What is a midwife?

Midwives are well-suited to care for healthy women who expect to have a normal birth. They provide prenatal care, care during labor and birth, and care after the birth. We give priority to providing good information to you, involving you in decision-making, and providing flexible and responsive care. We work to avoid unnecessary tests and treatments; and under our care, you typically are less likely to have a cesarean, an episiotomy, and other interventions than women receiving care from doctors.

We provide continuous support throughout labor and birth, which has many benefits for you, your baby, and your family and no known risks. We encourage, are well-informed about, and provide support for breastfeeding.

Birth is a normal event in a woman’s life. We will treat it as such.

Get Acquainted Visit

We meet with every interested client and their spouses to answer questions, dispel myths, and get to know each other. We want to see if we will all make a good birth team. This is a partnership. This appointment is the comfort of your home, if that is where you plan to deliver or at the birth center. There is NO CHARGE for this visit! We want you to make an informed decision without money being an issue.

Newborn Exam

After you have had a chance to bond with your new baby, we will perform a newborn exam, checking baby out from head to toe. We will do this exam on the bed beside you. This is a great photo opportunity!

Postpartum

We will meet with you between 24-36 hours to again evaluate you and baby. We will also schedule a 3-5 day visit, one week visit and two week visit with Pat Gregory, our postpartum doula/ certified lactation counselor. She is trained to assist new moms with postpartum issues, breastfeeding concerns, newborn issues and postpartum emotions.

Week Postpartum

The purpose of this visit is closure. We will have shared an incredible experience. We want to provide a time to get together and share once more. Until next time…

Prenatal Care

We will see you for all but two of your regular prenatal visits. ( you are asked to see a physician twice during your pregnancy) We schedule one hour for each visit. About 15 minutes of this time will be for clinical assessment. The remaining time is spent discussing what ever issue is relevant at that time. Perhaps you need help with nutrition or you are experiencing low back pain. We will spend the necessary time with you to help resolve this issue.

Labor and Birth

Once in labor, we will come to your home or meet you at the birth center. We will monitor you and baby throughout labor. We will either be a quiet presence or provide you with labor support as needed. Some women love to have their backs rubbed or to be talked to through each contraction. Others prefer to labor with only their husbands close by. As an individual, you can choose who you would like to be there and what comfort measures you would like used. You have the freedom to walk about, eat when hungry, change positions, take a shower or get in a birth tub. When the baby comes, he or she will be handed directly to you. This is a time you may choose to share with friends and family or it may be a very quiet, intimate experience. We will continue to monitor you and baby throughout the time immediately after birth.