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Prenatal care: Appointments are scheduled regularly, with one visit per month through month seven, two visits in the eighth month, and weekly thereafter until the birth. Prenatal visits are held at our office, with one visit to your home at around 36 weeks of pregnancy. Appointments last about an hour in the first 8 months of pregnancy. Weekly visits in the last month average 30 minutes. All of the following will be done at each visit:
  In addition, much of the prenatal time is devoted to just getting to know families. We spend a lot of time talking about the importance of nutrition in pregnancy and how to achieve it. We give information about prenatal tests and choices. As needed we make referrals to other complementary practitioners, including childbirth educators. We aim to be a valuable resource for you and will often network with other pregnant moms, families, and support groups, if desired. Building a strong relationship with our families is our best tool to help you with your birth. Lab work will also be drawn in our office or ordered from our lab. Ultrasound is not a routine procedure but can be obtained through referral if indicated. Labor and Birth: When labor starts we like to be in close contact with clients. We can make suggestions and assessments over the phone, even before labor is active
enough to need extra support. During early labor, we encourage you to eat and drink normally, and continue with activities balanced with rest. We come whenever you are ready, usually during active labor.
In order to allow a gentle birth of the baby’s head, perineal support with warm compresses and oil are used. The cord is not cut until it has stopped pulsing. Newborn suctioning is not usually necessary. The baby is placed immediately into the mother’s arms for welcoming and breastfeeding.  Immediate postpartum care includes careful observation of the mother and baby. As your midwives, we will stay as long as needed after the birth, which we generally find to be between 2-4 hours. Before leaving we will weigh your baby and do a complete newborn exam, help you establish breastfeeding, monitor your bleeding and suture if necessary. We will help you into the shower, make sure you have eaten, change your linens, cuddle your baby, and make sure you have had initial, undisturbed family bonding time. We’ll probably not be able to resist taking some family photos as well! Postpartum Care: Return visits to your home usually occur at one day, three days, and seven days. Additional postpartum visits occur at 2-3 weeks and again at 6-8 weeks at our office. During these visits we continue to check on the physical and emotional well-being of mother and baby. In addition, we fill out and file the birth certificate, perform newborn screening tests, and administer vitamin K if desired. We also continue to be on call and available for answering questions and networking between visits. Medical Back-up: Back-up plans are personalized, based on your unique circumstances: your insurance coverage; the closest hospital; the location of your preferred physician, if any; the medical services you might require; and your financial considerations. We discuss transfer protocols in depth during prenatal visits.  “We bring to childbirth our histories, our relationships, our rituals, our needs and values that relate to intimacy, our sexuality, the quality and style of family life and community, and our deepest beliefs about life, birth, and death.” ~ Judith Dickson Luce
Portland, OR 97211 (503) 239-7069
Copyright © 2008 Creative Space Midwifery All rights reserved. |
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During labor we are continuously assessing well-being in the mother and the baby by listening to fetal heart tones, encouraging fluids, and taking vitals. Labor pain is managed using relaxation, water (birth
tub, bath, or shower), changes of position, nourishment, emotional support and encouragement. We make suggestions as necessary, although we generally believe that women instinctively know how best to birth
their babies.