Carolyn Bell, CNM, FNP, MPH

Bio

I am a Nurse Midwife, a women's health specialist who focuses on pregnancy and birth. As the mother of three, 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, so each can have the best possible birth outcome and experience.

I was raised in the Bay Area, and graduated from UC Berkeley. When having my own children, I learned how transformational the adventure of giving birth can be. Inspired by the midwives who helped me, I studied Midwifery and Family Medicine at Stanford University Medical School. I returned to Berkeley for a Master's in Public Health, focusing on international Maternal-Child Health.

I joined Kaiser Santa Rosa in 1985 as a Nurse Practitioner and have been with the Midwifery service since 1992. I provided full-scope Family Practice, Midwifery and Women’s Health services for many years. I followed 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.

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

Midwives now staff our hospital's Labor & Delivery unit round-the-clock. We also hold 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 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 enjoyed following families whose births I've attended. I've liked teaching midwifery and medical skills to the next generation of providers. After working on international projects, I more appreciate the quality of care we can provide here.

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, providing prenatal care, education and support in a group setting.

International health: teaching community health workers life-saving skills.

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 three kids in rural Sonoma County. We all loved spending time hiking in the woods and playing at the beach. 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 West County 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, visiting ancient cultures and pilgrimage sites, and seeing exotic flora and faunta

A Photo of One of My Favorite Places:

Sonoma County rainbow