Homebirth Preparation & Care

Prenatal Care

Prenatal visits are scheduled monthly until the 7th month, then every two weeks until the 9th month when they are scheduled weekly until you deliver. Our visits are 45 minutes long to devote attention to your overall health and for you to get to know your birth attendant. Emphasis is placed on developing healthy lifestyle habits. We will measure your belly, listen to the baby's heartbeat, and take your blood pressure. Routine tests are discussed and offered. Children are very welcome! There's a chalkboard wall and toys for every age.

Shared Decision Making

You are encouraged to be proactive about gathering information during your pregnancy. As we develop a relationship of trust, your birth attendant will get to know you, your partner, and your unique family's needs. Keeping current evidence recommended practices in mind, your care plan will be tailor made to meet all of your needs. Prenatal visits provide time to educate you about all of your options, and listen to your questions. We will come up with a plan that we are all comfortable with! This trusting relationship is part of what makes homebirth safe.

Your Birth

I will come to your home when you are ready for me in labor. Another skilled attendant or an experienced assistant will attend with me. We listen to the baby with a handheld doppler about every half hour, and monitor your vitals as well. We aren't too bossy about where or how you push, as long as we can reach you if we need to. This is your birth. You have chosen your team and you are ready to rock it, mama! After an hour or so of skin-to-skin, a complete newborn exam is done. We stay for 2-3 hours after the birth, cleaning up, repairing your perineum if needed, feeding you, and won't leave until you are snuggled in a clean bed.

Postpartum Care

I will visit you two days after your birth to check on you and offer the standard newborn screenings. Breastfeeding assistance is provided, and all of your questions about this new tiny person in your life are answered.

After this, an office appointment is scheduled for 3 weeks and 6 weeks- our final visit! We'll make sure you have begun recovery from pregnancy and birth by checking your abdominal muscles and pelvic floor muscles. Hopefully, you will be well on your way to an empowered motherhood.