If you are considering a midwife for the birth of your baby, the first thing we do is meet for a consultation. This is a free "get to know you" session to determine our comfort level with each other and that you are a good candidate for homebirth.  

Prenatal appointments can be done in my home office or your home on a monthly basis, followed by every two weeks at 28 weeks and weekly at 36 weeks.  Each prenatal lasts about an hour.  I spend a lot of time getting to know you, your needs & desires for this birth and how I can help you to be in optimal health during this time.  A routine exam usually includes a blood pressure check, urinalysis, review of your diet, assessing fetal heart tones & palpating your belly to determine fetal position.  I also offer initial prenatal lab work & can refer you for further testing if desired, such as ultrasound. 

I will arrive at your house when active labor begins, or when you feel that you need me there. At every birth, I am accompanied by another licensed midwife.  I am there to provide comfort measures, make suggestions for handling labor, give encouragment, assess your progress and monitor you & the baby for safety & general well-being.  I encourage you & your partner to be actively involved in the delivery of your baby.  This can be a very powerful & rewarding experience.  

Immediately after birth, your baby is laid on your chest as my assistant & I continue to monitor both of you.  We stay with you for 2-3 hours after you are both stable, helping you up to the bathroom & settled back into bed, assure that you have eaten and that breastfeeding is established.  I return to your home at least 2 times in the first week to provide various screening for the baby that we will discuss prenatally, and again at 2 & 6 weeks.  I continue to be on-call for you, 24 hours a day, for the post partum period.