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Our
Midwifery Services
We care for women
throughout the life cycle, from teens through the childbearing years and
strive to preserve women’s dignity by honoring them and being responsive
to their needs. Our midwives provide a gentler and more personal approach
to women’s health care. If you’ve never received care from a
midwife, you will be pleasantly surprised!
Prenatal Care:
Our prenatal visits are typically one hour long, and you spend the entire
hour with your midwife, not waiting for her! Relaxed visits in the comfort
of your home allow time to discuss your individual concerns and birth
plans. We cover nutrition, exercise, and sleep and discuss questions and
concerns you have. We then do a physical exam – blood pressure, measuring
your tummy, listening to the baby’s heartbeat and palpating the position
of the baby as well as checking your urine. Your first two prenatal visits
will include a medical history, a complete physical exam, and a nutritional
analysis. These first two visits are thorough and usually take one to
two hours. Your family is an integral part of your life and they are encouraged
to be at your visits to ask questions and to witness the miracle of your
baby’s development.
Our prenatal schedule
consists of monthly visits until the 32nd week, then every other week
until the 36th week, followed by weekly visits until your baby's birth
day. Postpartum visits are between 1 and 3 days, at one week and 6 weeks
after birth.
Labor and Birth:
During your labor and birth we practice “watchful guarding”
of the natural process, offering sensitive support and gentle encouragement,
while ensuring the safety and well-being of both you and your baby. We
honor a woman’s inner wisdom about her body and desire to labor and
birth in her own unique way. When your baby is born she is placed where
she belongs: on your tummy. There she makes her gentle transition into
the world, begins to breastfeed and integrates into your family. There
is no rush to cut the umbilical cord and we never separate the two of
you. After you’ve had time to bond we will do the newborn assessment
and examine you. We make sure you have something to eat, assist you with
the bathroom and showering and help clean up. We stay a few hours after
the birth to make sure that both mother and baby are stable and usually
leave the family snuggled up in bed together for a nice rest. We come
back to check on the family within 24 to 48 hours.
Baby
Care:
We do a newborn baby exam within the first two hours after birth –
right on your bed next to you. We don't separate babies from their mothers.
You'll have as much time as you want to bond with your baby and you'll
be able to have anyone you want touch or hold her. Breastfeeding assistance
is done when needed, both at the birth and/or during postpartum visits,
and these postpartum visits are also the time when we perform follow-up
wellness checks on the baby. We provide you with information regarding
the State of California requirements for newborns, such as antibiotic
ointment for eyes, newborn screening tests, vitamin K injections and immunizations.
We support your right to make responsible decisions regarding your newborn's
care and will provide these services for clients that desire them. We
are newborn screening providers with the state of California.
Our Services:
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Free 1st time consultation
for parents.
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On call 24 hours, 7
days a week for circumstances requiring immediate attention.
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Home or office visits
that start on time and last 30-60 minutes.
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Preconception counseling.
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Free pregnancy testing.
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Comprehensive prenatal
care.
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Full range of laboratory
tests available, including ultrasound and genetic testing.
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Informed consent -
all procedures will be fully explained with the benefits, risks, and alternatives
given.
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Holistic care - concern
for the physical, psychological and social well-being of the mother throughout
the childbearing cycle.
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Labor and/or birth
in warm water.
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Continuous care during
labor and birth in the comfort of your own home and the ability to give
birth the way you want.
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VBAC support.
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Complete newborn assessment.
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California Newborn
Screening (PKU) providers.
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Home visits after birth
for the new mother and baby.
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Breastfeeding consultations.
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Well woman gynecology:
pap smears, family planning, fertility awareness, breast exams, mammography.
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Lending library of
pregnancy, birth, family and health related books.
Our Birth Package includes:
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Complete prenatal care
including nutritional counseling, risk screening and evaluation.
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Licensed midwives to
meet your every need.
•
Labor, birth and postpartum
care including complete newborn assessment.
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Postpartum check-ups
for mother and baby as needed through the first 6 weeks.
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Breastfeeding support
and counseling.
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Well-woman exam including
family planning counseling and Pap smear if indicated.
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Book and video lending
library.
If you are considering our services, we offer a free initial consultation.
We welcome your questions and honor your individual needs and concerns,
as our goal for you is to have a healthful and profoundly positive birth
experience.
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to Services
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''Necessity is the mother of invention, it is true, but its father
is creativity, and knowledge is the midwife”'
~Jonathan Schattke~
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