care in the city. I wish the same possibilities for all women. Please keep St. Luke’s open and please follow in their footsteps in providing healthy and safe care to birthing moms.

Sincerely,
Heather Carpenter and Little Joe