After 22 years as a midwifery practice and nationally-accredited birth center, we had to transition away from routine OB services, such as deliveries and routine prenatal visits, due to the loss of several midwives to out-of-state moves or hospital-based positions.
We are still happy to offer some services in pregnancy, but only those that can complement the routine prenatal care that you are getting at another practice.
Prenatal & Postpartum Services
Thyroid or Other Med Mgmt
If you are getting care with a CPM who does not have prescriptive authority, we can help manage speci ​ Care is individualized, and women can choose if they desire more frequent visits or, in the case of many returning clients, less frequent visits.
Ultrasounds
At Geneva Woods Birth Center, we have an ultrasound machine and can perform simple scans such as early dating & viability, from 7-10 weeks, and fluid assessments (AFI) if you go over 41 weeks. If you develop risk factors, we can do non-stress testing (NST) in the office as well, so you can avoid going to the hospital for fetal monitoring. ​ We will be happy to order a ‘first trimester screen’ and/or a 18-20 week scan if you choose at a local ultrasound testing office or your PPO hospital.
'A la carte' Postpartum Care
If you are getting care at a physician group, and are feeling like you need more postpartum support than the normal 6-wk check-in with your doctor (and who doesn't? Especially with your first baby, when it's all new!), we can help. These visits can be billed to insurance, Tricare, or Medicaid, so don't hesitate to reach out for extra support if you need it!
41 Week Testing
Babies born after 41-42 weeks can have problems with receiving inadequate oxygen and nutrients if the placenta grows old prematurely. It is hard to know which babies will be compromised, but we have two tests that we use at 41 weeks to see if the environment in the uterus is still healthy. Most midwives and doctors do this ‘postdates testing’ starting at 41 weeks. Testing consists of: AFI: This stands for amniotic fluid index. We use an ultrasound machine to measure the pockets of fluid surrounding the baby. Your baby should have at least one large pocket measuring 2.5 cms or a total of 5 cms fluid. NST: This stands for non-stress test. We place you on the fetal monitor and watch for fetal movements. Each time your baby moves the heart rate should increase. We will monitor for a period of time and hopefully your baby will be awake and his or her heart rate will reassuringly increase when that happens. Biophysical Profile: This test is only done if the above tests are not clearly reassuring. The ultrasound technician will look at your baby’s muscle tone and check to see if he or she is breathing.
Our CNMs
Barbara Norton, CNM, WHCNP, MSN, CNS
Birth Center Founder, Midwife
Barbara has been a nurse since 1978, a nurse practitioner since 1985, and a midwife since 1994. She is a graduate of the University of Nevada, Reno and the University of California, San Francisco. Barbara worked as a Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner for 9 years (1985-1994) before becoming a midwife. During that time she worked in a variety of settings honing her skills in contraceptive management, menopausal counseling, and irregular menstrual bleeding. She opened her own private midwifery and women's health care practice in Anchorage in 1995, but left that practice in 2015 to start a smaller, more cozy and intimate practice. She was a recipient of the 2016 YWCA Women of Achievement award and in 2017 she won the Chamber of Commerce's Athena Award for her business acumen and for mentoring other women to be successful in business. Barbara has been affiliated with the University of Alaska, teaching nurse practitioner students, and has served on many community boards, including the Board of Certified Direct Entry Midwives and the Alaska Women’s Gold Nugget Triathlon. She currently serves on the American Association of Birth Center board as Secretary. She has been married to Bradley Cruz since 1979 and has two daughters who both live in Anchorage, and three grandchildren, all born at Geneva Woods Birth Center Barbara enjoys traveling, hiking, trail running, triathlon, reading, cooking, and spending time with her kids and their families.
Karin Braun, CNM, ANP
Certified Nurse Midwife, Nurse Practitioner
Karin Braun is an original co-founder of Geneva Woods Birth Center in 2002, alongside Barbara Norton. She has worked as a midwife - first with her own homebirth practice and then alongside Barbara as a CNM - for over 30 years. She has been providing women's health/GYN care as a CNM for nearly 30 years. She now splits her time between Girdwood and Phoenix, so her availability here in Anchorage is very limited, but she is usually here as fill-in for Barbara's longer vacations. She has 4 children and one grandchild, all in Anchorage. She enjoys hiking, gardening, and cooking in her spare time.
