Your Body, Your Baby, Your Birth: Your Way
Home Birthing Services
Please feel free to read more about the services I offer. Keep in mind that every woman and every pregnancy are different. Your care, your education and our time together are specifically tailored to YOUR needs and desires. Practicing gentle birth techniques and living with the core belief that the best choice is "First do no harm" for every mother and baby is the basis of care at Oasis Midwifery Services. If you desire a safe, empowering birth experience you are headed in the right direction. Growing a baby and the birth of that baby is a life-changing event. You deserve care that is based on the idea that you are capable, your birth is special and the safety of you and your baby is my number one priority.
Prenatal Care
From your free consultation to your one-hour prenatal visits, you will notice the difference in care received from me. Personal and intimate care is critical to building our relationship. These visits are a time for getting to know each other, assessing both mom and baby's health & wellness and preparing for your upcoming birth. Regular prenatal care is paramount in helping to recognize and prevent physical, emotional, & mental issues that may prevent you from having the birth you desire.
My goal is to support you in your pregnancy, encouraging you in your information gathering and processing... so that you can make informed decisions about your care. I believe this is a vital part of a good outcome. You need to know why your baby might be in a certain position, why you might decide to opt-out of certain types of testing.....how to make a decision based on things you have learned NOT based on what someone else tells you is the standard of care. To understand informed choice please read more here.
Your initial visit includes a complete physical & risk assessment, medical history, and blood work. Subsequent visits are scheduled every 4 weeks until the 28th week of pregnancy, then every 2 weeks until a month before your due date, when we will meet every week until you go into labor. I offer prenatal testing and laboratory work, sonograms, nutrition counseling and support throughout your pregnancy. I invest in you as you invest in a safer, more rewarding pregnancy and birth.
The first visit lasts approximately 90 minutes. This is our time to begin to get to know each other, review your health history, answer questions and get your care started off on the right foot. Each subsequent visit lasts 30-45 minutes, involves a prenatal exam, education and time to get your questions answered. The majority of the time is spent discussing important topics such as nutrition, exercise, stress, optimal fetal positioning and what to expect at each stage in pregnancy, with the emphasis on education and getting to know you and your family.
Labor, Birth, & Postpartum Care
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Prior to BIRTHDAY, we will have had several conversations about how to recognize labor and when to call. I am always available to you and will assess your status and together we will determine if it is time for me to come to your home.
Once the big day arrives you are prepared, relaxed and confident of your bodies ability to birth your baby. Months of education, quality care, lab work, and many discussions will help you know that YOU are capable and able to do this work. During labor, I am continuously monitoring your baby, contractions, your health status and encouraging you. This is a time of much hard work, you are encouraged to rest if possible, eating and drinking are encouraged too! We will utilize labor support techniques learned during pregnancy. After the birth, I will continue to monitor you and your newest family member discretely so this critical bonding period is not disrupted.
Shortly after the delivery of your baby, you will be ready to eat like the rock star you are! I will make sure that you are stable, perform a newborn exam and help you shower before I leave your home. You are taught how to assess the health and well being of your baby as they transition to life outside of mom.
While the length of time I remain in your home varies from family to family, the typical length of stay after delivery is 4-6 hours. Follow-up care will include a 2-3 day visit and a two week and six-week postpartum visit. Of course, I am also available for consultation 24 hours a day by phone.
Postpartum
Postpartum care is often one of the most overlooked aspects of having a baby. Many moms are tired at the end of a pregnancy, not sleeping well and experiencing physical discomforts. Most of us think that will go away once our baby is born... However, the postpartum period brings a whole new set of challenges that should not be overlooked.
Making sure you and your newest family member are transitioning well is very important to me. Plenty of rest, a good postpartum plan and support will go a long way towards making this time much easier. Many of my clients will consider placenta encapsulation for additional health benefits, I can share more information on that with you if you are interested.
I will work to make sure your baby is nursing well and gaining weight, your health is returning to normal and that life is good! At your 6 week appointment, we will discuss many things to prepare you for the road ahead and remember...Your final visit is not goodbye, we will stay in touch!
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Waterbirth
Moms that are able to relax mentally are better able to relax physically. Water is a great solution to the relaxation part of this equation, women and warm baths....that's been our thing for years! Waterbirth has so many benefits, with few to no drawbacks.
During your prenatal care, we will discuss water birth as an option for you, when to get in the water, which tub to purchase and any risk factors that might prohibit a water birth. A few of the benefits of water during labor:
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Water facilitates mobility and enables the mother to assume any position that is comfortable for labor and birth
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Help encourage effective contractions
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Reduces blood pressure
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Gives mother feelings of control
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Provides significant pain relief
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Promotes relaxation
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Conserves mother’s energy
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Reduces the need for drugs and interventions
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Gives the mother a private protected space
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Reduces perineal trauma
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Reduces cesarean section rates
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Is highly rated by mothers – typically stating they would consider giving birth in water again; some even stating they would never give birth any other way!
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Encourages an easier birth for mother and a gentler welcome for baby
For more information on water birth please visit: Waterbirth International
