Prenatal & Postpartum Care
Cultivating Connection
The foundation of our practice is open communication, where we partner with you and your family, taking into account your unique needs and desires, and tailoring our services for a personalized experience. Midwifery care blends together the best of tradition and science to bring the art of high-touch, low-tech care that has been shown to lead to better outcomes for both mother and baby, increases family bonding, and leads to greater satisfaction with the overall birth experience.
Getting to know YOU!
Our prenatal care is regarded as the highest quality, yet the most individualized care you will find. You are the center of our focus at your appointments. We don’t over book, so there are no long waits. Regular prenatal visits are scheduled beginning as early as four weeks of pregnancy. We will see you routinely every four weeks through 28 weeks, every 2 weeks from 28 to 36 weeks, and then weekly from 36 weeks until you deliver. Each regular prenatal visit is scheduled for a full hour in order to allow plenty of time for answering your questions, providing education, and getting to know you better. Routine lab work is performed in our office and referrals are given for ultrasound. Together with our midwives, you are part of the decision making process and your options are thoroughly discussed allowing you to be an active participant in your care.
Did You Know?
We don’t just provide prenatal care for women planning on a birth center or home birth. We provide care for women planning to birth in the hospital as well. While we do not have hospital privileges, we still provide the same exceptional care prenatally, and arrange for your birth at one of a handful of different hospitals with an on call obstetrician. After you are released from the hospital, you will then resume care with us for your postpartum period.
After Birth and Beyond
Whether you give birth in one of our birth suites, at home, or the hospital, we will follow you for your postpartum care. Beginning at two days postpartum for out of hospital births, and one week for hospital births, we will provide care specifically designed to facilitate bonding and breastfeeding success, as well as promoting a sense of well being. We will weigh your baby to monitor growth, assess his or her development, and make recommendations for continued care with our practice or your pediatrician. We will see you at approximately 1-2 weeks, 3-4 weeks, and 6 weeks postpartum to assess your physical healing and mood, and provide support during your transition to motherhood. Studies show that postpartum adjustment disorder and/or depression is far more common than was previously recognized and we routinely screen you at your postpartum visits, providing medication if needed, and referrals for counseling and treatment. As your healthcare needs return to the primary-care mode, we welcome you to continue your primary and well-woman care at Beautiful Beginnings.