Thoughtful Birth Homebirth Midwifery and Postpartum Care offers complete prenatal, labor and birth, and postpartum care for mother and baby up to six weeks. My services are provided within the midwifery model of care.

Midwifery Model of Care

The Midwives Model of Care is based on the fact that pregnancy and birth are normal life processes. The Midwives Model of Care includes:

• Monitoring the physical, psychological, and social well-being of the mother throughout the childbearing cycle
• Providing the mother with individualized education, counseling, and prenatal care, continuous hands-on assistance during labor and delivery, and postpartum support
• Minimizing technological interventions
• Identifying and referring women who require obstetrical attention

The application of this woman-centered model of care has been proven to reduce the incidence of birth injury, trauma, and cesarean section.

Copyright (c) 1996-2008, Midwifery Task Force, Inc., All Rights Reserved.

Services

Interview
Please contact me for a complimentary one-hour interview. This time is dedicated to getting to know each other and to answering any questions you might have. I encourage partners to attend. Choosing a care provider for your childbearing year is an important decision for both of you to make together, and it is important for me to know that the two of you are equally committed to this model of care if this is what you choose.

Prenatal Care
Time. Time is one thing that makes prenatal care with a midwife different. Initial appointments typically last 2 hours and normal prenatal appointments are usually an hour long. This gives us time to go over any questions and concerns you might have, discuss healthcare options, provide education, and support healthy lifestyle factors like diet and nutrition and adequate sleep. Of course, this time also includes performing routine monitoring of mother and baby and any lab testing that is appropriate for you. I schedule prenatal appointments in accordance with standard recommendations: every 4 weeks to 28 weeks, every 2 weeks until 36 weeks, and then weekly until birth. I come to your home for one visit around 36 weeks.

Labor, Birth and Newborn Care
As an intern midwife, I always have a senior midwife with me during labor and birth. I will be in contact with you by phone from the beginning of your labor. I may check in once or twice in the early stages, and when you are in active labor I will stay with you to provide you one-on-one support and monitoring. After the birth, I will help you get settled into motherhood. I will clean up, prepare you a meal, and help you get started breastfeeding. I will also monitor you and your baby as you make this transition together. Before I leave I will perform a gentle and respectful exam of your newborn and make sure you are both stable. If a complication comes up and we need to transfer to the hospital in labor or immediately after birth, I will go with you.

Postpartum Care for Mother and Baby
I routinely come to visit you at your house within the first 24-36 hours of birth, again at 3 days, and again at 1 week. By seeing you so frequently, I can offer you the best support available for successful breastfeeding. This also allows you to stay in with your baby for the first week and rest. I will see you again around 3 weeks and around 6 weeks in my office. We will schedule more visits if needed. At each visit I monitor your baby’s growth and well-being as well as your healing and well-being. I provide education on routine medical treatments and tests so that you can make informed choices about antibiotic eye ointment, vitamin K injections and vaccines. I can do the newborn metabolic screen (PKU) test in your home. I file all paperwork for your baby’s birth certificate.