Motherhood Collective
For one of the most physically intensive labors the human body can endure, it’s important to have a coach – and I’m not talking about weight lifting. Rather, those in labor, and with a birthing coach. That’s where Erica Delmore comes in, co-owner of the Motherhood Collective Las Vegas, midwife, and former doula.
Founded in 2019, the Motherhood Collective is a full-spectrum maternity center located Downtown. In addition to home birthing, they offer prenatal, postpartum, and well-woman services.
Delmore entered this line of work wanting to empower women to be more autonomous in their birthing decisions. Originally a doula, solely providing support, she later became a midwife providing care to patients. She now works with co-owner Cassie Franco, two other midwives, and several trained assistants – all providing their expertise and services to expectant mothers.
Altogether, the Motherhood Collective offers classes, placenta encapsulation, lactation, sibling classes, and much more. The midwife services are $4,000, with a non-refundable deposit to commence care. All of the home births occur in the parents’ home, as there are no birthing centers in Nevada.
Pandemic Pains
Recently, during the pandemic, Delmore reports an increase in inquiries about homebirth. Meanwhile, she expressed that “COVID is not a good reason to birth at home if you have been planning a hospital birth all along.”
“I am not plan B; I am plan A,” she said. “The hospital is plan B.”
She went on to say that the pandemic made families more fearful, adding “as if there wasn’t enough fear-mongering to begin with.”
The Benefits and Misconceptions
Delmore shared a few of the pros of home birthing. “The benefits are many: being in your own home, laboring how you want to, birthing in any position that feels good, snuggling with your baby in your bed postpartum,” she said, to name a few.
She then said that home birthing is very safe.”If you’re low risk and healthy, birthing at home is a viable option.”
Speaking on common misconceptions, she shared that people think it’s dangerous or unsanitary. All the midwives trained in neonatal resuscitation, birth emergency skills, and CPR in case of an emergency. Cases of breech babies are decided on a case by case basis of whether to continue the homebirth or go to the hospital.
To best support Motherhood Collective, Delmore said, “Don’t jump to conclusions. Do your research.”
Visit Motherhood Collective’s website to learn more or call Erica at (702) 324-3206 with any questions. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram for opportunities and updates.
