We are available 24 hours a day to our clients. If you have questions, you are highly encouraged to get in touch. You'll reach us directly, not an answering service. We are still offering telehealth visits as well as in-person.
Prenatal Care
The utmost attention is given to your prenatal care. For many years, midwives have served families who are low risk. Attention to diet, exercise, and lifestyle are all factors in a healthy pregnancy and wonderful birth. Working with a midwife means highly personalized care from a trained professional.
Visits are done monthly in early pregnancy until 28 weeks. After 28 weeks we'll meet every other week until your 36th week. At that time we'll celebrate with a home visit that'll include anyone you want to be there at your birth. This is the time for the doula to meet the birth photographer or for grandparents to ask the midwives questions. It's a joyful time of getting together and many of our clients see this prenatal as the highlight of their pregnancy. For Birth Suite clients, we will have a grand tour and planning meeting for the big event. We'll go to weekly visits after that point until birth and continue to encourage baby to be in the optimal position for birth and help you prepare for their upcoming arrival.
Your visits include complete prenatal clinical care as well as education and lots of discussion. Your questions are welcomed and never brushed off. We encourage you to follow your vision for your birth. You are the expert when it comes to designing the pregnancy and birth of your dreams. We are your companions along the way.
Giving birth should be your greatest achievement not your greatest fear.
~ Jane Weideman
Birth Day!
Giving birth is a peak life experience. It can be tremendously empowering.
At home or in our Birth Suite, you’re in a setting that is familiar and comfortable, surrounded by people you have chosen. In this safe environment, you are able to be fully guided by your instincts; we support your vision of your birth and encourage your natural process. When we arrive at your home or you come to us, we mold ourselves to your needs. If you want privacy, we give you space. If you want active support, we interact, encourage and offer guidance.
We bring skills, experience and expertise in normal birth. We help you to keep your energy up, to deal with the intensity of labor, and to encourage labor to progress so that your birth will unfold naturally. We carry in our birth bags herbs, homeopathics, and conventional medicines and equipment to handle emergencies, should they arise. Waterbirth is an option (including first time moms!) and we're happy to provide more information.
Many people are concerned about the mess or if their home is suitable for a birth. The mess is way less than most would think and generally within 30 minutes of the birth almost everything is whisked away. We even do laundry! If you have concerns about your home (apartment, rural, houseboat).. please contact us. Babies have been born in all of those environments and more.
Your birth plan is welcome and you'll probably find we do many of those things already -- food and drink throughout labor and birthing, delayed cord clamping (or lotus birth), encouraging movement, no separation of mom and baby, respectful treatment of baby after birth.
Every birth is unique.
In 2005, the British Medical Journal published a study evaluating the safety of homebirths in North America involving certified professional midwives. The authors concluded: Planned home births for low risk women in North America using certified professional midwives was associated with lower rates of medical intervention but similar intrapartum and neonatal mortality to that of low risk hospital births in the United States….Mothers’ satisfaction with care was high, with over 97% reporting that they were extremely or very satisfied. Johnson, K.C., Daviss, B. (2005). Outcomes of planned home births with certified professional midwives: large prospective study in North America. British Medical Journal, 330 (7507): 1416, June 18, 2005.
Postpartum Care
The postpartum period is a magical time when the bond between you and your baby is forming and transforming. You’re getting to know yourself as a parent while learning the nuances and cues of your baby. We are also able to provide well baby care for the first six weeks.
During the first few hours, we’ll monitor you and your baby while preserving the sacredness of your space. We will stay with you until you and your baby are nursing, comfortable and ready to rest. We do not leave until you feel ready for us to do so, generally, that's around 2-3 hours. See the FAQ for more information about laundry and cleanup!
We’ll then be returning to your house the next day and seeing you regularly over the following weeks to provide care. We’ll talk about your birth and the many feelings of the postpartum period. Adapting to the rhythms of your life can be joyful and challenging. We honor this time of change and development with our continued support and care. We have groups available in our office for those in all stages of pregnancy and postpartum. You're encouraged to get involved and meet other like-minded folks in our area!
We are always available to take your calls and help out in any way. Your care doesn't end with the birth of your baby.