Pregnancy, Birth and Postpartum Services
Prenatal Care
I follow the standard maternity care schedule for seeing you prenatally:
- Monthly visits until 28 weeks
- Bi-monthly visits until 36 weeks
- Weekly visits from 36 weeks until delivery
A home visit with the assistant midwife at 36 weeks is required. At that time you will have the opportunity to ask the assistant midwife anything you desire.
I will deliver your birth kit, birth pool and liner if you desire one, and we will go over some supplies you will need for the birth, and logistical items like your water heater capacity, source of heat, working phone lines and an exit plan if the need arises.
Standard lab tests are included in my services, but not my fee. Fees can be billed to your insurance. These tests include but are not limited to:
- Standard prenatal panel-blood type, liver panel, rubella screening, hep B screening, various blood levels (white blood cell count, hemoglobin, etc) syphilis screening
- Various speciality blood work-thyroid, etc.
- Gestational diabetes testing
- Group B Strep testing
- STI (sexually transmitted infections)testing
- Hemoglobin & hemotocrit levels (iron, red blood cells)
- Antibody screening for Rh- mothers
- Ultrasounds in lab, my office or your home
- Harmony genetic testing
If anything arises that is beyond the scope of a normal or low-risk pregnancy, I will accompany you to my back up obstetrician and we can then discuss your options if the need arises.
One of the differences between standard maternity care and midwifery care is the amount and quality of time that we spend together. Our visits are at least an hour long and take place in my office or your home. You will always see me, not my nurse or my colleague. Any and all testing and laboratory items offered in an OB setting will be offered to you in my care. Throughout our visits, informed consent will be given and your choices will be respected.
In the midwifery model of care your pregnancy is seen as a normal physiologic event-not a medical procedure or sickness! Your journey through this right of passage is witnessed as a process which all of the mothers before and after you journey thru to bring forth new life.
Anyone you want at your visits is welcome to attend. Having a baby is a family affair and I enjoy providing family-centered care for all my clients.
Homebirth
We will be in contact at your first signs of labor. I am on call for you day and night; please call me- don’t text- at anytime you feel you need me or want to ask a question. There is no such thing as a question that is silly or not important; often what you think is insignificant is very telling to me!
We will stay in contact until we decided it is time for me to arrive at your home. I will come with all my equipment, check in with you and your partner(s), set up my midwifery items, and observe you in your natural state to assess your progress. At that time I may call the assistant midwife to come if necessary.
I can assist you and your partner or family as much as you need when I arrive. I’m in it with you. Your journey is my journey and I honor each birth as a unique partnership in bringing new life forth. I am inquisitive by nature yet I can remain in the background. I hear and feel all that is around me and will be there when the time is right.
Once your baby is born, they will be put upon your open and welcoming chest, skin to skin. We will wait to cut the cord until it stops pulsing, or if you desire, we can accommodate a lotus birth. I will be present but will not interfere unless needed. I will check the placenta and begin preparing it for whatever you’ve decided to do with this wonderful life-giving organ!
After all is settled, I will be in the room or nearby doing paperwork and giving space to bond with your new baby. We will clean up, cook for you and accommodate all your needs, including helping with birth tub clean up. If you require sutures I will do that in a timely, and as much as possible, painless way.
Before leaving, I will make sure you are comfortable with breastfeeding. My extensive training and years serving as a lactation consultant will help you and your baby find the optimal breastfeeding position.
I’ll load up my equipment, check on you before leaving and hopefully you will have a wonderful, long rest with your baby before all the fun begins with this new little one.
Post-Partum Care
I will see you within 24 hours of your birth, again at 3 days and one week. If you need more support or visits than I will come over more frequently.
During your post-partum visits I will check your vitals and baby’s as well. I will inquire about breastfeeding, your emotions, and how everyone is adjusting. These visits tend to last at least 1 ½ hours. I will not leave until all of your questions are answered and you feel at ease to continue until our next visit.
Newborn screening, circumcision resources, and informed consent for all newborn procedures are given. Any other newborn or parenting concerns are addressed during this time. If any issues arise we can work together to find a solution.
In the rare event that you experience post-partum depression, I have resources on hand to get you help immediately.
Contact me today to schedule a free in person consultation or to learn more about your birth options