Anne Sommers:
The Original Dear Midwife

“Midwifery is my ‘calling.’ I enjoy working with mothers, babies and families. I had my two children at home with the assistance of midwives, and I believe that homebirth is the safest and best way to bring children into the world.”

Anne Sommers, Licensed Midwife, has been directly involved in midwifery since 1986, when she began her apprenticeship. In 1996 she completed Seattle Midwifery School’s Challenge Process, and the NARM exam (supervised by the California Medical Board) qualifying her as a licensed midwife in the state of California.

During her apprenticeship Anne studied many subjects, including herbology, homeopathy, acupuncture, alternative health care and nutrition, while working with many qualified midwives and doctors. Anne’s studies also included college courses and seminars. She continues to stay updated on new procedures in childbirth and other mother/baby topics.

Anne has appeared on several southern California radio and cable television programs, most recently on the Odyssey channel, in a program entitled, The Spirituality of Childbirth, which featured a Midwife assisted home birth. She is best known for her appearance on the popular TLC show, A Baby Story, as the Midwife presenting a water birth. Her midwifery work was also captured in Mothers and Daughters, a book of photographs released for Mother’s Day, 1997.

Aside from writing for and editing several childbirth publications, Anne published her own quarterly magazine known as MOM for several years. Besides her numerous articles, she has also co written an E-book with writer Abbi Perets, Homebirth: Making It Happen, covering various topics she’s encountered over the years as a certified Midwife, such as Who Cuts the Cord, Vaccinations, Circumcision, Post Partum care, Types of Midwives, Pregnancy Health, Registering Your Baby’s Birth, Coping with Labor, Breastfeeding and Newborn Care.

Anne’s philosophy as an experienced Midwife is one of non-interference and informed choice with the natural process of birth, feeling that she works with the mother and father as a team member. Anne spends time at her prenatal visits addressing questions and educating her clients on all aspects of the pregnancy experience. “I firmly believe that birth is not necessarily a medical event, but a natural, personal experience which needs to involve the family, primarily the husband.”

Anne likens her midwife care as to that of being a lifeguard. She is there to watch over the event, but does not interfere if everything is going well. However, if there is a problem she can recognize it and is prepared to take the appropriate action. She also offers that one to one personal care that only a sensitive caring midwife can provide. She works along side her mothers. After all, a midwife means “with woman.” Believing that one of the things that women are designed to do is reproduce, Anne thinks that what a woman needs in order to birth is the right environment and support to do so.

It is a common fact that well-informed women from all walks of life choose midwives for the personalized care they receive. Expectant mothers prefer to be treated as individuals, not participants in an assembly line of medical routines performed by strangers. They desire to labor and birth in the comfort and privacy of their own home, with a sensitive midwife, who is their companion in childbirth.

Providing Traditional Midwifery care and home birth for more than 16 years in the southern California area, Anne’s services include prenatal check ups, lab work, ultrasounds, nutritional counseling, home birth, water birth, post partum care, VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean), newborn exams, lactation education, well-woman gynecological care Anne offers prenatal care in her office in Temecula. In special circumstances she will arrange home visits for your prenatal care. Her primary consultations are free. Most PPO insurance programs will reimburse for midwifery care. When you go into labor Anne is available 24/7. You will have her private cell phone number in case of any urgent needs or questions and when you go into labor.

As your Midwife, she will go out to your home to monitor your labor and help you to deliver your baby, bringing all the equipment necessary and at least one assistant.

Anne has three trained childbirth assistants, one of whom will assist at your birth; and all of whom are trained in Neonatal Resuscitation. Coley is a Certified Professional Midwife and Emergency Medical Responder; Katie is an experienced doula, herbalist and massage therapist who speaks Russian, Portuguese and Spanish, while Anna offers her expertise in French and American sign language.

Traditional midwives have survived throughout the ages in every culture to give support to mothers and to act as guardians of the natural process of birth. Like Anne, today, they are trained in modern childbirth techniques, but most still use a variety of natural health alternatives including herbs and homeopathy. In California, midwives are licensed to provide newborn care, attend childbirth and perform prenatal, postpartum and well-woman care. They are also trained in the areas of nutrition, how to handle complications and how to screen high-risk women for additional care. Midwives, like Anne, can order lab work, ultrasounds and other medical tests.

So, if you feel you are the type of woman who would like to have all of your questions addressed during your 45 minute prenatal appointment with a certified Midwife, be able to eat and move about freely in labor, deliver your baby in the position of your choice, perhaps in water, consider care with Anne.

With her on your side, you won’t have to worry about getting the doctor on call in the final moments of birth, or withstand unnecessary interventions or tests that you don’t want or need. Choosing Anne as your Midwife means you can rest assured that your own personal birthing style will be honored; spending the first moments with your baby, uninterrupted and at peace.

Anne’s office is located in Temecula, CA where she sees clients from the Inland Empire and north San Diego County areas. She offers home visits for those people outside those regions, such as Orange, LA and San Bernardino Counties. Here are some of the cities in which Anne offers her services: