Home Birth Midwifery Services

---

Welcome to our practice!

Here is the breakdown of the home birth midwifery prenatal schedule as well as what you can expect from us during the journey of growing your baby!

 Starting around 10 weeks gestation, there will be an initial prenatal visit. During this visit we will complete a health history, go over startup paperwork, make sure that all of your questions have been answered and complete your first clinical prenatal. 

Appointments are scheduled:

Once a month until you are 32 weeks

Every 2 weeks from 32-36 weeks 

Weekly from 37 until delivery 

*Additional visits may be scheduled as needed.*  

Prenatal appointments will last approximately 30 minutes to 1 hour. During your appointments, we will spend time talking about your pregnancy, nutrition, baby, birth, emotions, and answer all of your questions. Your vitals will be taken and we will check to make sure that all is well with your baby. Through longer appointments, a strong foundation of trust is established. 

Visits are scheduled in office at our clinic  in  Clinton  Township,  MI.

The 36 week prenatal is schedule as an in home visit.  

The midwifery model of care helps to minimize problems associated with pregnancy through a well balanced healthy diet, adequate sleep, and exercise. The client takes responsibility for the health of herself and baby by committing to eating healthy and getting regular exercise. We will help guide you along the way!

Communication between appointments via phone or your client portal is available during normal business hours

It's almost time to meet your baby!

Starting at 37 weeks, your midwifery team is on call for you 24 hours a day. Once labor begins, we will stay in communication until your labor becomes active. Once  labor becomes active, your primary midwife will join you at your home. The birthing team will  include a second midwife  and/or  midwifery assistant/student.  While  rare,  there  are  times  in  which  your  primary  midwife  will  provide  solo  care  based  on  the  number  of  women  in  labor /  midwife  availability.  

Intermittent monitoring is used throughout your labor. Eating/drinking during labor is beneficial. You will be encouraged to follow the signals of your body.  Your  midwives  will  make  suggestions  to  encourage  the  progress  of  labor  when  needed. You have the option to plan a water birth. 

Birth Doulas are required  for  1st  time  natural  birthing couples. They are a valuable asset to your team and can provide emotional and physical support to you during early/active labor. 

You did it! Your baby has joined us earthside!

Once your baby is born, we respect the  mother/baby bonding period immediately after the birth. We will monitor you and your baby closely, in a non-invasive way. Prolonged skin to skin is encouraged. Delayed cord clamping is our normal. When you are ready for the umbilical cord to be cut, we will assist whomever you choose in doing so. If desired, an herbal bath will be made for you and your baby.

A thorough newborn examination is performed checking  vitals, measurements, reflexes and weight. 

While you are bonding with your baby, we will continue to monitor everyone's well being. We also help with breastfeeding as needed.  Before departing, clean up is completed and everyone will be stable and tucked into bed.

The first postpartum visit will be at your home on day 1.  In office visits are scheduled for 

weeks  1, 2, 4, and 6. 

Your midwives are available via phone or client portal if there are any questions during the 6 weeks  after your birth. 

The newborn screening will be offered at the day 1 visit. There are three different parts of the newborn screen. The metabolic screening blood spot collection and pulse ox reading are offered as close to 24 hours post birth as possible. A hearing screening is offered within the first 2 weeks after birth. It's Your Birth provides all three parts of the newborn screening for clients.  For more information, follow the link: 

www.michigan.gov/newbornscreening   

Prenatal  Care  

Prenatal care starts at 10 weeks. 

Appointments are scheduled:

Once a month until you are 32 weeks

Every 2 weeks from 32-36 weeks 

Weekly from 37 until delivery 

Labor  and  Delivery  

You will be admitted into the center once you are established in active labor. Early labor is experienced at your home. Active  labor is described as at least 6 cm with consistent contractions that are increasing in intensity.  

Fetal  heart  rate  monitoring  is  done  through  doppler  with  intermittent monitoring.  You  are  encouraged  to  eat  and  hydrate  in  labor.  We  have  a  small  kitchen  lounge .  You  are  encouraged  to  bring  drinks  and  labor /post  delivery  foods  that  are  easy  to  prepare. Our kitchenette has  a  refrigerator  and toaster  oven.  We  also  offer  filtered  water,  coffee and  tea.  

Birth Doulas are required  for  1st  time  natural  birthing couples. They are a valuable asset to your team and can provide emotional and physical support to you during early/active labor. 

Discharge  

The  Birthing  Center  is  a  short  term  postpartum stay  averaging  3-4  hours  post  delivery.  Clients  are  required  to  meet  a  discharge  protocol  and  have an  installed  infant  car  seat available for  their  baby.  It  is  required  that  the  infant  car  seat  be  installed  and  checked  by  a  certified  car  seat  safety  expert  before  delivery.  

Birthing Center Postpartum Care

Postpartum schedule 

Day 1

Weeks 1, 2, 4, and 6

Visits always include both Mom and baby. 

All appointments are scheduled in clinic. 

Your Day one visit will be scheduled the day after you deliver. Time of delivery and midwife availability will dictate the timing of this appointment. 

Your midwives are available via phone or client portal if there are any questions during the 6 weeks  after your birth. 

The newborn screening will be offered at the day 1 visit. There are three different parts of the newborn screen. The metabolic screening blood spot collection and pulse ox reading are offered as close to 24 hours post birth as possible. A hearing screening is offered within the first 2 weeks after birth. It's Your Birth provides all three parts of the newborn screening for clients.  For more information, follow the link: 

www.michigan.gov/newbornscreening  

Birth Doula's provide educational, emotional and physical support during pregnancy, labor, delivery and postpartum. When you hire a Birth Doula from It's Your Birth, you can be assured that you have a birth team member that works for and with you. 

The Birth Doula  package includes the following:

• Two prenatal appointments. During this time you and your Doula will get to know each other and discuss your birthing preferences. Appointments are approximately 60 minutes in duration. 
• On-call time from 37 to 42 weeks gestation. 
•  Attendance during active labor, birth, and the immediate postpartum. 
• One postpartum visit within the first week after delivery.

  We offer the Raw method of encapsulation which involves directly dehydrating the placenta at 160 degrees F without steaming. The dehydrated placenta is then ground into a fine powder and encapsulated. 

A placenta tincture is an add on option if you are using our encapsulation services.

A small piece of your placenta is tinctured for six weeks.

There are minimal studies available on placenta encapsulation and

placental consumption. 

Common feedback from mothers who have encapsulated their placentas are:

~Increase in energy

~Increase in milk supply

~Postpartum emotions being stabilized. 

Postpartum Midwifery services are for those who have had a hospital birth and desire postpartum midwifery care. 

Did you know that the average patient in the United States only sees their provider 1-2 times after giving birth? This leaves women on their own to navigate the weeks of recovery after giving birth. 

 Many other countries offer extended postpartum midwifery as a standard of care. 

Women in the United States Deserve better and midwives are the solution!

Postpartum midwifery supports and verifies the clinical well being of both mother and baby during recovery while  providing emotional support to the family. Our midwives spend approximately 1 hour per postpartum visit in which vitals for mother and baby are taken. During the visit, all of your questions and concerns are heard and discussed. 

  Postpartum Midwifery Schedule: 

In home visit on day 3.

 In office visits at 1, 2, 4 and 6 weeks

*A postpartum midwife does not replace your primary care physician. If vitals present as abnormal, it would be recommended to contact your primary physician right away.* 

Read our Blog on Postpartum Care in the U.S.