Midwifery

Midwifery is an ancient art rooted in the traditional wisdom of women helping women through one of lifes most transformative and empowering journeys.  We respectfully honor the sacredness and wonder of the childbearing cycle and accordingly follow the midwives model of care. These practices and beliefs are based on philosophy that pregnancy and birth are normal, natural processes and that minimizing technological interventions is best for mother and baby.  We believe in careful and thorough monitoring of all aspects of your pregnancy, birth and postpartum and are well trained to identify women who may need obstetrical support.  We provide individualized education, care and counseling specifically tailored to your personal needs that respects your families cultural beliefs and values.  We offer education and information about all aspects of pregnancy, birth and parenting and encourage active participation from you and your family.  We allow extra time at visits to help develop a strong, trusting bond that gives you plenty of opportunities for questions and answers. Our role as midwives is to monitor you and your baby’s health at regular intervals throughout your pregnancy, labor and postpartum.  We can also make recommendations and referrals for diagnostic testing when appropriate.

Our belief is that through holistic nurturing of your body, mind and soul throughout pregnancy, you will gain a confidence and strength that allows you to look deep within yourself and discover your innate ability to labor and birth naturally, peacefully and safely, in your own unique way. We provide loving, attentive care and strong emotional support that is individualized to your particular needs during labor. We remain with you throughout the entire process in a focused and supportive way.  Because we are both naturopathic physicians and midwives, we are able to provide you with the best of modern natural medicine and the traditional wisdom of midwifery.  We are well trained in botanical medicine, homeopathy, nutrition and bodywork and incorporate these modalities into our midwifery practice, as well as fulfill the roles of family practitioner and pediatrician.  We are honored and privileged to guide and assist families through this amazing rite of passage.

Prenatal Visits

At each visit we check in with you and address any physical or emotional concerns you may have. You will choose a primary midwife to work with who will see you for all of your prenatal visits and will be the main midwife at your birth.  We work as a team, backing each other up and accompanying each other to all births. There will always be two midwives at each birth.  We check your blood pressure and pulse, record your weight, run a urine dip, listen to your babies heart beat, feel for the position and size of your baby and measure your uterine growth.   We do any necessary labs and also assess your dietary needs and choices and offer recommendations to facilitate optimal health for mama and baby.  We believe in offering clients as much information as possible to help them make informed choices about each step of the process.   Visits are usually 45 minutes to an hour, leaving ample time for questions and answers. At each visit we take the time to listen to you and get to know each other, further developing a trusting and nurturing connection.  We meet every 4 weeks for the first 32 weeks of pregnancy, then every 2 weeks until 36 weeks, when we begin meeting weekly until the birth. Around 36 weeks we schedule a prenatal visit for your home to go over your birth plan, discuss logistics of what you need, where you envision birthing and talk about any other concerns you may have regarding the birth.  We are on call for you 24 hours a day 7 days a week from 36 weeks until the birth of your baby.  We do not require ultrasounds but have referrals if you wish to do so. 

Labor

When labor begins, we stay in close contact with you until you wish for us to be with you.  We arrive at your home with all of our birth supplies, which include botanical, homeopathic and pharmaceutical medications, oxygen, bag and mask, suctioning devices, IV supplies and any necessary supplies and equipment to assist a vaginal delivery and newborn exam.   Our role is to provide support and encouragement while monitoring the mothers and baby’s health.  We assess vital signs of the mother and listen to the babys heart rate at regular intervals throughout the process.  We do not routinely set IV’s, instead reserving them for extenuating circumstances.  We can be as hands-on as you like, or give you and your partner as much privacy as you desire.   Anyone you wish may be present at the labor and birth as having a baby at home can be the most relaxing and comfortable place for family and friends. We encourage you to labor and give birth in a variety of positions, listening closely to what your body tells you. You are free to drink fluids and even have light snacks during labor and we can help you conserve energy when necessary.   We offer continuous, loving care and support and use breathing, movement, position changes, hydrotherapy, massage and meditation to help with labor discomfort. You are free to move about as you wish, finding your own gentle rhythm to help you bring your baby into the world.   Towards the end of your labor, the second midwife will arrive to assist in transition, delivery and postpartum care.

Birth

The birth itself may happen in any position you choose.  Many women choose waterbirth to ease the transition for the baby, help decrease the intensity of contractions and to reduce the chance of perineal tearing.   Episiotomies are almost never performed, instead we utilize warming compresses, perineal massage and counterpressure to allow for a gentle delivery of your baby.   When baby arrives, we bring them immediately to your chest, never separating you from your baby.  Vital signs and maternal bleeding are monitored closely and as unobtrusively as possible.  If necessary, gentle suctioning may be done to help clear the infants’ airways.  Cord clamping is delayed until there is no longer a pulsation allowing bonding and welcoming during these irreplaceable first moments. 

Postpartum

Once the baby is delivered we encourage family time and breastfeeding.  We will be present to give you loving care and guidance while respecting your family’s privacy and priceless bonding time.   We usually stay for 3 hours after the birth to allow for a thorough newborn exam, including oral vitamin K and erythromycin eye ointment if desired. We also perform a perineal exam and suture if necessary.  We ensure breastfeeding is established and continue to answer questions and provide you with information.  We return to your home for a 24 hour visit to check the health of mother and baby.  Our next postpartum visit occurs around 4 days where in addition to the standard check ups, we perform a Newborn Metabolic Screen (also referred to as a PKU or heelstick test).  Regular postpartum visits then occur at 1-2 weeks and 6 weeks.  We continue to be readily available to you during this time and are delighted to continue caring for you and your family beyond the postpartum period as naturopathic family physicians.