Pregnancy

We are delighted that you are interested in having a midwife attend you in labor and birth. Philosophically, midwifery care embodies the concept that you are experiencing a great transition in your life physically, emotionally, and mentally. As midwives, we value your ability to have a healthy pregnancy and to give birth in a supportive environment, where you are provided the opportunity to make choices and are encouraged to ask questions and learn as much as possible about this experience. Please feel free to bring your partner as well as other children, friends and family members along to your visits. In addition, please bring any questions or concerns with you as there is always plenty of time to address your issues.

At your first visit, which is around your eighth week, we will ask you a series of questions to determine your health history and discuss topics such as nutrition, exercise, prenatal testing, and first trimester discomforts. Your initial exam with a midwife is at your second visit, around 10 weeks, when your baby’s heartbeat is usually audible. The 10-week visit includes a full physical and a pap smear if you have not had one within the last year. After these first two visits, you will come into the office every four weeks until your 32 weeks of pregnant, then every two weeks until your 36 weeks pregnant. For the remainder of your pregnancy, from 36 weeks on, you will have a visit every week. At each visit, we will have plenty of time to talk and to check on baby by measuring your abdomen and listening for fetal heart tones.

In addition, a midwife is always on call, 24 hours a day. If you have an emergency, please do not hesitate to call us at any time. If you have questions that are not emergencies, after hours or on weekends, we ask that you please limit your calls to waking hours.