Home Birth

Home Birth with a midwife encompasses pregnancy, labor & delivery AND postpartum care, education and support. The prenatal period encompasses implantation to the start of labor. Midwifery care during pregnancy is proven to lower negative outcomes, manage risks and aid in the physiological nature of birth. Meaning, midwives don't try to fix what isn't broken! The postpartum period starts once you have delivered your baby and placenta. Technically going until 6 weeks after birth, however it is known that recovery can extend after that initial 6 weeks.

The following services are provided for HOME BIRTH

Consultation and general intake/first contact - discuss desires, expectations, level of care, quote given

Prenatal

• Intake interview - review health and pregnancy history, current health, payment plan developed

• Prenatal care once a month up to week 28

• Every two weeks from 28-36 weeks

• Once a week starting at week 37 until delivery

Care during pregnancy includes but is not limited to:

• Monitoring maternal well-being and risk

• Monitoring fetal growth, well-being and risk

• Nutritional education 

• Baseline lab work

• Education on the process of fetal growth, maternal changes, and the labor & delivery process

• Natural recommendations to manage low risk signs or symptoms

• Collaboration/referral for high risk signs or symptoms

Labor & delivery

• On call 24/7 beginning at 37 weeks until 42 weeks or delivery

• Evaluation at start of labor - call or in-person check-up if needed

• In home care, beginning at active labor until birth

• 2 hours immediate postpartum care or until stable 

Care during labor includes but is not limited to:

• Support of physiological childbirth

• Monitoring vitals signs of mom and baby

• Internal exams to asses fetal position/presentation and provide an estimate of progress - if needed

• Labor support - massage, encouragement, positioning

• Monitoring hydration and nutrition

• Management of low risk labors

• Assessment and recognition of any departure from normal - transfer if risk is not manageable 

Postpartum & Newborn Care

• Check up 24-48 hrs. after birth

• Check around day 3-4 

• Check up at week 1

• Check up 2, 4, & 6 weeks after birth

Care during postpartum includes but is not limited to:

• Lactation support and nutrition

• Breastfeeding and nursing support 

• Infant growth education and monitoring 

• Monitoring and managing risk 

• Monitoring vital signs

• Education of normal/abnormal changes

• Newborn Screenings - dried blood spot/PKU test, Pulse oximetry for CCHD screening

Unassisted Home Birth - The above services are also provided for those giving birth unassisted but desire a midwife to provide prenatal, postpartum and newborn care. 

This midwife does NOT provide:

• Ultrasounds

• Genetic testing

• IVF

• Prescription drugs

• Epidural

• Pain relief through medications

• Cesarean Section

• Induction by Pitocin or other medications

• Suturing of 3rd or 4th degree tears

• Newborn vaccinations

• Newborn Hearing screen