Carolyn Bell, CNM, FNP, MPH

Bio

I am a Nurse Midwife, a women's health specialist who focuses on pregnancy and birth. As a mother, I know from experience that what happens during birth can affect a woman for the rest of her life. Midwifery care aims to keep women healthy, hoping for the best possible birth experience and outcome.

When having my own children, I learned how transformational giving birth can be. Inspired by the my own midwives, I studied Midwifery and Family Medicine, and became a Family Nurse Midwife. I've used my Master's in Public Health doing research and working on international health projects in Asia and South America.

I've been at Kaiser Santa Rosa since 1985, working first as a Family Nurse Practitioner and also as a Certified Nurse Midwife since 1992. I practiced Family Medicine for many years, following some families from prenatal care to college. I now focus on what I love most: working exclusively with women who are pregnant, postpartum, or breastfeeding.

My Medical Specialty

More details about my specialty:

Midwives are holistic women's health specialists. We are as interested in the social and psychological aspects of pregnancy and birth as in the medical aspects. We know that a woman's attitude and choices can help or hinder the natural process.

Midwives want women to have the best, most empowering birth experience as well as the best possible outcome. We work hard to keep women healthy, hoping to prevent problems before they occur. If complications do arise, we often co-manage them in consultation with our physician colleagues.

I consider it an honor and privilege to be a midwife. To me, every woman is unique, and every birth a miracle. I encourage women to look deep within themselves to connect with that part of them that knows how to have babies. I'm constantly inspired by the strength and courage of women as they go through pregnancy, birth and motherhood.

As a Family Nurse Practitioner, I followed families whose births I've attended. I've taught midwifery and medical skills to health care providers here and abroad. After working overseas, I really appreciate the quality of care we can provide here.

Nearly all women having babies at Kaiser Santa Rosa are cared for by Nurse Midwives. Midwives deliver most of the babies here and assist with most cesarean births. We care for women desiring medication and epidurals in labor, as well as for those having natural childbirth. We want all women to have the best and safest birth experience possible.

Midwives staff our hospital's Labor & Delivery unit round-the-clock. We also have office hours for prenatal care, postpartum visits and breastfeeding support. We invite you to see us for prenatal visits as one of us will most likely be attending your birth.

My specialty interests and affiliations within my field:

Women with special needs: teens, non-English speakers, women at risk.

Childbirth preparation combining yoga, hypnosis and mindfulness techniques.

International maternal-child health, preventive medicine, travel medicine.

Current projects or research:

Centering Pregnancy: co-facilitator of pilot project providing prenatal care, education and support in a group setting.

Global health: teaching community health workers life-saving midwifery skills, community-based health education.

Great health resources that I refer to:

More about midwives:
http://www.midwife.org
http://www.internationalmidwives.org
Pregnancy calculator and information: http://healthlink.mcw.edu/article/923526833.html
http://www.maternitywise.org/welcome_body.html
Travel medicine: http://www.cdc.gov/travel/

Interests

Family & Friends

People in my life:

I raised my kids in rural Sonoma County, where they hiked in the woods and played at the beach regularly. They share my love for outdoor adventures.

My children and people I care about:

An interesting story about my family or friends:

One of our family traditions is hiking our favorite trails on holidays. Our favorite hikes include Pomo Canyon and Armstrong Woods.

Emerson, silky terrier

Travel

An adventure I've had:

I trekked in the Himalayas and went scuba diving in Indonesia with my daughter. We saw amazing sights and met wonderful people everywhere.

Favorite place in the world:

Sonoma County! I love the natural beauty and diversity of our woods, vinyards, rivers, beaches. There is truly no place like home.

One of my recent trips:

I traveled in the Himalayas recently, hiking amidst spectacular mountains. I enjoyed festivals, visited ancient sites, and saw exotic plants and animals.

A Photo of One of My Favorite Places:

Sonoma County rainbow