SERVICES
Maintaining a high standard of care, services include (w)holistic prenatal care in your home, attendance through your labor and birth with continued mother/baby care for up to 8 weeks.
Over the years, I've had offices in various locations around Connecticut (including my home in Andover for many years) but I have come to prefer home visits. This is offered for no additional fee. No worries about driving, packing up the kids, or being on-time. If you have other children I get to know them too. Honestly, I love driving between visits, seeing the sights of CT and often doing my own errands in between visits. It's mutually advantageous and I like meeting people on their own turf. It keeps my practice relatively small because it takes extra time but it also save me from burnout.
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Free in-home or virtual consultations
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Paper charting only
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Flexible payment arrangements
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Out-of-network insurance coverage
PRENATAL CARE
The prenatal visits are typically around an hour, give or take, and address both the physical and emotional needs of the woman. This important time fosters our relationship and allows a bond of trust and understanding. The initial and the 36 week visit are a bit longer as they're more extensive.
Beginning care includes: evaluation of lab work, health history and discussion of nutrition and diet history. This and subsequent visits include assessment of blood pressure, pulse, weight gain, urine analysis, measurement of the final height of the uterus (growth), position of the baby after 24 weeks and ongoing dicussion of the mothers emotional changes. Actionable solutions are sought for lifestyle issues and any problems or complaints she has. Visits often include storytelling as a means of education drawing from my varied experiences. Family and friends are welcome to attend visits as you wish. Continuing prenatal may include lab work and referrals for ultrasound as desired. Visits occur monthly until 28 weeks, then bi-weekly until 36 weeks. At that time we compile your specific desires in writing, your "party plan" as well as going over our emergency back-up plan in detail.
After this visit we meet weekly until the baby arrives. Additional visits are scheduled as necessary.
HOME BIRTH LABOR AND DELIVERY CARE
We are typically in touch at the earliest sign of labor, keeping in close contact until we come to your home. We, being myself and my assistant midwife. We try to attend each birth in a team of two on the rare chance the baby and mother need attention simultaneously. We attend you in person when labor becomes “active” with contractions coming at least every 5 minutes. Individual needs and birth history are taken into consideration as well as the current situation. Once we are with you, we access the condition and health of mother and baby by monitoring vital signs periodically and helping with the safe progression of labor.
The vast majority of mothers and babies do best with a “hands off," less is more approach. Vaginal exams are kept to an absolute minimum. Most women birth with no vaginal exams at all. Care of the mother includes attention to comfort, emotional support, nourishment, fluid intake, elimination and cleanliness. The couple is provided with information, explanations and suggestions as necessary to allow their active involvement in the labor process. This insures informed decision making when appropriate. Personal needs are acknowledged and respected. Well prepared children, family and friends are welcome per your discretion of course.
Parents are encouraged to touch their babies before being fully born and “receive” and “catch” their own baby. The baby, once born gets a good looking over on mother’s chest where the baby’s transition to extrauterine life is assessed, giving assistance when indicated. Apgar scores are given.
The umbilical cord is left intact as the baby receives all of its blood (1/3 their volume) and all the stem cells we know to be so valuable. This also supplies the baby with oxygenated blood as they are establishing their respirations.
A pediatric exam is advised sometime the second week after birth. We meet again at week 3 and our final visit occurs around 6-8 weeks postpartum. During all postpartum visits your physical and emotional needs are addressed. We encourage you to plan for this important time with your baby. Most cultures recognize a 40 day “lying in” period which helps women back on their feet faster by taking the time to heal.
WATERBIRTH
VBAC: VAGINAL BIRTH AFTER CESAREAN
Planning a home birth with a skilled attendant provides an opportunity to birth without major surgery in the absence of a valid medical reason. The vast majority of VBACs we attend result in vaginal births.
Most of our clients use some form of aqua therapy. Water is magical in labor and I have seen first hand the power of being in a warm tub of water. Most home tubs aren’t quite large enough to accommodate for position changes and the comfort of buoyancy and therefore most use an inflatable birth tub. This form of relaxation enhances the birth process for many women. I have 2 inflatable tubs available at no charge on a first come, first serve basis. Many opportunities are available to rent tubs and the price has come down so much, buying a birth tub for many people is affordable. I have attended hundreds of water births.
The placenta completes the last stage of birth. We strive to create the environment that supports a woman’s natural birth hormones to deliver both baby and placenta naturally. Mother and baby receive close observation initially and once they are comfortable and vitals are normal, the family is given private time with brief checks on uterine tone and bleeding. Eventually the cord gets cut by a family member. The mother is then checked for any abrasions or tearing and rarely, suturing of the perineum is done when indicated. Help is given with breastfeeding if needed. A deep reverence is held for the first 2 hours of life with your newborn.
A placenta “tour” is given as the membranes and placenta are checked for completion and various aspects are observed.
A complete comprehensive, head to toe newborn exam is completed bedside next to the mother. We stay a minimum of 3 hours following the birth, sometimes longer if there have been any unusual circumstances. Generally we stay until the mother has had something to eat and drink, urinated, gotten cleaned up, the uterus is firm, baby has nursed, postpartum instructions have been given and understood and the mother and baby are in Love! After they spend time marveling at their baby the family is usually ready for a much deserved sleep.
POSTPARTUM CARE ~ the baby moon!
Postpartum visits are made to your home the following day after birth, again at 3 days and then a visit a one week. We provide access to newborn screening, help with breastfeeding and registration of the birth to receive a birth certificate and social security card.