• Address any questions or concerns that you, your birth partner, or your other family members have. We believe that knowledge is powerful, and stand by the need for you to be as informed as you find beneficial. 

• Guide you and your other birth team members through intense waves, to help you stay calm and focused. 

• Encourage you to listen to the wisdom inside your body, and trust in it's innate ability to know what to do.

• Offer position changes, tips and tricks to ride the waves in the most beneficial and productive ways possible. 

• Be inclusive of the entire birth team, including your partner, birth attendants, and children. 

• Monitor vital signs, condition changes, baby's heart tones, fluid status, and any signs or symptoms of an underlying change to the progress of your laboring efforts. 

• Offer assistance with birthing in whatever position you deem appropriate, in whatever setting you find most useful.

• Assist with the use of birthing tubs and water birth.

• Once decided that we are close to or entering second stage (pushing), a second birth attendant (registered nurse) will be called to assist with transitioning you from one to two. Both mother and baby will receive the full attention of well trained and highly experienced care providers, trained to ensure safety. (please note the decision of when to call the RN is made only by the attending midwife)

 

After Delivery we will:

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• Facilitate bonding, assist with skin-to-skin and initiation of breastfeeding. 

• Monitor any post-birth bleeding.

• Assess your baby's needs, if any, including checking APGAR, reflexes, breathing, weight & length.

• Begin tidying up and packing up our bags, including starting a load of laundry. (birth garbage will be gathered and put into the families trash bins)

• Settle you and your family in bed, and assist with breastfeeding, latch, and transition.

• After a 2-4 hour transition, we will leave to let you snuggle and bond. 

• We are still on call for you and babe and encourage families to reach out with any concerns. 

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If a hospital transfer is required, a member of the birth team will accompany you, with records, to properly hand you off to oncoming providers in necessary cases. Our relationship with Broadlawns Medical Center is strong and is our primary choice for non-emergent transfer needs, though client to provider ratios & safety is always assessed prior to non-emergent transfers. Transfer plans are discussed with families prior to attending birth in the home. A families facility preference is always honored, please note in any emergent situation, transfer will always go to Unity Point or Mercy medical centers for the higher level and immediate availability of care providers. 

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For more information about Postpartum Care following Delivery, see here.

Please Contact Rebecca, if you are interested in discussing our services more.  ​

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