CHRISTY'S MIDWIFERY
CARE
With the foundational beliefs that
pregnancy and birth are normal and healthy events in a woman’s life
and that a woman’s body is uniquely designed by God to give birth, I
provide care to women and their families with a holistic
approach. Pregnancy and birth do not affect a woman’s physical being
alone, but there are also social, psychological, emotional and
spiritual needs as well. My care reflects this understanding.
Families are always encouraged to
participate. Husbands, children, and other significant people in the
woman’s life are welcome to be involved with the prenatal care,
during labor and birth, and afterwards.
An important part of my role as a
midwife is to provide clients with information and education so they
can make fully informed decisions. Women will make decisions about
which prenatal lab tests they want done, what topics we will discuss
during appointments, which family members and friends they want to
attend their birth, and how they will give birth.
The choice to birth at home or at a
birth center means the woman is the director of her own unique
experience. She is supported to find her own rhythm during labor,
free to eat and drink as she wants, and chooses what position she
will give birth in. I will monitor the mother and her baby
throughout the labor to ensure their safety, but my involvement
beyond that is up to the woman. Some women need hands-on support
such as massage through the entire labor while other women desire
only the quiet presence of their midwife or even privacy. Births are
natural, without the use of pain medications, and with the help of
time-tested comfort measures and support from those the woman
chooses to have with her during her labor. Water births are an
available option. A baby is always placed in the mom’s embrace at
birth and is never separated from the family so bonding begins
gently and immediately. Monitoring and examining the baby is safely
done in the mother’s arms or at her side.
If there are any issues requiring
more frequent attention, extra appointments will be scheduled.
I am always available by phone or
email for questions or concerns. If it’s not an emergency, clients
are encouraged to contact me during the daytime or evening. If it is
an emergency, clients are welcome to call me anytime day or night.
Overview of Services
TOPofPAGE
-
Your choice of
birthing at your home or at Gentle Beginning Birth Center
-
Free consultation to ask questions,
share thoughts and help you decide if midwifery care is for you
-
Pre-conception counseling
-
Free pregnancy tests
-
Evening and weekend
appointments available to accommodate clients and to encourage
family participation
-
Evening appointments available so
families can participate
-
Nutritional assessment and
counseling
-
Routine prenatal lab work
-
Continuous support throughout a
natural labor and birth
-
Waterbirth
-
Home prenatal visit around 36 weeks
for those having a homebirth
-
Partpartum checkups at your home
early on and then at my office
-
Newborn examination and normal
newborn care
-
Breastfeeding information and
support
-
Access to my lending library of
books and videos
Prenatal
Care
TOPofPAGE
I provide comprehensive and
personalized midwifery care with a holistic approach during the
prenatal period. Our unhurried appointments can take
place either at my office or in your home. Since your family is an
integra l
part of your life, they are encouraged to actively participate
during your prenatal care.
During your prenatal appointments we
will spend time on educational topics such nutrition, exercise, and
ways to maintain a healthy pregnancy as well as comfort measures for the
common discomforts of pregnancy. We will discuss questions about
safety, prenatal testing choices and the process of labor and birth,
as well as talking about your desires and concerns for your
pregnancy and upcoming labor, birth, and transition into motherhood.
I will also be monitoring the
physical development and health of both you and your baby. At each
prenatal visit, we will check your blood pressure, the size and
position of your baby, measure your belly, do a urinalysis, and
other such assessments. At your first prenatal visit, I will do a
thorough physical exam and we will discuss your medical and
obstetrical history, and complete some lab work.
Your prenatal appointments will occur
monthly through your 28th week of pregnancy. From 28 to
36 weeks, we will schedule your appointments every 2 weeks. Then
from 36 weeks until your birth, your appointments will be once a
week. If there are any issues requiring more frequent appointments
will be scheduled.
Labor and Birth Care
TOPofPAGE
I will come to your birth when you
want me to be there, or when your labor is active. I will always
bring an apprentice, birth assistant or another midwife with me
since two sets of hands are better than one.
I will offer you continuous support,
unending encouragement, and a trained, watchful eye. With a gentle
approach, I will monitor you and your baby during your labor and
will offer
suggestions for comfort measures such as position changes and
staying active, relaxing in water, massage, eating and drinking as
you desire to maintain hydration and energy, and other natural
techniques that help you find you find your own unique rhythm and
way of laboring and birthing your baby. Laboring and birthing in
water is often a favorite.
My care is family-centered throughout
your pregnancy, and your labor and birth are no exception. If you
and your husband or other support person(s) are working well
together as a team during your labor, then I won’t interfere. If
your support persons need a little (or a lot of) extra help, then I
am there to help them know how to better support you.
When your baby is born, he/she is
placed in your arms right away as he/she makes a gentle transition
into the world. Your baby will enjoy the warmth of your arms, the
sound of your voice, and we will often begin to breastfeed shortly
after he/she is born. As soon as all is well, we will give you and
your family some special, quiet time to bond with your new baby.
After the birth, we will make sure
you have something to eat, assist you with bathing, using the
bathroom, and cleaning up. I stay for a few hours afterwards to
make sure both mother and baby are stable, that baby is
breastfeeding, and that the family feels safe.
I am equipped to respond to
emergencies if they arise. If a transfer to a hospital becomes
necessary, I will go with you and stay by your side as much as the
hospital staff will allow. If you are interested in knowing what
equipment I carry with me to each birth, please feel free to ask.
Postpartum Care
TOPofPAGE
Within the first 24-48 hours after
your birth, I come to your home for your first postpartum checkup. I
will check that mother and baby are both doing well, and that
nothing out of the ordinary is happening. We can discuss any newborn
care issues that you have, and we will make sure that breastfeeding
is going alright and I will help you resolve any difficulties you
might be having with it. We can also talk through your labor and
birth, giving you time to process through any joys or
disappointments you feel about it.
Your next postpartum checkup will be
three to four days later, then again at three weeks and lastly at
six weeks. During
your six-week appointment, you have the option of having a pap smear
done.
You can call me anytime for
breastfeeding support or other concerns.
Newborn Care
TOPofPAGE
 Your
baby will be placed in your arms when he/she is born and will remain
there as long as you want. We will help you as needed to begin to
breastfeed your baby soon after the birth. I will do a newborn
examination with your baby by your side within the first couple of
hours after the birth. My desire and goal is for your family
to start bonding right away, so you will be given quiet, alone-time
as soon as possible.
A checkup of your newborn will be
done at each postpartum visit. Referrals to pediatric care-providers
can be gives as desired. I also offer newborn screening testing, a
State of Texas requirement, which checks for metabolic abnormalities
and such issues.
At each of your postpartum checkups,
we can also do an assessment of your baby to make sure all is going
normally.
Additional Services
TOPofPAGE
Our relationship can either start here or continue into this area of
services which include:
-
Family Planning Education
-
Pre-conception counseling
-
STD/STI testing
-
Well-woman exams including pap
smears and breast exams
Fees and Payment Options
TOPofPAGE
If you
choose a homebirth, my fee is $4800 for all prenatal, birth and
postpartum care. If all fees are paid in full by the 36th week of
your pregnancy, then you will receive a 40% discount ($2880). If you
are able to pay your entire fee up front, you will receive an
additional $100 off the total ($2780). If the fee is not paid in
full by 36 weeks, then the fee will return to the original $4800.
My fee includes: prenatal care and routine lab-work; labor and
birth; postpartum and basic newborn care through 6 weeks after your
birth. If you choose to birth at Gentle Beginnings Birth Center,
there is an additional $1000 and is separate from my midwifery fees.
The birth center facility fee must be paid to Gentle Beginnings
Birth Center by your 36th week. The 40% discount is not applicable
to the facility fee.
If you have insurance and your company covers our care, then we will
file with your insurance company. If you are paying out of pocket,
we will develop a payment plan based on when you start your prenatal
care.
There are a few potential expenses not covered in the homebirth and
birth center fees. These are not included to provide flexibility for
clients’ preferences and choices regarding their care. We will
discuss these potential expenses during your consultation and
prenatal visits.
|
