New York Midwives

The Coastal Family Birth Retreat is New Hampshire seacoast's first free standing Birth Center. We are minutes off major thoroughfares but offer privacy desired by parents during their labor experience.

Our Philosophy:
Birth is an awesome, natural, intense, and sacred process which is also a "Life Event". The midwives at CFBR offer preparation and participation with families to help create a natural and memorable Birth Center or Homebirth experience. We believe there is a very big difference between giving birth to a baby and being delivered of a baby. We strive to awaken each woman's power from within through knowledge, preparation, and helping women find their strengths and to understand their possibilities.

Our Birthing Home is located on 2 acres of land with mature landscaping to provide privacy and space for laboring women and families to be outside while in early labor. Our two birth suites are fully equipped and nicely furnished, each with its own heated birth pool. The CFBR also offers a Birth Pool as a rental for Homebirth clients.

Coastal Family Birth Retreat offers personalized and comprehensive Midwifery care which includes:

• Prenatal diagnostic testing   
• Prenatal exams and education at each stage of pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum period
• Attendance of birth at the Birthing Home or at client's home, and in the event that a hospital transfer is necessary
• VBAC's (vaginal birth after c/s)
• Postpartum visits for Mom and baby within 48 hours, one week, three weeks, and six weeks.
• Breastfeeding counseling
• Childbirth education
• Parenting classes

Valerie Jacques RN, CPM, NHCM
Valerie is an experienced midwife having attended over 1,000 births and has been a practicing homebirth midwife since 1980.She is a Registered Nurse with a strong background in Maternity and Pediatrics. Valerie is nationally certified by the North American Registry of Midwives, and is also certified in the state of NH.The CFBR serves families from NH, ME, and MA. Valerie has also practiced midwifery in the states of Colorado and Hawaii.

Between 1989 and 1995, Valerie served as a board member of the New Hampshire Midwifery Advisory Committee. She also provides emergency childbirth education to area fire departments and EMS departments. Valerie has provided childbirth education since 1975 and has been a LaLeche League leader for several years.

Valerie is married, has four adult children and is loving life as a grandmother.

Benefits of Waterbirth

Relaxes mother
Feeling of weightlessness
Reduces discomfort of labor
Neutral thermal environment for infant

Directions to the Coastal Family Birth Retreat

Address: 13 Frying Pan Lane, Stratham, NH 03885

From Maine: I-95 S to Route 101 West (toll portions road); Exit 11 off Route 101 West; Bear right off exit onto Route 108 North; Take right on Shell station onto Frying Pan Lane - 3rd house on left.

From Massachusetts: I-95 N to Route 101 West (toll portions road); Exit 11 off Route 101 West; Bear right off exit onto Route 108 North; Take right on Shell station onto Frying Pan Lane - 3rd house on left.

From western NH: Exit 11 off Route 101 East; bear left off exit onto Route 108 North; Take right at Shell station onto Frying Pan Lane - 3rd house on left.

Satellite Office: 47 Fox Point Rd., Newington, NH 03801 (please call for directions - 603-502-9452) 

Please visit our website: www.coastalfamilybirthretreat.com