We are writing to express our urgent wish that St. Luke¹s Hospital continueto promote and expand its in-patient, midwife-assisted delivery program, as currently carried out by both Homestyle Midwifery and the St. Luke's midwife practice. We feel strongly that the innovative relationship with Homestyleand St. Luke's maternity ward should be preserved, and even expanded within St. Luke's; it has the potential to serve as a point of pride for the hospital and as a model to inspire other maternity centers to reach new levels of excellence in patient care.

Both our babies were delivered by the midwives, and we were exceptionally satisfied with the excellent care that we received at St. Luke's. We have recommended it to many friends and see it as testament to Sutter Health's visionary approach to health care for families. The hospital offers a unique and essential option and we hope that even more families are able to take advantage of this important blend of individualized out- and in-patient services. I delivered two nine and a half pound babies with their support ­without pain medications!

Wary of many hospitals' high rate of Caesarean Section and the more rushed, haphazard care of other practices, we sought a maternity practice that offered high-quality services to promote a natural birth, while still in a hospital setting. During our first birth, the amazing support of the Homestyle team, in collaboration with the St. Luke's midwives, brought me through a 17-hour labor, with a 5-hour pushing phase, even when I was 15 days overdue. In any other setting, I would have been required to do a Caesarian section. Our first baby, Dahlia Catherine Miner Kapelke, was born on February 15 with the delivery made possible through the excellent work ofboth Yeshi¹s team and the St. Luke¹s staff. She is nearly three now ­ avery healthy girl who was nursed until 22 months ­ which was also made possible through the support of Homestyle. The maternity and post-partum care was so nurturing and supportive that I believe my baby and I benefited from healthier outcomes than we would have in any other circumstances.

We also delivered our second child at St. Luke's through Homestyle and with the assistance of highly competent St. Luke's midwives. Benjamin Miner Kapelke was born June 1, 2007 after a much shorter labor. Once again, St.Luke's and Homestyle honored my instincts and preferences.

This program should be a model for the rest of the country and acelebrated program of Sutter Health. Sutter Health should make every effort to preserve this collaboration and keep the maternity program thriving atSt. Luke's. Much evidence points to the positive outcomes of working with midwives, as well as the cost-effectiveness of this important kind of care. Please feel free to contact us if you have questions or would like to hearmore about our experience.

Meanwhile, thanks for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Charles and Cynthia Kapelke